Cell Phones

LG VX8100 EV-DO Phone (Verizon Wireless)

Get ready for the power of Verizon's exciting V Cast service, which allows you to download or stream full motion video and 3D games, all on your handset. A service like that requires some horsepower, and luckily, the LG VX8100 is up for the task. This upgrade to the VX8000 ups the ante in many significant ways; now you get Bluetooth, 512 MB of built-in memory, a MiniSD memory card slot and an integrated MP3 player. The phone has also been redesigned for a sleeker profile. As with the VX8000, the phone features a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture and dual color displays. All this makes the VX8100 the perfect companion in a new era of high-speed wireless content. GSM networks pose no problem for this phone.

Motorola V330 TMO to Go Prepaid Phone (T-Mobile)

The V300 is a tough act to follow, but Motorola has a winner on their hands with their V300 successor, the V330. With welcome additions like Bluetooth, quad-band GSM and high-speed EDGE data capability, and a VGA camera with video capture, the V330 packs a powerful new punch. It's the perfect companion to T-Mobile To Go service.

Take a closer look at the V330's functions.

Design
The V330 features a sleek clamshell design with a large, high-resolution 176 x 220 pixel, 65,000 color screen. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 32 monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. A USB-capable data port is housed on the unit's top edge, and there's a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets.

Calling Features
The V330 supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. You can also assign pictures and ringers to your most common callers. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from T-Mobile's t-zones service. There's even an included application, MotoMixer, that enables you to mix your own ringtones.

Speed dialing, which allows you to call pre-programmed numbers with one button is built in, as is a vibrating alert. A speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Meanwhile, voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. The V330's phone book can hold up to 1000 contacts; if you have that many friends and colleagues, more power to ya'! Lastly, the phone's Bluetooth connectivity means that your favorite Bluetooth headset is fully compatible.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The V330 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity. The phone features support for AOL Instant Messenger (T-Mobile messaging charges apply), and there's also a built-in web browser for t-zones downloads and mobile web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more.

The V330 comes with a built-in email client (with support for POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 email standards), and traditional text messaging, as well as video, picture and sound messaging are also supported. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the V330 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a calendar and an alarm clock. You can also use the phone's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth accessory or connect to a computer or hand-held device to exchange and synchronize data. The phone supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard, which can be used with Motorola's Mobile Phone Tools PC application to manage and synchronize contacts, calendar and other data with your PC.

Imaging and Entertainment
With 5 MB of internal memory storage, the V330 shines in the entertainment department. The phone's VGA (640 x 480) camera features a 4x digital zoom, image quality options, and an auto-timer so you can be in your pictures, too. Capture stills and then send them to your friends via MMS messaging or email, or to your PC via USB or Bluetooth. The V330 adds video capability, too, meaning you can capture short video clips and, just like photos, share them how you see fit. The phone also supports custom graphics for wallpapers so you can dress up the phone to suit your fancy.

If you're into mobile gaming, the V330 has you covered. The phone ships with a full version of Pinball, as well as trial versions of Bejeweled and NFL 2005.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V330 weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 3.5 x 1.9 x 1 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 425 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 235 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
V330 handset, lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user's manual.

Samsung E335 Phone (T-Mobile)

With support for multimedia messaging and mobile instant messaging, this sleek companion will keep you in touch with the latest cell phone technologies. It's also got a vibrant color screen and a VGA camera (with a flash!) -- great for getting and sharing shots on the go.

Take a closer look at the E335's functions.

The E335 sports a slim, sleek clamshell design with a large 128 x 160 color display with 65,000 colors. A supplementary, 96 x 96 monochrome screen on the front of the cover keeps you up to speed on time, date, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side, and there's also a button for quick access to camera functions. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. There's also a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets, while the phone's charging and data ports are placed on the bottom of the unit. And because the E335's antenna is housed inside the phone, there's nothing to snag or break off.

Calling Features
With 6.3 MB of internal memory, and an expansive, 1000-contact address book, the E335 is designed to hold all of your important calling information. The phone also features 40-chord polyphonic ringtones, and in addition to the built-in ringers you can download additional ones from T-Mobile's t-zones service. A vibrate alert silently notifies you of incoming calls when you want to be discreet, and a handy speakerphone lets you talk handsfree or hold conference calls. Meanwhile, ringer and picture ID lets you assign photos and ringtones to callers. Like all T-Mobile phones, the E335 also supports voicemail, caller ID, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, built-in paging, and access to T-Mobile's 411 service.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
Powerful messaging and Internet capabilities are built into the E335. Support is provided for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, sound and video via MMS messages. When used in combination with the phone's camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. Instant messaging is also supported via the AIM and Yahoo! messenger clients (T-Mobile messaging charges apply), and there's also a built-in web browser for t-zones downloads and mobile web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the E335 including a calculator with currency converter, an alarm, a to-do list, a voice memo recorder, and a calendar.

Imaging and Entertainment
Kick the fun up a notch with the E335's integrated VGA (640x480) camera, which includes an LED flash for getting good shots in low-light situations. The phone also allows you to set screensavers, themes and wallpapers to suit your tastes. The phone is Java enabled, meaning it supports games written on the Java platform. The unit ships with several games and more are available via the t-zones service.

Vital Statistics
The E335 weighs 3 ounces and measures 3.43 x 1.81 x .91 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 220 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Samsung E335 handset, AC battery charger, lithium-ion battery, user manual.

Samsung C225 Phone (T-Mobile)

Looking for an affordable phone with a generous touch of class? The c225 delivers with a large color screen, support for instant messaging and wireless media downloads, as well as a voluminous phone book. It's all wrapped up in a sleek candybar form factor that will turn heads.

Design
The c225's sporty candybar form factor sports a large, 128 x 128, 65,000-color display. Meanwhile, most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. Up/down keys are provided on the left side of the handset.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book, which supports up to three numbers per entry, can store up to 1000 contacts for quick and easy management of your friends, family and associates. Forty-chord polyphonic ringtones, plus a vibrating alert, are built in and more ringtones can be downloaded from T-Mobile's t-zones service. Picture ID and ringer ID allow you to set graphics and ringtones for specific groups of callers. Like all T-Mobile phones, the c225 also supports voicemail, caller ID, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, built-in paging, and access to T-Mobile's 411 service.

Messaging and Internet
The c225 has robust messaging features designed to keep you in touch wherever you roam. In addition to basic text, picture and sound messaging, the phone features support for instant messaging from Yahoo, AOL and MSN (T-Mobile messaging charges apply). There's also a built-in web browser for t-zones downloads and mobile web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the c225 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator with currency conversion, a to-do list, a calendar and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
Four games ship with the c225, and more Java-based games are available for mobile download from the t-zones service. Meanwhile, customizable wallpapers let you dress up your C207 to suit your style.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung c225 weighs 3.4 ounces and measures 4.30 x 1.80 x .90 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of digital talk time, and up to 100 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 900/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
c225 handset, hands-free headset, SIM card, lithium-ion battery, AC charger, user's manual.

Motorola V330 Phone (T-Mobile)

The V300 is a tough act to follow, but Motorola has a winner on their hands with their V300 successor, the V330. With welcome additions like Bluetooth, quad-band GSM and high-speed EDGE data capability, and a VGA camera with video capture, the V330 packs a powerful new punch.

Take a closer look at the V330's functions.

Design
The V330 features a sleek clamshell design with a large, high-resolution 176 x 220 pixel, 65,000 color screen. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 32 monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. A USB-capable data port is housed on the unit's top edge, and there's a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets.

