V Cast TV could launch March 1
Samsung SCH-U620 Mobi
(Credit: Samsung)The tech sites are buzzing with loads of Verizon Wireless dish today. First and foremost, it's now almost certain that Verizon's V Cast TV is aiming for a March 1 launch date. That's a bit sooner than we expected (Verizon originally said near the end of March) so it's very good news indeed. If you remember, V Cast so wowed us at CES that we chose it as our best in show pick for the cell phone category.
Though Verizon showed two V Cast TV phones at CES--the LG VX9400 and the Samsung SCH-U620 (aka the Mobi)--it appears the Mobi will launch first. That's a bit disappointing as we were partial to the LG handset but we're still eager to give the Mobi a formal review nonetheless. My: Tech News blog found the Mobi on Verizon's Testman Web site earlier today but we were unable to locate it when we looked. But in any case, the Testman site has always been a reliable indicator of what will be in Verizon stores soon. The Mobi should cost a reasonable $149.99 with a two-year contract, but we're still waiting on exact pricing details for the TV service.
Samsung SCH-U340
(Credit: Mobiledia)
Nokia 6265i
(Credit: Nokia)Also in Verizon land, a sharp-eyed Crave reader told us he sighted the Nokia 6265i on a Yahoo.com page. Though Verizon has yet to announce the phone, Yahoo lists it as "coming soon" for the carrier (it's available already with MetroPCS). On the other hand, Verizon has launched the low-end Samsung SCH-U340. Armed with a VGA camera, a speakerphone, and a simple flip phone design, the SCH-U340 is free with service.
Thanks Austin and Trevor
Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent. 
I was waiting for a long time for Verizon to come out with a new compact, durable slider.
I did not like the Chocolate and was happy to see the U620 with all of its features.
After reading the following review you can decide if having a TV on your phone worth having this phone and I'll be glad to answer question via email Ori@InteriorArt.com
I would like to than Rudy the VZW manager of GSP store in Paramus NJ for his help.
Pros:
? Well built slider with spring action.
? Many tasks that do not require keyboard or digits can be done without opening the slider. This is an advantage over the limitation of the SE47. These tasks includes: Answering calls, dialing to recent callers, view Text message (see negative comment about ?direct view?), watch TV, view missed calls and even taking pictures and more. You must ?unlock? before performing these tasks to prevent accidental operation.
? Nice display and vibrant colors. (Battery drainer)
? Live streaming TV - (Battery drainer) this is a great feature and the quality is excellent.
? I know that the signal in NYC area is not yet at full strength but I get good reception in many places in Northern NJ except inside the Verizon wireless store on Rt. 4 west in Paramus.
? Loud speakerphone and sensitive microphone.
? Nice large keypad compared to the Kyocera SE47, easy TXT
? Large fonts to dial out
? Easy to navigate the menu and get used to the features.
? Fairly good reception but not as good as the SE47
? Side buttons are easy to operate and do not interrupt normal operation if accidentally pressed.
Cons:
? No "Backup Assistant" in Get-It-Now so you can't transfer you phonebook that you saved online (I had 250 contacts and more that 800 saved numbers. Thanks to Darryl at the Paramus store the took my advise to use the data cable from the A930 and my old SE47 they were able to transfer all my contacts and most of my numbers.) This is a major screw up of whoever put the software inside this phone, GO BACK TO SCHOOL!
? While charging the phone the display is always on, this slows down the charging time and possibly prevents the phone from ever reaching a full charge. The display is so bright while charging that I had to turn the phone over so I can darken my bedroom at night.
? Extra small font when browsing the net with MobilWeb compared to the large fonts on the same page if you are using the Samsung U740, (Thanks again Rudy) I am 44 years old and see 20/20 but the fonts are too small to get used too.
? Many ?security error? on the browser while viewing my ?Mobil Mail? on Go Daddy?s secure site. I view the exact same page with the 740 and did not get even one error. It kept on coming over and over and only after refreshing 3 times per email for the first 5 emails the problem was gone but kept coming back every time I check my mail.
? No external buttons for music players. Only the standard Vcast music player.
? While playing music the V-Cast red screen is on at all time and drains the battery.
? There is no way to turn it off so expect less that 2 hours of playing time before you need to recharge.
? The menu lacks basic features like ?Direct View? for text msg; this is a slider with one front display so why not make a direct view like the one on the SE47.
? Weird icons that are not in the icon glossary ? this morning I setup the phone for Data call, while setting it up a text appeared explaining that the phone will switch to data mode for the next 10 minutes only. When the call was done I had on the front display an icon that looks like AA for about 3 hours and then it was gone. ???
? Battery life is bad. Even though it says 1000ma on the battery, it holds less charge than the 800ma of the U740 and much less than the SE47. In today?s technology world, when a company comes out with product for people ?on-the-go? they need to accommodate those users. By selling a phone with a battery life of lees than two hours of use (calling, MobilWeb, Text message & music playing) and less than one hour of TV is irresponsibility to their customers. Extended battery is not officially sold by Verizon; eBay has them but not the cover.
? My biggest disappointment came Tuesday night at 8pm when I was away from home and wanted to watch American Idol on this gadget but all I found on FOX was LA law re-runs for the next 2 hours. I checked the guide and there was not even a scheduled America Idol show.
? On the ?send Text Message? screen when selecting ?Add? with the soft key one of the option is ?Recent calls? but not ?recent Messages? as I was used to from the SE47. So you can only see those who called you last or outgoing calls but not any of your recent text message transactions. I sometime send text to emails and those SMS did not show in ?Recent Calls? so if you want to send an SMS to the last person that sent you SMS you have to find that person again in the contact list or go to the ?inbox?, find the sms, open it and ?Reply? (So much troubles for a simple task). It is so simple on the SE47.
My overall impression of this phone is that it was well built, well equipped, but poorly planned, poorly engineered and performs poorly.
Ori
Interior Art & Design, Inc.
Hackensack, New Jersey