Product Description

Form meets function as you open the u740 in portrait mode to take and make calls, then switch to landscape mode to type messages, check email or surf the web. Sending text messages and emails is a breeze with a QWERTY Keyboard. Open the u740 in landscape mode and type. Download and view video on the multimedia capable u740 and while you are at it,download and play music and more with V CAST Music. With optional accessories, enjoy hands-free operation utilizing a Bluetooth Car Kit or Bluetooth Mono Headset. You can also sync your phonebook with your computer so your contacts are always up to date.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10596 in Cell Phone Accessories
• Color: Gold
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: U740
• Released on: 2007-04-13

Features

• Bluetooth Wireless Technology** - headset, hands-free, serial port and dial up networking profi les supported; OPP (for vCard only)
• 1.3 MegaPixel Digital Camera with Flash, Auto Focus and 10 Step Digital Zoom
• Directional Navigation Key for Ease of Use
• T9™ Text Input and full QWERTY keyboard for Easy Text Entry
• Includes: Standard Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, Headset Adapter and User's Guide

Customer Reviews

Verizon's best offering for texters...
After nearly six months in waiting to get rid of my old and broken Audiovox cellphone, I received my Samsung SCH-u740 from Fed-Ex. But, for the six months of waiting, I had some big choices to make. I am a texter. Verizon offers a $10 IN 500 text message plan that I have been using for a while now. But I hate how I have to use the classic cellphone text: three or four letters per number and painful headaches. Texting should not be a headache. And that's where the u740's QWERTY keyboard offering comes in handy...

The u740 is a dual hinge phone. It opens two ways: one like a standard flip phone and two like a laptop, from the side. When you open it like a standard flip phone, you'll see a nice D-Pad with a big "OK" button in the middle accompanied with two gray pre-set buttons to access Menu and Contacts or choose options while using the camera, etc. You'll also see small numbers with the standard texting system (pqrs, etc.) highlighted in gray. These buttons are also on the keyboard once you flip it the other way, revealing a full-scale QWERTY keyboard. When you're not typing a text message or in memo form, the gray buttons will act as numerical buttons in order for you to call people from the sideways-opening feature. It's a bit of a problem here, because calling people from the sideways feature requires you to remember your numbers all over again because they're sideways. (See the next paragraph for solutions...) The QWERTY keyboard is accompanied by a num lock button, which allows you to type in buttons to access symbols and numbers while texting. It makes it an easy and fluid feature.

The keyboard is a bit cramped, though, but there are some new features that come with the phone that make life a lot easier. For one, most new VZW phones come with VoiceSignal, a voice command feature that allows you to speak through the speakerphone to call people and translate your voice into a text message. "Dictate Message" allows you to say words you'd like to include in a text without typing--it requires a 3 minute session for VoiceSignal to become familiar with your voice. And, as long as you train it properly, it will say basic words right. But, longer words (such as "banana") take so much time. It took me 13 words to actually get banana, which was actually pretty sad. The feature isn't the best, but it's a step up. VoiceSignal allows you to call out numbers and people and have your phone immediately call them. This works great when you flip the phone sideways so you don't have to memorize typing numbers sideways.

Like most Verizon phones today, the u740 includes the full workings of the popular (argumentatively) VCAST service, which features Music, Video, Games, and News for download (for a fee). It also allows you to buy ring tones through applications for small fees and use VCAST Song ID, Verizon's latest technology that allows you to identify songs that are playing. This feature is rewarding and handy when you're on the road and here something you like, but it takes some time (I'd say about a minute in total). Unless you're an absolute music junkie, you might just want to go along your way and forget about it. The VCAST service only works in the sideways flip form, which is a bit odd. This phone has a nice speaker and could serve as a great music phone, except for the exclusion of the standard 2.5mm port. It comes with a headset adaptor that you plug in to the charger slot. Then, you must find the smaller headphones (or even get a different adapter for the standard port), which seems too much of a hassle to me. And, to download music from your PC to the u740 requires a VCAST Music package, which retails for $30.

The u740 has a decent camera (1.3MP) that takes great photos when the lighting is right. It also has a teeny stamp screen on the front, and I think that Samsung should have made the front screen a bit bigger. (The LG VX8600 has a lovely front screen that allows you to view texts from the front) And, it includes pre-set play, next song, and previous song buttons that are nice to use if you're listening to music. But, like all Verizon phones, you can't listen to any music while using other components of the phone, so it ain't that rewarding. On the sides of the phone, you have the charger slot, a handy microSD slot (for storing video, music, photos without having to go through the hassle of buying the VCAST music pack), a dedicated VoiceSignal button, a dedicated HOLD button, a volume rocker, but no dedicated camera button. This was quite surprising.