Calling Features
The V330 supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. You can also assign pictures and ringers to your most common callers. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from T-Mobile's t-zones service. There's even an included application, MotoMixer, that enables you to mix your own ringtones.

Speed dialing, which allows you to call pre-programmed numbers with one button is built in, as is a vibrating alert. A speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Meanwhile, voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. The V330's phone book can hold up to 1000 contacts; if you have that many friends and colleagues, more power to ya'! Lastly, the phone's Bluetooth connectivity means that your favorite Bluetooth headset is fully compatible.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The V330 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity. The phone features support for AOL Instant Messenger (T-Mobile messaging charges apply), and there's also a built-in web browser for t-zones downloads and mobile web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more.

The V330 comes with a built-in email client (with support for POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 email standards), and traditional text messaging, as well as video, picture and sound messaging are also supported. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the V330 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a calendar and an alarm clock. You can also use the phone's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth accessory or connect to a computer or hand-held device to exchange and synchronize data. The phone supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard, which can be used with Motorola's Mobile Phone Tools PC application to manage and synchronize contacts, calendar and other data with your PC.

Imaging and Entertainment
With 5 MB of internal memory storage, the V330 shines in the entertainment department. The phone's VGA (640 x 480) camera features a 4x digital zoom, image quality options, and an auto-timer so you can be in your pictures, too. Capture stills and then send them to your friends via MMS messaging or email, or to your PC via USB or Bluetooth. The V330 adds video capability, too, meaning you can capture short video clips and, just like photos, share them how you see fit. The phone also supports custom graphics for wallpapers so you can dress up the phone to suit your fancy.

If you're into mobile gaming, the V330 has you covered. The phone ships with a full version of Pinball, as well as trial versions of Bejeweled and NFL 2005.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V330 weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 3.5 x 1.9 x 1 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 425 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 235 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
V330 handset, lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user's manual.

Sony Ericsson S710a Star Wars Edition Phone (Cingular)

Star Wars fans rejoice! You can now get your exclusive s710a phone that comes preloaded with Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith content. Included are a C-3PO voice tone, TIE Fighter sound effect tone, Classic Trilogy Heroes exclusive graphic, Darth Maul graphic, demo version of downloadable game: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and a video clip of the AT-AT Approach scene--plus, you get access to download even more.

Just when you thought Sony Ericsson phones couldn't get any cooler, the s710a comes along, sporting an elegant, rotating design, support for high speed data networks, and a powerful integrated camera. Add these to a jumbo screen, Bluetooth, and support for expandable memory, and you've got one serious contender in the race to deliver the coolest of the cool in the high-end phone category.

Design

The s710a's swiveling design means that the keypad is only revealed when you need it. Because of this design, the phone more resembles a digital camera, with a massive 240 x 320 display on one side and a pronounced camera system on the other. There's even a grip on the back for holding the phone sideways when capturing photos. The camera unit, which is protected by a lens cover, features 1280 x 960 resolution (1.3 megapixel), as well as an LED flash. Meanwhile, a five-way directional button on the front of the device controls most of the phone's menus and features. A Memory Stick DUO slot is provided on the right side for easy memory expansion, and the phone ships with a 32 MB card included. In addition to USB and Bluetooth connectivity, the s710a also has an infrared receiver for data synchronization.

Exclusive Darth Maul graphic.

Exclusive Classic Trilogy graphic.

Calling Features
The s710a's phone book can hold up to 510 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls. The phone's voice activated dialing makes calling up to 50 of your contacts as easy as saying their names, while the built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are included and there's even a bundled application that lets you mix your own ringtones with up to 16 tracks. Picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. For those times you want to keep things discreet, there's a vibrate ringer mode.

Because the s710a is Bluetooth-enabled, you can use a variety of headsets and handsfree kits for total wireless freedom when you're on the go.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
If you're looking for a mobile office partner, the s710a has you covered. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, sound and video via SMS or MMS messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging possibilities. Instant messaging is also supported and the phone ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols (Cingular messaging charges apply). Cingular has generously pre-configured email account settings for BellSouth, SBC, and Earthlink. There's also a built-in Web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Getting on the Internet is easy with the s710a, as it supports the GPRS protocol, as well as the new, high speed EDGE data protocol. When used with a Cingular data plan and the phone's Bluetooth or USB data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. Enjoy broadband speeds in EDGE-enabled service areas.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the s710a, including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a calendar and an alarm clock. Use the s710a's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth accessory or connect to a computer or hand-held device to exchange and synchronize data. The phone also supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard. This means the phone can be used with the included Sony Ericsson Sync Station software, which lets you synchronize your Microsoft Outlook calendar, contacts, notes and tasks with your s710a.

Click the image to get a closer look at the s710a's features.

Imaging and Entertainment
As mentioned, the phone sports a powerful 1.3 megapixel camera and flash. The camera also features an 8x zoom capability, as well as support for video capture. You can capture as much video as you like, as long as there is available memory.

The s710a is a powerful gaming companion, too, with support for enhanced, Java-based 3D gaming. The phone comes preloaded with several games and more are downloadable from both Sony Ericsson and Cingular's MEdia service. Lastly, the s710a has a nifty MP3 player, so you can load up your memory card and listen to tunes while you're on the go.

Vital Statistics
The Sony Ericsson s710a weighs 4.83 ounces and measures 4.23 x 1.93 x .96 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 7 hours of digital talk time, and up to 300 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
s710a handset, lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user's manual, application software.

--Faceplate and screen images are simulated and enhanced.
All STAR WARS property (c)2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

Samsung A890 EV-DO Phone (Verizon Wireless)

Get ready for the power of Verizon's exciting V Cast service, which allows you to download or stream full motion video and 3D games, all on your handset. A service like that requires some horsepower, and luckily, the Samsung A890 is up for the task. With support for Verizon's EV-DO high speed data network, a swiveling megapixel camera with video capture, and dual color displays, the A890 is the perfect companion in a new era of high-speed wireless content.

Design
The phone features a traditional clamshell design with a very large 176 x 220 color display and support for a whopping 262,000 colors-- plenty of room for V Cast content. A full-color 128 x 96 supplementary display on the outside of the cover displays incoming call information, battery life, signal strength, graphics, photos and more. A speaker for the phone's speakerphone capability is placed just above this display. A swiveling camera head is integrated into the phone's hinge, allowing you to point the camera towards or away from you. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's backlit control pad. The phone also features a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets and up/down keys are located on the left side of the unit.

Calling Features
The A890's built-in address book can store up to 500 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers and email addresses. The phone comes with built-in polyphonic ringtones plus a vibrating alert. More ringtones can be downloaded via Verizon's Get It Now service. Ringtones can be assigned to specific callers so you don't have to look at the phone to know who's calling, or you can match pictures with callers to identify them. Voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. Voice features are speaker-independent, so there's no need to train the phone to respond to any one person's voice. The A890's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, the A890 is fully compatible with Verizon's V Cast service. With V Cast, you can download and stream high-quality video. Need news and weather? Get the latest Accuweather forecast delivered right to your handset, or stream CNN news headlines. ESPN sports updates, entertainment news from E!, and even Sesame Street content for the kids, are all available. V Cast also serves as a portal for enhanced 3D games. Have more fun with a new breed of realistic games.

With support for sending and receiving text, picture and video messages, the A890 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging, too. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Getting on the Internet anywhere is easy with the A890. Verizon's Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your e-mail, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with the A890. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service.

