Samsung's SCH-i600

I'm a physician and my profession is a highly mobile one. I first became aware of Microsoft's intent to get into the smart cellular phone business several years ago at one of their mobility conferences. Since that time, I have been anxiously waiting for the opportunity to incorporate one of these incredible devices into my daily routine. Windows Mobile Smartphones have been available to users in Europe and Asia for the past 8 months, but we Yanks have had to wait patiently while U.S. wireless service providers tested the devices thoroughly to insure compatibility and ease of use. Fortunately, the testing is over, and Verizon Wireless has recently introduced the world's only Windows Mobile Smartphone for CDMA networks, the Samsung i600. In this author's opinion, the wait was well worth it!

Small and powerful, with a sturdy clamshell design

The Samsung i600 delivers all the features of current Web-enabled mobile phones, and more, in a small, clamshell design that is roughly the same size and only a fraction of an ounce heavier. With it you can wirelessly access the Internet to view Web sites, access e-mail, and download personalized content, including ring tones, wallpaper, games, and more. This slim, lightweight device does not have a touchscreen or stylus. Instead, it offers one-handed navigation and predictive text entry, which is fairly easy to use. However, I've been using a touchscreen for the past decade, and often find myself tapping on the i600's screen with my index finger in a futile attempt to navigate. Samsung's i500, a Palm OS-based device, does have a touchscreen. I find it easier to use and would prefer that Microsoft and device manufacturers incorporate touchscreen capability into the next generation of Windows Mobile Smartphones. (See my further comments on the subject in the sidebar on page 16.)

What sets the Samsung i600 (and the Motorola MPx200) apart from other Windows Mobile Smartphones is its clamshell design. It is also the first CDMA Smartphone. The Verizon and Sprint networks in the U.S. are based on CDMA technology. Currently Verizon Wireless is the only U.S. carrier distributing the i600.

The i600 has a sleek silver metallic finish and a solid, ergonomic feel. The device sports a small external monochrome display that lets you check caller ID and remaining battery life without having to open the phone. The top of the device has an IrDA port, and a cutout to which you can attach a carrying strap. The headphone/hands-free jack, the volume controls, and the voice record button are located on the left side of the device. The right side has a "Quick List" launch button that allows you to lock the device, turn off the radio (for airplane mode), and more, quickly and easily. Below this button is the Internet application launch button that lets you access the Web quickly. None of these buttons can be reassigned to launch other applications, a feature found on Pocket PCs. I would love to see that capability in a future Smartphone.

Oversized color screen

On opening the clamshell, I was immediately impressed with the brilliant color screen. Larger than your typical color cell phone's display, the vivid TFT (thin film transistor) screen offers one of the most advanced screen technologies available today. Comparing it to the screen on the Motorola MPx200, the i600 is noticeably brighter at identical screen settings.Samsung has pioneered TFT technology, and with 65,000 colors, the i600 provides excellent imaging for multimedia such as video clips, photos, games, Web sites, e-mails, etc.

Comfortable, easy-to-use navigation