Samsung A610 Phone (Verizon Wireless)

With a unique flip cover that lets you view the screen while the phone is closed, a VGA camera, advanced voice dialing and speech recognition and much more, the Samsung A610 is a powerful, yet affordable, mobile companion. It's the perfect complement to Verizon Wireless service.

Design
The phone features a unique swiveling clamshell design with a large 128 x 160 pixels color display with 65,000 colors. The screen can be oriented to face outwards when you are snapping pictures, or to view caller ID pictures. 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. A swiveling VGA camera (640 x 480) allows you to orient the camera to get the best shot and to point it at yourself for self-portraits. The top right side of the unit houses an antenna while the charging port is housed on the unit's bottom edge. The phone also features a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets. Up/down keys are located on the left side of the unit for quick volume control.

Calling Features
The A610'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 colorful pictures and photos with callers to identify them. The A610 features speaker-independent voice recognition, which allows any user to dial a number by speaking the name of a contact from a phone book, or by speaking the digits of a phone number. GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The A610 covers the messaging basics with support for sending and receiving text and picture messages via the MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) protocol. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. 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 A610, as well. 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.

Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with the A610. 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.

The A610 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
The A610's built-in swiveling camera includes a self-timer and a flash-- great for getting good shots in low light situations. The phone also features customizable screen backgrounds so you can make your phone reflect your personality. The A610 is BREW enabled, meaning it supports games written on the BREW platform. Games are available via the Get It Now service.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung A610 weighs 4.23 ounces and measures 3.50 x 1.90 x .90 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of digital talk time, and up to 216 hours of digital standby time. It runs on It runs on the CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Samsung A610 handset, AC battery charger, lithium-ion battery, user manual, welcome CD-ROM, quick reference guide.

1 Be prepared to get it fixed a lot
I have had major problems with the one screw holding the flip together withe the rest of the phone. It loosens up and your flip is no longer stable you have to go get that screw tightened or do it yourself. If for some reason you don't get it tightened in a timely manner the the ribbon cable will get damaged and your phone will break in one fashion or another. I am on the third of this phone. First one lost audio, second lost the screen. Verizon refuses to do anything about my dissatisfation with this phone. They will just keep replacing this one. I have had one nice manager say he would let me void the last year of my contract so that I could buy a new phone and sign a new contract with him. Not biting. I have been with Verizon 8 years but, I am going to go to Verizon corporate, and if they can also do nothing for me I am finishing out my contract and going to another company. All this over one phone.

2 Fun Phone
I love this phone. I live in an area that is essentially a blackhole for wireless service & I can usually get at least 1 or 2 bars. Service inside the 'big box' type stores is hideous, though.
The specific reason I chose this phone is the photo caller ID which I have found emmensely helpful & fun to play with. I find it much easier to look at a picture rather than trying to read the name & number. My only difficulty so far has been sending pix messages, but that may just be me & not the phone. The battery lasts a long time & finding my way around the phone was a fairly simple process given my track record with electronics.

3 great phone
great reception, great screen, good sound, long lasting battery,
attractive, always 5 bar service, previous reviewer on drugs.
5 stars or 6 if were possible.

4 do not purchase
Terrible phone. It is bulky, has terrible operating software (constantly crashes), and worst of all it has roten reception. I live in a major metro area and get at best 1 bar of reception (an I regularly update the antenna setting). I replaced an old motorola flip flip-phone with this. Now I am trapped in a 2 year contract and cannot upgrade for a while. AVOID My Mistake.

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