The A890 ships with a number of handy tools including a calendar, a to-do list and a voice memo application. An alarm clock and calculator are also included.

Imaging and Entertainment
While the A890 is a great platform for watching V Cast video content, it can also capture video that can be shared with your friends and associates via video messaging. The video unit records in MPEG4 format and can capture clips up to 15 seconds in length. Of course, you can also use the camera to capture still pictures, too. And with megapixel resolution (1280 x 960), a flash and brightness controls, your shots will look better than ever.

The A890 supports V Cast 3D games, as well as other 2D-based games, which are available from Verizon's Get It Now service. You can also customize the phone's wallpapers and screensavers to give your A890 a look that suits your style.

EV-DO Wireless Broadband Coverage
Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung A890 weighs 4 ounces and measures 3.50 x 1.97 x .98 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 275 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 348 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
A890 handset, standard lithium-ion battery, home charger, stereo headset.

Nokia 6620 Phone (Cingular)

This Symbian operating system-based smart-phone from Nokia offers flagship features in an innovative form factor. With a VGA camera, removable memory expansion, Bluetooth, and support for EDGE high speed data, the 6620 is the ideal solution for mobile warriors. And because the unit runs in the Symbian Series 60 platform, scores of third-party applications and peripherals are available.

 

Click the image to get a closer look at the 6620's design.

 

Design
The 6620's large screen sports 176 x 208 resolution, as well as support for 65,000 colors. Just below the display is a five-way selection button that allows you to navigate and control the phone's menu's and features, and the unit's internal antenna means there's nothing to snag or break off. The rear of the phone houses the VGA camera unit, which features 640 x 480 resolution. An MMC memory slot allows you to expand the unit's built-in 12 MB of internal memory, and the unit ships with a 32 MB card.

  Calling Features
The 6620's address book is only limited by the amount of available memory, and it can store multiple phone numbers, as well as physical and email addresses. Meanwhile, the 6620's built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are included, as is a vibrating alert, and you can use your favorite MP3s as ringtones. Meanwhile, more ringtones can be downloaded from Cingular's MEdia wireless web service. Ringer IDs let you assign specific ringtones to particular callers, while picture ID technology lets you similarly assign images or pictures to callers. In addition to name-based voice recognition dialing, the phone also features technology that lets you control menu functions with your voice. Lastly, the phone's Bluetooth connectivity means that your favorite Bluetooth headset is fully compatible.

  Messaging, Internet and Tools
The 6620 is a mobile messaging and Internet powerhouse. With support for the MMS (multimedia messaging service), the phone can send picture, video and text messages (Cingular messaging charges apply). When coupled with the 6620's camera, MMS opens up great opportunities for robust messaging. Instant messaging is also supported, and the phone ships with a built-in email client that supports POP3 and IMAP protocols.

  Getting on the Internet is easy with the 6620. It supports the GPRS data protocol, as well as the new, high-speed EDGE wireless data service. When used with a Cingular Wireless Internet Express data plan and the phone's USB or Bluetooth data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. There's also a built-in web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

  The 6620 supports PC synchronization standards via USB or Bluetooth, which means you can manage and synchronize contacts, calendars and other data with your PC. Nokia's PC Suite application makes this process a breeze. You can also use Bluetooth to connect a wireless keyboard for efficient text entry. A number of handy software tools are bundled with the 6620 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock. Plus, as mentioned, a wide range of applications are available for Symbian devices like the 6620, such as mobile document editors, spreadsheet apps, and much more.

  Imaging and Entertainment
The 6620 is designed for flexible mobile fun. The built-in VGA camera -- which has a self-timer, digital zoom, and night mode functions -- captures stills and video clips to the phone's internal memory. More photos, videos, applications and games can be stored on the memory expansion card. The phone supports playback of MP3 and AAC audio files, as well as 3GPP and RealMedia video files, so you can use it as a mobile video and music player. Picture effects and custom screensavers, as well as backgrounds and themes, can be set up to fit your personality.

  And don't forget that the 6620 is a powerful gaming companion with support for Java and Symbian games. Many games are downloadable via the Cingular MEdia service.

  Vital Statistics
The Nokia 6620 weighs 4.37 ounces and measures 4.28 x 2.29 x 0.93 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of digital talk time, and up to 200 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

   What's in the Box
Nokia 6620 handset, lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user's manual, application software, data cable.

Sony Ericsson Z500a Star Wars Edition Phone (Cingular)

Star Wars fans rejoice! You can now get your z500a phone that comes preloaded with exclusive Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith content. Included are a C-3PO voice tone, TIE Fighter sound effect tone, Classic Trilogy Heroes exclusive graphic, Darth Maul graphic, demo version of downloadable game: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and a video clip of the AT-AT Approach scene--plus, you get access to download even more.

Incredible style meets powerful substance in this clamshell from Sony-Ericsson. With dual screens, a VGA camera with video capabilities and support for high-speed EDGE data networks, the z500a is a serious next-generation phone. It's the perfect handset for folks who want to get all the latest wireless goodies in one chic package.

Design
Sony-Ericsson's reputation for cutting edge design has been brought into the clamshell arena with the z500a. There's a 128 x 160 display housed under the cover while the outside sports a supplementary 96 x 32 color display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The VGA (640 x 480) camera is housed on the front cover as well. The z500a uses an internal antenna-- nothing to snag or break off-- and a five-way button just above the dial pad is used to control most of the phone's menus and features. Up/down buttons on the left side of the phone can be used for quick volume control and menu navigation. USB data and charging ports, as well as a headset port, are located on the phone's bottom edge. And because the z500a's front and rear faceplates are changeable with Sony-Ericsson Style-Up covers, you can dress it up to suit your style.

Exclusive Darth Maul graphic.

Exclusive Classic Trilogy graphic.

Calling Features
The z500a's phone book can hold up to 510 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls. The z500a's voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. The phone also features a speakerphone for easy, hands-free talking. In addition to a vibrating alert, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. There's even a bundled application that lets you mix your own ringtones with up to 16 tracks. Meanwhile, more ringtones can be downloaded from Cingular's MEdia wireless web service. Picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. Lastly, the phone supports Cingular's "Fast Forward" call forwarding device, which enables you to effortlessly forward your wireless calls to your land line phone.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The z500a has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. AOL Instant Messenger is also included and the phone ships with a built-in email client (Cingular messaging charges apply). The email client is preconfigured for accounts from some of the most popular ISPs, including Bellsouth.net, SBC Yahoo, and Earthlink.

Getting on the Internet is easy with the z500a. It supports the GPRS protocol, as well as the new, high speed EDGE data protocol. When used with a Cingular data plan and the phone's USB data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. There's also a built-in web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the z500a including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock with a timer and stopwatch. Sony Ericsson Sync Station software lets you synchronize your Microsoft Outlook calendar, contacts, notes and tasks with your z500a.

Imaging and Entertainment
The z500a was designed for serious fun. The built-in VGA camera captures stills and video to the phone's 6MB of internal memory. Video capture length is only limited by the amount of available storage memory and the phone supports playback of both MP3 audio and MPEG4 video files. Picture effects and custom screensavers, backgrounds, and themes can be set up to fit your personality.

Java support is built into the z500a, making it a powerful gaming companion for both online and offline games. Games are downloadable via the MEdia service or you can use the handset's USB data connection to load more games and files onto the phone.

