Monday, November 28, 2005

Samsung A950 Entertainment Phone

The line between entertainment devices is getting more blurry every day. Take the Samsung A950 for instance. At first glance it appears to be a cell phone. We've gotten used to seeing camera lenses on cell phones, but how about loudspeakers? Yes, there are two small loudspeakers on this phone. They're built into the display hinge. There's also a slot for an expandable memory card. That's so you can copy songs from your computer and play them back on your telephone. You'll enjoy listening to your tunes when you aren't busy watching on-demand TV clips. Or, maybe you'll even make a phone call... if you're not too busy.

The Samsung A950 is a true entertainment device in a clamshell-style case. The phone itself runs on the Verizon Wireless network, which is significant. Verizon's VCAST service is pioneering the move to TV on cell phones. This isn't the kind of TV that you flip channels and watch for yours. Instead, it's streaming video and audio up to 5 minutes long per clip. You can get dozens of broadcasts per day of breaking news, weather reports, sports highlights, comedy shows, entertainment industry gossip, and stock reports.

What's makes VCAST technology possible is the broadband cellular network called EV-DO that Verizon is deploying around the country. Like DSL or Cable Internet, EV-DO provides an average of 400 Kbps to 700 Kbps downloads with bursts up to 2 Mbps. It's broadband for your cell phone. As of this writing, VCAST is available in 171 major metropolitan areas in the United States, including 68 primary airports. Coverage is expanding all the time, as Verizon continues to roll out its cellular broadband service.

Even when you are outside of VCAST coverage, you'll be able to listen to your tunes on the built-in MP3 player that can drive stereo headphones or those built-in stereo speakers. You'll need to pick up a plug in memory card to use this feature and load the songs on the card from your computer. Then pop the card into the side of your A950 phone and you're good to go. There's even a familiar jog wheel dial on the front of the phone.

The Samsung A950 also gives you a print quality 1.3 Megapixel digital camera with flash, 4x digital zoom, swivel and a self-timer. Take and share stunning stills, or be the director of your own short movie clips in camcorder mode.

Such an advanced phone has even more capabilities. It does text messaging, of course. You can download 3-D games in the BREW format, which is way beyond the usual cell phone gaming. You can record voice memos up to a minute long and play 64 chord polyphonic ringtones. If you like being on the cutting edge of entertainment technology, this is your phone.

You might think that such an advanced cell phone is going to cost a small fortune. Actually, the A950 is valued at almost $370. But that's not your price. At least if you are smart enough to order from our online store. We've got the hot Samsung A950 free after rebate when you order it with service.

If you like the idea of a great cell phone deal but prefer a different model phone or perhaps a different carrier, we have lots more to chose from at Cell Phone Plans Finder.

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