Samsung SCH-a930
At first glance, the Samsung SCH-a930’s compact black body is easily mistaken for that of a common beeper or pager. Only once you notice the Verizon Wireless logo, external music control buttons, and cleverly integrated digital camera will you realize that this is a multimedia cell phone; and quite an advanced one at that.
When flipped open, this 4-ounce clamshell features a well-sized keypad and navigation keys, which make for some easy dialing and downloading. VoiceSignal technology is also included, allowing the phone to automatically recognize names save in your contact list, making calls and sending SMS messages on spoken command.
Fully integrated with Verizon’s V CAST wireless music network, the a930 can download songs over the air at a cost of $1.99 a pop. Alternatively, it’s possible to pick up your tunes on your computer at the V CAST online music store for $0.99 each, or simply load your existing music collection onto a microSD Card for listening on the go.
Playing music on the a930 is as simple as pressing a button, although you will have to put up with a 10 second wait for songs to boot up and play. The very pager-like external display lets you see which song is playing without opening the clamshell, while the aforementioned music control buttons are a simple way to pause, play, rewind, and fast-forward tracks.
One disappointing thing about this phone is its lack of stereo Bluetooth capability. Nevertheless, the handset’s own speakers offer perfectly adequate sound quality, and there’s always plenty of wired earphones to consider.
The a930’s built-in digital camera is well positioned, with a swiveling lens on the clamshell’s hinge, which makes self-portraits easier than ever. Photos taken in good conditions are of above average quality for a camera phone, but don’t expect much in a dimly lit room, due to the weak flash.
In terms of voice functionality, the CDMA/EV-DO-powered a930 generally maintains a strong signal, and provides a hiccup-free conversation experience, on 3.8 hours of talk time. This, combined with a very reasonable $99.99 price tag, make Samsung’s latest music phone a solid choice for the wireless multimedia-oriented user.