Vital Statistics
The Sony-Ericsson z500a weighs 3.88 ounces and measures 3.66 x 1.93 x 0.94 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 10 hours of digital talk time, and up to 10 days of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS 850/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Sony-Ericsson z500a handset, lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user's manual, application software.

--Faceplate and screen images are simulated and enhanced.
All STAR WARS property (c)2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

Samsung x475 Phone (T-Mobile)

Get some serious style with the x475 from Samsung. True, this phone is billed as entry-level, but it has features like MMS messaging, instant messaging, and a vibrant, high-resolution color screen that put it a notch above other phones that are this affordable. With the x475, you'll even get wireless Web capabilities that will keep you in step with the latest mobile Internet technologies.

Click the image to get a closer look at the x475's features.

Design
Inside the x475's sleek clamshell you'll find a large, 128 x 160 color display with support for 65,000 colors. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 64 monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side, while most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. There's also a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets.

Calling Features
The x475's phonebook can handle up to 1000 of your contacts, and you can store up to three numbers per entry, plus an email address. In addition to having a discreet vibrating alert, the X475 supports 40-chord polyphonic ringtones, which means you can really jazz up your incoming calls with cool tunes. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from T-Mobile's t-zones service. You can also assign icons and ringers to your most common callers. Like all T-Mobile phones, the x475 supports voice mail, caller ID, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, built-in paging, and access to T-Mobile's 411 service.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
When it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity, the x475 has you covered. The phone features support for ICQ and AOL instant messaging applications (T-Mobile messaging charges apply). There's also a built-in web browser for t-zones downloads and mobile web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as picture and sound messaging are also supported by the phone. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the x475, including a voice memo recorder, a calculator with currency converter, a to-do list, a calendar and an alarm clock.

Entertainment
The x475 is easy to customize to suit your style. Screensavers, themes and wallpapers can be set to your tastes, and you can even browse and download more wallpapers from the t-zones service. The x475 is Java enabled, meaning it supports games and application downloads written on the Java platform. Games are available via the T-Mobile t-zones service.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung x475 weighs 3.00 ounces and measures 3.45 x 1.81 x .90 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of digital talk time, and up to 180 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 900/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
x475 handset, lithium-ion battery, power supply/charger, euro-plug, handsfree headset, SIM card, user's manual.

Motorola V300 Phone (T-Mobile)

Overview
Compatible with T-Mobile cell phone service, the Motorola V300 features an Internet browser, integrated VGA digital camera, MMS text messaging, and more, all displayed on a large, high-resolution 176 x 220 pixel, 65,000 color screen. The V300's clamshell design also provides a 96 x 32 pixel, two line external screen, which displays caller ID, date, time, and various status icons (including text message waiting, voice message waiting, battery and signal strength, and voice and message mail, among others) without users having to open the phone. There's even a blue backlight for nighttime viewing.

Assign pictures to everyone in your phonebook and have photo caller id every time your phone rings

Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the V300 features a compelling, ergonomic design and a 4-way scroll key for easy menu navigation. Primary calling features include speech recognition, which allows users to speak a pre-saved name, number, or function and the phone will call it up automatically; as well as an integrated speakerphone, auto redial notification, call forwarding, call waiting, hold, alternate line/dual name, turbo dial keys (2-9), ringer/vibrate suppress, multiple call timers, multiple key answer, vibrate mode, memory for last numbers dialed and received, and a phone book of up to 1000 entries, including Personal Information Manager (PIM) functionality with picture caller ID.

Messaging and Internet

The V300 has instant messaging with real-time chat.

Mobile messaging features are fairly standard: via MMS, users can send, edit, forward, and receive image and text messages to and from compatible phones or PCs. Images and ring tones received via MMS can be saved in phone's handy image gallery. There's also instant messaging capability, conventional email, and built-in iTAP software, which provides predictive text assistance. The V300 supports TTY functionality for the hearing impaired.

The V300's built-in Microbrowser also gives users wireless Mobile Internet access to directions, stock quotes, airline information, entertainment, and more. Users can also download MP3 polyphonic ring tones, wallpapers, and other applications and games. Two games, Bejeweled and Prince of Persia, are included with the phone.

Organizer

Organizer features include a 1000 contact phone book with photo caller ID, a date book, and Mobile Phone Tools compatibility, which (combined with software that is sold separately) lets users create, edit, and synchronize date book and phonebook entries with your PC.

The V300 can use polyphonic Mp3s for ringtones--use one of the 21 pre-loaded sounds, or make your own with the online mixer.

Fun and Games
For fun, the V300's integrated digital camera includes zoom and brightness adjustment functions, as well as 5 MB of memory for picture storage or for saving wallpapers, screensavers, ring tones, and games downloaded from the Internet. Ringtones are supported by a 22 KHz polyphonic speaker with 24 chord capability. Users can also assign different tones for different callers saved the V300's phonebook, and for messages, faxes, and reminders.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V300's security features include call restrictions, keypad lock, phone lock, application lock, and new password capability. The phone weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 3.5 x 1.93 x 1 inches. Its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at up to 390 hours talk time, and up to 200 hours standby time.

Samsung C207 Phone (Cingular)

Move in style with the sleek Samsung C207, an entry-level powerhouse that features a color display, support for MMS messaging, robust gaming capabilities and more. It's the perfect little companion for Cingular users.

Design
The C207's sporty candybar form factor sports a large, 128 x 128, 65,000-color display. An internal antenna means there's nothing to break off or snag on your pants pocket. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. Up/down keys are provided on the left side of the handset.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book, which supports up to three numbers per entry, can store up to 1000 contacts for quick and easy management of your friends, family and associates. Polyphonic ringtones, plus a vibrating alert, are built in and more ringtones can be downloaded from Cingular's MEdia service. Picture ID and ringer ID allow you to set graphics and ringtones for specific groups of callers.

Messaging and Internet
The C207 has robust messaging features designed to keep you in touch wherever you roam. In addition to basic text, picture and sound messaging, the phone features support for AOL Instant Messenger (Cingular messaging charges apply). There's also a built-in web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the C207 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a to-do list, a calendar and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
Four games-- Ultimate Golf Challenge, Mobile Chess, Fun2Link, and BubbleSmile-- ship with the C207, and more Java-based games are available for mobile download from the MEdia service. Customizable wallpapers let you dress up your C207 to suit your style.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung C207 weighs 2.43 ounces and measures 4.13 x 1.69 x .75 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of digital talk time, and up to 220 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
C207 handset, lithium-ion battery, AC charger, user's manual.

Samsung E315 Phone (T-Mobile)

Compatible with T-Mobile cell phone service, the ultralight Samsung E315 sports world-band capability, a digital VGA camera, GPRS high-speed data download, and more, all displayed on two color screens: the 128 x 160-pixel, 65,000-color primary interior display, and a generous 96 x 64-pixel, 65,000-color external screen.

Calling Features

Click the image to get a closer look at the E315's features.

Used simply as a phone, the E315 features a 5-way navigation button that makes it easy for you got get to its handy features, which include a voice mail button, voice mail indicator, volume select/display, signal strength indicator, call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, any-key answer, auto-redial, roaming indicator, speed dial, phonebook lookup, phonebook scroll, mute control, no-answer transfer, usage alert, vibrating ring, differential ring, photo caller ID, and a hefty phone book capacity of 1000 entries.

