Samsung SGH T739 Katalyst (T-Mobile)

If you've read my reviews of other Samsung sliders you know I like them for the most part. This one is another solid performer without any of the physical weaknesses that plagued the U600.

Here's The Rundown:

What I Liked About This Model

1- The slide mechanism is crisp but well damped.
2- The LCD lens is nicely inset which protects it from incidental bumps and hits.
3- The navigation and soft keys are clearly defined and easy to use.
4- The numeric keypad is well backlit in white and incredibly easy to read.
6- The screen is bright and clear.
7- Another fast User Interface. Nokia - take notes!
8- UMA is a breeze to set up with T-Mo router and only slightly more complicated with a "Brand-X" wireless router using encryption.
9- Voice is loud and clear
10- Signal is strong for both Tower and Router signals. Good handoffs between them.
11- Goodies include MP3, a couple of demo games, IM.
12- Fairly complete PIM functions.
13- The grey and chrome is a nice understated approach. I'm getting tired of black phones.

What's Not So Hot

1- The numeric keypad is slick,flat and homogeneous.
2- PIM functions are buried under "Fun and Apps" icon on the main menu.
3- Way too many opportunities to visit T-Zones in the sub-menus.
4- Camera is only 1.3 megapixels. 2.0 is now standard.
5- Charger port does triple duty as headphone and data port.
6- No flash for the camera.
7- What is up with that funky microSD interface? I'm afraid to use it for fear of bending the flimsy looking metal retainer.
8- When in a sub-menu that takes you to the Internet if you cancel out of the Internet you fall back to the standby screen rather than the sub-menu from where you began.
9- Limited to white and black skins. That's exactly what was on the D900 that came out in June of 06. This came out 13 months later. In the rapidly changing world of mobile phones you'd think they would have tweaked this a bit.
10- The rest of the world has gone to 240 x 320 for their LCD, this is still a very Motorola like 176 x 220.
11- Can not copy and paste text from SMS messages. How tough can it be to arrange for that? This is especially vexing when it comes time to enter the passkey for the UMA network. On other handsets I'd SMS the passkey to the phone, cut and paste it into the passley entry window and be on line. Here I you have to enter each case sensitive character.
12- Bluetooth is very limited. Head Set Profile (HSP)and Hands Free Profile (HFP) are all that is available. No file exchange, object push nor any other useful profiles.

The Wrap!

As you see despite my gripes I give this phone an excellent rating. There is very little in the list above that actually detracts from the functioning of the device. The keypad issue is an issue of convenience rather than function. It works great but I have to look at it when I'm using it.

I've used this model and the Nokia 6301 for their UMA access to the T-Mobile network. Both do a fine job. I prefer the Nokia for it's smaller size,better camera and more versitile SMS functions. I've reviewed it as well.

This is the phone my teenage son uses now. He likes it and is well pleased with it. It took him a while to transition to it from his Nokia 6133. Flip v. slider, Nokia UI v Samsung UI. He's glad he made the change, my phone is bill is glad. This is easy on the battery, easy to use and easy on the eye as well. If you like sliders, have T-Mobile and a wireless router this is the ideal phone for you