If you're looking at the u740, you've probably also looked at the VX990. If you have fat fingers and need to type on a full scale keyboard, the VX990 is probably for you, but at the same time, the u740 can fit in your pocket without revealing a big bump. The LG enV/VX990 cannot do that. This is why the phone is so enticing.

Overall, the u740 is a great phone that has really been good to me so far. Available in two colors, Champagne Gold or Black, the phone is sleek and sexy, thanks to its dual-hinge technology, QWERTY keyboard, and RAZR-like thinness. It's an attractive package and Verizon's best phone for texters. Right now, it retails for about $100.

So if you're in to texting and don't mind the cramped keyboard, take the u740 in stride and enjoy. I'm sure you will!

Pros:
*Dual-hinge flipping
*Full-scale QWERTY keyboard with symbols available through NUM LOCK
*Access to Verizon's large multimedia service, VCAST
*VCAST Song ID Capable
*microSD slot
*VoiceSignal/Dictate Message Service
*Sleek, sexy, and THIN like Motorola's RAZR.
*Great speakerphone

Cons:
*QWERTY keyboard is a bit cramped.
*No dedicated camera button on the outside of the phone.
*Stamp front screen that can only show the time.
*No standard headphone jack, even with adapter.

For the texting savvy: Recommended
For the phone user: Not Recommended
For the businessman replacing his smartphone: Not Recommended
For the teenager: Recommended

Great phone except for the calendar feature
I have had this phone for about a week, and I have been impressed overall. Since I don't use my phone for texting or music, some of its best features are probably wasted on me.

PROS:
* The 2 ways to flip it open make it totally unique and cool.
* The battery lasts longer than other phones I've had.
* The call quality is consistently good.
* It's slim like a RAZR in spite of the full keyboard perk.
* You can use voice recognition to compose a text message.

CONS:
* Many features only work in 1 orientation or the other.
* The smallest digit dial font is still huge - privacy issue.
* The Samsung calendar application has limited functionality.

This last liability is the reason I will be switching phones. I used the calendar on my old LG VX8100 a lot to keep track of my schedule and alert me with alarms. I don't want to carry a separate PDA or an oversized smartphone when I have a calendar in the phone I'm already carrying that does everything I need. In fact, I chose the U740 in hopes that the keyboard would make calendar entries faster, but it was not to be.

You can't use the Samsung calendar to make an appointment repeat in a useful way. For example, if you plug in Memorial Day on May 28 and set it to repeat every year, LG asks if you want it to repeat every May 28th, the 4th Monday in May, or the last Monday in May. Samsung figures you want it on the 28th of May every year and there's no alternative. Likewise, I keep my biweekly payday on my calendar. LG let me set it up for a given day every other week; Samsung makes it repeat every single week or not at all.

I called Verizon and they said that was the only calendar available for the Samsung and offered to let me switch phones. Mark it down in your diary, Verizon gave good customer service today.

At the Verizon store, I discovered that all Samsung phones use the weak application, while all LG phones use the calendar that I prefer.

I realize most peope don't care about the phone's calendar as much as I do, so I rated the phone a 4. With one notable exception, the phone is the best I've ever had, and I'm really disappointed about that one feature that's my dealbreaker.

A versatile and attractive choice, but some weaknesses
I've had this phone for 3 months, after using mostly blackberrys and Samsung flip phones for the past 7 years. Samsung makes very good phones. Overall: I am generally happy with the phone. The battery life is good, and the Verizon network is the best I have experienced ever. The phone looks great, and has many functions. However, I have not explored everything on this phone yet. The basic web function is good. The screen is excellent. I love the voice recognition software - it is excellent and works well. The speakerphone function is okay - not great, but useable. I have dropped it a few times, without a problem thus far. It is thin and the weight is acceptable. Complaints: It is easy to drop and rather slippery due to its very smooth and glossy exterior. The keypad is mediocre; Blackberry still has the best keypad for emails or other text. With this keypad, I need to use my nails. If I had no nails, I would find it very challenging. The calendar & calculator functions could be better integrated. Bottom line: I was hoping to use this as a PDA/phone, and am finding it difficult at times. I guess it was not truly designed to be used as a PDA, although it has the basic functions of a PDA. I haven't used the music function, so cannot speak to that.