Messaging and Internet
The phone's wireless Internet browser provides high-speed data transmission via GPRS, as well as MMS and advanced EMS messaging, which lets you send, receive and edit text, voice, and pictures (such as ones you take with the camera) to and from other compatible cell phones and computers. You'll also get instant messaging via Wireless Village, with predictive text input and text message templates. To expand your phone's functionality, simply surf the Web and Samsung's Web site for additional productivity software applications; this phone supports Java MIDP 2.0/CLDC 1.0.4.

Organizer
The Samsung E315's organizer features include an alarm, calendar, to-do list, clock with world time mode, calculator, currency exchange calculator, and voice memo, among others. You can also sync up data from your phone's organizer with your PC.

Cameras, Fun, and Games
As mentioned above, the E315 comes with an integrated VGA digital camera that takes 640 x 480-pixel photos, and provides digital zoom, a self-timer, multi-shot and night-shot modes, and some effects and digital frames. You can also download and play video clips from the Web. For more fun, a wide variety of games, polyphonic ring tones, and graphics are available for download from the Web.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung E315 weighs 2.83 ounces and measures 3.27 x 1.81 x 0.91 inches. Its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at 210 minutes minimum talk time, and 240 hours minimum standby time. It runs on GSM 900/1900 MHz.

What's in the Box
Samsung E315 cell phone, battery, charger, hands-free headset, manual

Kyocera KX2 Koi Phone (Verizon Wireless)

The elegant, swiveling design of the Kyocera KX2 is enough to turn heads, but the potent technology inside is enough to turn you into a believer in the power of wireless technology. With a megapixel camera, video recording capabilities and support for Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web services, the KX2 is a top phone with some of the best features on the market.

Design
The elegantly simple KX2 features a unique swivel design that allows you to see the large, 260,000-color, 132 x 176 screen at all times. Simply swivel the keypad open to reveal a five-way selection button, number pad, and quick selection buttons. The megapixel camera (1280 x 960) and flash are housed on the rear of the phone behind a protective sliding cover, while an up/down toggle for quick menu navigation is located on the left side. A 2.5mm headset jack is provided for handsfree talking. An AC charging port is placed on the bottom of the phone.

Calling Features
The KX2's speakerphone makes it easy to converse without touching the handset-- a big plus for car users. Enhanced voice dialing supports voice-to-digit dialing and name recognition for speedy dialing of up to 40 contacts. The KX2s voice recognition software supports voice commands from any user, not just a pre-programmed user's voice, and many of the phone's features can be controlled by voice.

The KX2's 16 MB of internal memory can be used to hold up to 200 contacts for quick access to email addresses and phone numbers. The phone lets you easily assign up to 200 pictures to your most common callers. In addition to vibrating alerts, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones, a number of which come preloaded on the phone. More ringtones can be downloaded from Verizon's Mobile Web service. The KX2's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911. Perhaps most importantly for users in rural areas, the KX2 is a tri-mode phone, meaning it can operate on Verizon's digital network, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The KX2 is a robust mobile messaging and Internet tool. The KX2's support for multimedia messaging means that text, photos, video and audio can be sent with ease (Verizon messaging charges apply). When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. There's also a built-in web browser for Verizon Mobile Web downloads and mobile web browsing. Verizon's optional Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your e-mail, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. eZiText text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with the KX2. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads and digital photo-sharing tools using the Get It Now service.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the KX2 including a voice memo recorder with 60 seconds of voice memo capacity, a calculator with tip calculation, a calendar and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
Perhaps the most compelling feature of the KX2 is its powerful megapixel still and video camera. In addition to a flash, the camera features a 5x digital zoom, a self-timer, multi-frame shooting capability and white balance functions. The video camera can capture clips as long as 15 seconds in MPEG-4 format. The phone's built-in 16 MB of memory lets you store up to 40 megapixel photos (1280 x 960).

The KX2 ships with a number of wallpapers and screensavers, plus a simple graphic editor that lets you make your own designs. More are available via the Get It Now service. The KX2 is BREW enabled, meaning it supports games written on the BREW platform. Additional games are also available via the Get It Now service.

Vital Statistics
The Kyocera KX2 weighs 4.02 ounces and measures 3.94 x 1.97 x .98 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 100 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the AMPS 800/CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Kyocera KX2 handset, power adapter, lithium-ion battery, holster, literature kit, quick reference guide, welcome CD-ROM.

LG VX8000 EV-DO Phone (Verizon Wireless)

In 2004 Verizon introduced their EV-DO 3G data business services to select markets in the US. Months later at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show, they finally rolled out their first 3G consumer offering, named VCAST. For $15 per month, Verizon's VCAST service offers an unlimited number of streaming video clip downloads over their high-speed EV-DO network. The user gets access to daily updated content from news organizations such as CNN, CNBC, and ESPN as well as entertainment content from the likes of Comedy Central and others. If you live in one of the markets covered by their EV-DO 3G service, then you can get this on your mobile phone.

Click image to see full-size photo shot with auto white balance and macro lens setting.

Click image to see full-size photo shot with manually set white balance and the normal lens setting.

Of course, you need an EV-DO cell phone such as the LG VX8000 to view VCAST content. The VX8000 was the first handset to be launched with the VCAST service, and was the star of Verizon's VCAST launch event. It is a somewhat large clamshell handset that comes equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera with a macro lens setting for close-up photography. The camera takes photos that range anywhere from decent to very good in quality, depending on lighting conditions and settings (try out the manual White Balance settings). The VX8000 can also record 14 second long video clips that are also typically quite nice. Photos and videos can be painlessly uploaded to Verizon's PixPlace website, though the photos will be greatly reduced in resolution, or they can be easily sent to any internet email address. Sending a photo to an email address is the only way to get a full resolution 1.3 megapixel photo off of the VX8000, since it has no IR, Bluetooth, or data cable.

The photos and videos you take will look great on the VX8000, thanks to its dual 262k color displays. The main 2.2" display is very colorful and clear, and the unusually large 128x160 pixel external display is equally nice. The external display serves as the camera's viewfinder when you have the phone closed, allowing you to record perfectly centered photos and video clips of yourself. The controls under the display and the volume rocker allow you to navigate through your photos with the phone closed, which is handy.

The VX8000 has a very well laid out keypad, with large buttons that are as easy to read as to use. The 5-way directional-pad controller is also large, and has a nice big OK button in the middle for selecting things in the VX8000's menus. The user interface is consistent and simple to use, but has some organizational issues thanks to Verizon's desire to drive people towards their Get It Now download services (which typically costs extra). In their defense, Verizon does offer a wide selection of ringtones from various partners, and has some of the best 3D games I have seen on a mobile phone to date.

As far as doing normal phone things go, the VX8000 has pretty good reception, decent audio quality, and a simply fantastic speakerphone. The speakerphone is probably the best I have ever tested. Battery life is probably going to be an issue for most people, though. 4.5 hours of talk time is decent, but the standby time is rarely much more than two days with no calls being made, and that is unacceptable. Best to opt for the extended battery, which will provide 50% more power.

The VX8000 is a solid phone. Verizon's VCAST service will provide you with timely news and some entertainment, but might be a bit expensive for most people at this time - though it is sure to get cheaper eventually. The VX8000's camera is very nice, as are its dual displays. If nothing else, the VX8000 will let you be the first kid on the block with a 3G phone.

Pros:

• 3G Service
• Nice 1.3 megapixel camera
• Dual 262k color displays

Cons:

• Bulky
• Short standby battery life

What's in the Box:
VX8000 handset, standard lithium-polymer battery, home charger, stereo headset.

--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

Motorola V600 Phone (T-Mobile)

The tri-band Motorola V600 cell phone features Bluetooth connectivity, an integrated VGA digital camera, and MMS with video clip playback. You'll also get "Situational Lights"--a feature that lets you light colors for various types of calls--and much more, all displayed on a large, high-resolution 176 x 220 pixels, 65,000 color interior screen.

The basic Motorola clamshell format continues to provide a solid and attractive option for any dedicated cell phone user. Its steel frame is compact and attractive, (the faceplate-changing capabilities seem a bit unnecessary) and it's loaded with all the essential features you'll need for power usage plus a few bonuses. You may find the volume a bit high out of the box, and it goes into hibernate almost as fast as you can dial a number, but these are minor, adjustable quibbles on a truly stellar phone.

Calling Features

See a detailed view of the phone's features, front and back.

Used simply as a cell phone, the V600 features a five-way navigation key with multiple dedicated function keys for easy menu navigation. Primary calling features include voice dialing, integrated speakerphone, vibrate mode, call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, any-key answer, auto-answer, auto-redial, roaming indicator, speed dial, linked (credit card) dialing, phonebook look-up, phonebook scroll, mute control, no-answer transfer, one-touch 911, system select, usage alert, and a phone book of up to 1250 entries, including picture caller ID functionality. When the phone is closed, its external screen (two lines, 96 x 32 pixelss) displays caller ID, date, time, and various status icons, including text message waiting, voice message waiting, battery and signal strength, and voice and message mail. There's even a blue backlight on the secondary display for nighttime viewing.

The V600 sports well-placed, well-machined keys, and its compact size does nothing to hinder dialing even for large-fingered users. The solid scroll keys bring you to very intuitive menus presented nicely on a single screen, marked by functional but showier-than-necessary graphics. There are also dedicated external buttons for speaker volume, voice recording, and ring volume.

Messaging and Internet
The advanced MMS capabilities built in to the V600 enable users to send, edit, forward, and receive image, text, audio, and video messages over the wireless Internet, to and from compatible phones or PCs. (Messages can run up to 100k in size.) You'll also get instant messaging capability, messaging templates, SMS two-way messaging, conventional email, and predictive text assistance. Beyond messaging, the V600's Internet connectivity lets you access online services such as stock quotes, road directions, airline information, entertainment, and more. You can also download Java applications (version CLDC 1.0, MIDP 2.0, 100k per application limit) for which the phone provides 5 MB total (shared) memory. High-speed data transfer and download round out the package. The V600 supports digital TTY/TDD functionality for the hearing impaired.

Organizer
Organizer features include a calendar, calculator with currency converter, date book with event storage, and voice memo. You can also transfer this data to your PC wirelessly via the phone's Bluetooth capability.

We found the V600's appointment scheduling to be right in line with our fairly basic needs. Other than the universal annoyance of pecking out appointment details with the ten-key letter system (there's no QWERTY keyboard here as you'll find on some of the more recent, albeit early-adopter phones) this phone's organizer features provided enough data entry space for any busy person taking these functions seriously, but no more.

Fun and Games
For fun, the V600 sports a built-in 640 x 480 pixels integrated digital camera with zoom and brightness adjustment functions. Pictures taken with the camera can be stored in the phone or sent to others via multimedia messaging. The 5 MB of memory available for storing pictures is also shared with whatever wallpapers, screensavers, ring tones, Java applications, or games you may download from the Internet. The V600 also features 24 chord ring tone capability. Users can assign different tones for different callers in the V600's phonebook, and assign separate tones to denote incoming messages, faxes, and reminders. Wireless multiplayer gaming capabilities and two included games, "Bejeweled" and "Stuntman", round out the entertainment perks that ship with this phone.

Conclusions
We liked this phone's very basic camera. It was easy to use and worry-free and the device can be accessed instantly from the phone's top level screen menu. From power on, it only took us a moment to take and save a fairly nice picture. However, photo quality is only adequate; about as good as you'd expect for a cell phone circa 2004, as opposed to a dedicated digital camera. We also found the ring tones included with the phone to be generally pleasant, and it was a breeze to assign a custom tone to a number in the phonebook, thanks again to the easy menu system. The included games were basic and fairly fun (at least once). In "Stuntman", the phone's vibrate mode provided road rumble as a little car skidded around a bland, full-color stunt course. But player beware! Once the game starts, the volume becomes LOUD and is not apparently adjustable. Finally, there is a nutty little feature called Motomixer, which lets you modify various settings on little songs that you can download, emulating a very rudimentary, miniature studio console.

In all, we found the Motorola V600 to be a rock solid, highly effective cell phone with attractive and efficient graphic and audio capabilities. We recommend the V600 without reservations for any serious user.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V600's security features include call restrictions, phone lock, and new password capability. The phone weighs 4.4 ounces and measures 3.46 x 1.85 x 0.91 inches. Its lithium-ion batteries are rated at up to 390 minutes talk time, and up to 175 hours standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 frequencies. In the box, you'll receive the V600, instruction manuals, a high capacity li-ion battery, a headset/earbud, and a battery charger.

Sony Ericsson S710a Phone (Cingular)

Just when you thought Sony Ericsson phones couldn't get any cooler, the s710a comes along, sporting an elegant, rotating design, support for high speed data networks, and a powerful integrated camera. Add these to a jumbo screen, Bluetooth, and support for expandable memory, and you've got one serious contender in the race to deliver the coolest of the cool in the high-end phone category.

Design

Click the image to get a closer look at the s710a's features.

The s710a's swiveling design means that the keypad is only revealed when you need it. Because of this design, the phone more resembles a digital camera, with a massive 240 x 320 display on one side and a pronounced camera system on the other. There's even a grip on the back for holding the phone sideways when capturing photos. The camera unit, which is protected by a lens cover, features 1280 x 960 resolution (1.3 megapixel), as well as an LED flash. Meanwhile, a five-way directional button on the front of the device controls most of the phone's menus and features. A Memory Stick DUO slot is provided on the right side for easy memory expansion, and the phone ships with a 32 MB card included. In addition to USB and Bluetooth connectivity, the s710a also has an infrared receiver for data synchronization.

Calling Features
The s710a's phone book can hold up to 510 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls. The phone's voice activated dialing makes calling up to 50 of your contacts as easy as saying their names, while the built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are included and there's even a bundled application that lets you mix your own ringtones with up to 16 tracks. Picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. For those times you want to keep things discreet, there's a vibrate ringer mode.

It's a 1.3 megapixel camera!

No, wait, it's a media viewer with a massive 2.3-inch screen.

Oh my gosh! It's also a phone!

Because the s710a is Bluetooth-enabled, you can use a variety of headsets and handsfree kits for total wireless freedom when you're on the go.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
If you're looking for a mobile office partner, the s710a has you covered. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, sound and video via SMS or MMS messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging possibilities. Instant messaging is also supported and the phone ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols (Cingular messaging charges apply). Cingular has generously pre-configured email account settings for BellSouth, SBC, and Earthlink. There's also a built-in Web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Getting on the Internet is easy with the s710a, as it supports the GPRS protocol, as well as the new, high speed EDGE data protocol. When used with a Cingular data plan and the phone's Bluetooth or USB data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. Enjoy broadband speeds in EDGE-enabled service areas.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the s710a, including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a calendar and an alarm clock. Use the s710a's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth accessory or connect to a computer or hand-held device to exchange and synchronize data. The phone also supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard. This means the phone can be used with the included Sony Ericsson Sync Station software, which lets you synchronize your Microsoft Outlook calendar, contacts, notes and tasks with your s710a.

Imaging and Entertainment
As mentioned, the phone sports a powerful 1.3 megapixel camera and flash. The camera also features an 8x zoom capability, as well as support for video capture. You can capture as much video as you like, as long as there is available memory.

The s710a is a powerful gaming companion, too, with support for enhanced, Java-based 3D gaming. The phone comes preloaded with several games and more are downloadable from both Sony Ericsson and Cingular's MEdia service. Lastly, the s710a has a nifty MP3 player, so you can load up your memory card and listen to tunes while you're on the go.

Vital Statistics
The Sony Ericsson s710a weighs 4.83 ounces and measures 4.23 x 1.93 x .96 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 7 hours of digital talk time, and up to 300 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
s710a handset, lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user's manual, application software.

PCS Phone Sanyo RL-4920 (Sprint)

The Sanyo RL-4920's supports Sprint's Ready Link walkie-talkie feature, which makes it easy to instantly communicate with anyone on a Ready Link capable phone. When you add that to great battery life (up to 5.5 hours), a color screen, a speakerphone and support for PCS vision services, you've got a powerful tool for mobile productivity.

Design
The RL-4920's sporty candybar form factor sports a 128 x 112, 65,000-color display. An extendable antenna is located on the top right side of the phone and the rear panel is dominated by a speaker for speakerphone and voice dialing applications. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. The Ready Link service is operated by a button on the left side of the phone-- walkie-talkie style. A 2.5mm headset jack is also provided, as is a USB-compatible data connector.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book allows you to assign up to 300 entries, each storing seven numbers, with a total capacity for 500 numbers and 300 email and Web addresses. A separate Ready Link phone book provides easy access to 200 personal contacts and 200 company-provided contacts. You can customize your caller ID by linking a downloaded image or photo to a specific phone number in your phone book. Choose from 11 multi-chord, melodic ring tones and eight traditional ring tones, including vibrating alert. The RL-4920's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911 (where available). Perhaps most importantly for users in rural areas, the RL-4920 is a tri-mode phone, meaning it can operate on Sprint's digital PCS network, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas.

Hands-free operation of your phone is easy with the built-in speakerphone. Voice recognition allows you to speak the name of anyone in your phonebook for rapid dialing. The RL-4920's Ready Link feature lets you enjoy the convenience of quick, walkie-talkie style communication at the touch of a button with one or several Ready Link users anywhere you go (Sprint PCS Ready Link service charges apply).

Messaging, Internet and Tools
If you need basic messaging capabilities, the RL-4920 has you covered as support is built-in for sending and receiving SMS text messages (Sprint PCS text messaging charges apply). T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built-into the unit-- a plus for text messaging users.

The phone also supports PCS Vision email and instant messaging capabilities. Sprint PCS Vision transforms the wireless experience from something that's simply functional into something visual, entertaining and highly personalized. MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and AOL Instant Messenger are all supported by Sprint's PCS Vision service. PCS Vision mobile Web services let you check out sports scores, get your seven-day forecast, check your flight status, and stay up to date with the latest news. Experience full-color graphic versions of popular Web sites.

For business users, the RL-4920 offers something special. Sprint PCS Business Connection service is supported by the phone and it gives you secure, remote, real-time access to Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes information-- including email messages and attachments, calendar, business directory and personal contacts. You can also respond to meeting requests, access documents stored on your desktop PC, and view email from Internet email accounts, including Sprint PCS Mail, Yahoo!, Earthlink and more.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the RL-4920 including a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock, and a to-do list and scheduler. A voice recorder lets you record up to 50 minutes of voice memos for later retrieval or download to a PC.

Entertainment
The RL-4920 lets you choose different font sizes when sending messages or accessing your browser. You can also choose one of four background screens for your phone's display. With PCS Vision service, you can download games like Tetris and Pac-Man, as well as additional ringers, screensavers and backgrounds.

Vital Statistics
The Sanyo RL-4920 weighs 4.03 ounces and measures 4.22 x 1.85 x .89 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 168 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the AMPS 800/CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
RL-4920 handset, AC battery charger, lithium-ion battery, user's manual.

T-Mobile Sidekick with Camera Attachment (T-Mobile)

Sony Ericsson T610 Phone (T-Mobile)

The Sony Ericsson T610 features a built-in digital camera, Bluetooth, multimedia messaging, polyphonic ringtones, and tons of ways for you to personalize its look and feel. Quality materials and a large color display give this phone its sophisticated personality. It's the perfect complement to T-Mobile service.

Design
The phone features a bright, clear 128 x 160 screen with 65,536 colors. The stylish candybar form factor of the phone will turn heads and get attention, while the quick camera buttons and easy-to-use center control toggle make it a snap to operate the T610. Charging and data connectivity are provided on the bottom of the phone, while an infrared transmitter for synchronizing contacts and data is housed on the top of the device. Meanwhile, the phone's CIF-resolution (352 x 288) camera is housed on the back panel.

An onboard joystick and iconic menu make for easy navigation.

Calling Features
When you're calling, you'll enjoy essential features like redial, vibrating alert, speed dialing, and side volume keys, as well as choice extras like sleep mode, menu shortcuts, keypad lock, SIM card lock, voice control, and status view. Create your own ringtones with the built-in MusicDJ using a library of pre-loaded instruments, rhythms, and melodies. Further, the phone's 32-voice polyphonic ringtones make your incoming calls sound like music to your ears. Use the ringtones that come with your phone or download new ones from T-Mobile's t-zones mobile Internet service. And because the T610 has Bluetooth built in, you can use a wide array of Bluetooth-compatible headsets for total wireless freedom.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The T610 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, graphics and sound via messages. Multimedia messaging (MMS) lets you compose your messages using images, sounds and text. Sony-Ericsson's QuickShare feature, meanwhile, lets you share content with other devices, other phones, even your computer--just drag and drop pictures from your PC to your phone. Instant messaging is also supported and the phone ships with a built-in email client (T-Mobile messaging charges apply). T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

The T610 has a built-in camera with 2MB of onboard storage.

Getting on the Internet is easy with the T610, as well. It supports the GPRS protocol for speedy downloads and wireless Web access. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get sports scores, download games and ringtones, and more.

The T610's Bluetooth capability lets you connect, wirelessly, to a laptop, a PDA, or another Bluetooth phone, and users of Apple computers can synchronize their calendars and contact information with the T610 using iSync, Apple's free synchronization software.

A number of handy tools come with the phone, including a memo pad, a calculator, business card exchange, a calendar, and a tasks list. There's also a full-featured clock, which includes a stopwatch, an alarm, and a handy timer.

Imaging and Entertainment
The camera T610's camera couldn't be easier to operate, with just one click to activate it and another to take a picture. Want to view your pictures on your computer screen? The T610 can automatically enlarge pictures to VGA size (480 x 640 pixels). Software included in the phone recalculates picture size without sacrificing quality.

Mobile gaming has never looked better than on the T610's high quality screen. Force and sound feedback guarantees full-throttle fun. The T610 comes with a variety of embedded games, including the legendary racing game V-Rally 2, and many more are available for download.

Vital Statistics
The Sony-Ericsson T610 weighs 3.26 ounces and measures 4.02 x 1.69 x 0.67 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 9 hours of digital talk time, and up to 300 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS 800/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
T610 handset, SIM card, battery, charging cord, user's manual, and warranty information

Motorola T720i Phone with Camera Attachment (T-Mobile)

The petite T720i fits in a pocket but still offers some big features, such as a large, color screen; GPRS data transfer that supports EMS, SMS Chat, and MMS; and downloadable games, graphics, and ring tones. Possibly the most exciting feature of the T720i, however, is the included digital camera attachment, which lets you take photos from the phone itself and wirelessly send picture messages.

This phone has a sleek metallic gray exterior and a delicate clamshell design that requires a little more care than Motorola’s more rugged phones, such as the V66. When the cover is closed, an external LCD screen conveniently displays the date, time, and caller ID, plus signal and battery strength. When the flip phone is opened, the stunning 4,096-color screen is revealed.

The 7- to 9-line screen is a large enough palette to take advantage of some of the phone’s key features, such as viewing photos, surfing the Web, or playing rich Java 2-powered games. (MotoGP is included, but more are downloadable from Motorola’s Web site.) A button centered just under the screen takes you to the main menu, which has an intuitive iconic interface. This button is flanked by two other navigational buttons and another round, multi-directional button below helps you navigate through the menu or get right into four different features from the main screen according to your preference. Buttons are well-spaced but the multi-directional joystick-like button was a little bit difficult to control, even for small fingers.

The T720i was one of the easiest phones to set preferences for that we’ve encountered. We programmed all of our buttons to go to the features we used the most and found it very handy. In addition, we customized the color of the main screen to pacific blue, a color choice that offered the best contrast, and set our screen saver to an EMS file of a devil. For our ring tone, we chose Deep Purple’s "Smoke on the Water," which, with the rich harmonies of polyphonic ringers, sounded almost like the original. The phone comes loaded with 50 different ring tones, so you can choose a more conservative ring or download additional choices.

The sound during calls was a little bit tinny but not overly so. Our tests of the voice-activated dialing proved excellent. We recorded the name of our contact with a child screaming in the background and the phone still detected the contact’s name later in a quiet room and dialed her number. The 720i holds up to 500 phone book entries, which is a large amount for the average caller. However, phone numbers and email addresses for one contact are stored as separate entries, filling up those 500 slots much more quickly. While a small letter icon designates which of your two entries is the email address, we still found it confusing.

We sent a text message from the 720i to a friend from our address book and got a quick response, confirming that data transfer was fast. Inputting the message was tedious, but the phone includes a handy list of 10 Quick Notes with common text phrases, such as "Where is the meeting?" and "I am late and will be there in __ minutes." You can even compose and save your own phrases to save time on keying them in.

The hot feature on this phone is its ability to take photos using the camera attachment. The picture-taking feature seems more fun than functional, but might be appealing for professionals such as home inspectors or insurance adjusters who need a cell phone and lightweight camera for their work. The camera snaps onto the bottom of the phone and has an 180-degree rotating lens to photograph everything from shoes to sky and store them as jpeg images in 640 x 480 resolution. It stores up to 48 pictures at a time, which you can then e-mail to friends or view on the T720i’s color screen as a photo album or slideshow. The only downside is that the digital camera shares memory with other digital applications on the phone, so storage space is limited.

Overall we think this is a great phone for early adopters who want all the most recent innovations in one phone—Web access, Java 2 games, MMS, and a digital camera. It’s great for business use but the hip features will likely appeal more to the social cell phone user. --Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Separate camera attachment for taking photos and sending picture messages
• Fast GPRS data transfer
• Java 2 for playing graphically enriched games
• Easy to customize

Cons:

• Phone number and Web address for one contact are separate entries in phone book
• Camera attachment shares phone’s digital memory

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.

PCS Phone Sanyo MM-7400 (Sprint)

The Sanyo MM-7400 has many of the high-end features discriminating wireless users have come to expect; video messaging, streaming video playback, an LED camera with flash, and Ready Link walkie-talkie capability, all wrapped up in a stylish form factor. It's a great choice for those who want to take hold of the power of Sprint's PCS Vision services.

Design
The MM-7400's sporty clamshell form factor features rubberized trim for greater durability. The top cover houses an internal 176 x 220, 65,000-color display. There's also a supplementary, 64 x 64 full color display on the outside of the cover that displays pictures, call information, battery life, time of day, signal strength and more. An extendable antenna is located on the top right side of the phone. The outside cover also features a large speaker/microphone for speakerphone and voice recognition applications. A VGA camera and LED flash unit are housed just above the speakerphone. Snap-on faceplates are available, letting you dress up the phone to suit your style. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. The Ready Link service is operated by a button on the left side of the phone-- walkie-talkie style. A 2.5mm headset jack is also provided.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book allows you to assign up to 300 entries, each storing seven numbers, with a total capacity for 500 numbers and 300 email and Web addresses. A separate Ready Link phone book provides easy access to 200 personal contacts and 200 company-provided contacts. You can customize your caller ID by linking an image, color or photo to a specific phone number in your phone book. The phone supports ringers with up to 72-chord polyphonic sound and you can choose from multi-chord, melodic ring tones and other traditional ring tones, including vibrating alert. Meeting mode lets you press a button to auto-answer a call and place it on hold, providing you enough time to exit your meeting and take the call.

The MM-7400's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911 (where available). Perhaps most importantly for users in rural areas, the MM-7400 is a tri-mode phone, meaning it can operate on Sprint's digital PCS network, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas.

Hands-free operation of the MM-7400 is easy with the built-in speakerphone while enhanced voice recognition allows you to speak numbers digit by digit or speak the name of anyone in your phonebook. You can also command the phone to give you a status update on battery and coverage strength. Voice features are speaker-independent, so there's no need to train the phone to respond to any one person's voice.

The MM-7400's Ready Link feature lets you enjoy the convenience of quick, walkie-talkie style communication at the touch of a button with one or several Ready Link users anywhere you go (Sprint PCS Ready Link service charges apply).

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The MM-7400 covers the messaging basics with support for sending and receiving text and picture messages. With Sprint PCS Picture Mail, you can take a picture anytime and send it to family and friends instantly while on the Sprint PCS Network (Sprint messaging charges apply). Easily save your pictures on your MM-7400 or store them online at sprint.com/picturemail, where you can share and upload unlimited pictures to create albums. Because the MM-7400 supports video capture and playback, you can also send video messages via Sprint PCS video mail. Store them online, or send them to computers or other Sprint PCS Vision video phones. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built-into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

The phone also supports PCS Vision email and instant messaging capabilities. Sprint PCS Vision transforms the wireless experience from something that's simply functional into something visual, entertaining and highly personalized. MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and AOL Instant Messenger are all supported by Sprint's PCS Vision service. PCS Vision mobile Web services let you check out sports scores, get your seven-day forecast, check your flight status, and stay up to date with the latest news. Experience full-color graphic versions of popular Web sites. The phone also supports multimedia services that, with the built-in Sprint Media Player, allow you to see and hear the latest news, sports, weather and more in full-color video and vivid sound while on the go.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the MM-7400 including a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock, and a to-do list and scheduler. A voice recorder lets you record up to 72 seconds of voice memos for later retrieval.

Imaging and Entertainment
As mentioned, the MM-7400 features a built-in VGA still and video camera with zoom and autofocus features. Capture clips up to 30 seconds in length and save them or send them to friends via Sprint PCS video messaging. Again, the phone's built-in video player lets you view video content on your phone.

The MM-7400 lets you choose between different font sizes for easier reading, and there are four different background screens for the phone's display. With PCS Vision service, you can download games like Tetris and Pac-Man, as well as addition