Samsung MM-A900 (SPH-A900)
Posted by Jeff Chenkus on November 29, 2005
Filed Under Cellphones | Stumble This
Samsung seems to be involved in almost every area of consumer tech out there today. Looking to take some of the steam out of the Razr line of phones, they have introduced the SPH-A900.
Review:
CNET: If you think the Samsung MM-A900 looks astonishingly like the Motorola Razr V3, you’re not mistaken. As Sprint’s answer to the famed Motorola handset, it succeeds quite admirably by offering a slim and attractive design that’s a hair thicker than the Razr. It’s also packed with plenty of multimedia features enhanced with Sprint’s high-speed EV-DO network. The Samsung MM-A900 will be available on November 29 at $349.99 without service or $199.99 with a service contract.
Upside: Call it a Razr clone if you must, but the clear wow factor of the Samsung MM-A900 is its design. It’s superthin at 0.57 inch thick (compared to the Razr’s 0.5 inch), it has a 65,000-color external display and a 262,0000-color internal display, and it trumps the Razr by offering external keys that enable you to control the music player. The phone’s features aren’t too shabby either: a 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder, an MP3 player, a speakerphone, and full Bluetooth abilities. With support for Sprint’s EV-DO network, the phone’s multimedia functionality is a star attraction, giving you access to Sprint’s Power Vision services such as streaming audio and video, on-demand live TV, and song downloads from the Sprint Music Store.
Downside: With a list price of $349.99, or $199.99 after a service rebate, the Samsung MM-A900 is expensive. Sure, the Razr isn’t cheap either, but in our opinion, it would be wiser for Samsung and Sprint to sell the phone at a lower price in order to remain competitive against the better-known brand. If that doesn’t empty your wallet, the Sprint Music Store charges a ridiculous $2.99 per song download. Also, while the MM-A900 comes with 70MB of memory, it’s sorely lacking an external memory-card slot–a glaring omission when it comes to a multimedia phone.
Outlook: It’s refreshing to see Sprint come out with such an attractive phone that is fully backed by its high-speed EV-DO network. The Motorola Razr has been nothing short of hot this year, and Sprint is definitely trying to cash in on the hype with the Samsung MM-A900. By offering the phone to its customers as a Razr alternative, Sprint can appeal to customers looking to switch to another provider just to have the Razr. Still, though the MM-A900 certainly is attractive at first glance, we wonder if it’s too little, too late. The Razr now comes in black and pink versions that further the popularity of the brand, and Sprint must compete with Verizon’s upcoming Motorola Razr V3c.
Features
Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
- Connect to a Bluetooth-enabled headset or compatible car kit to talk hands-free. Supports the following Bluetooth profiles: HSP, HFP, OPP, BPP, FTP, DUN.
High Speed Connection
- Surf the web at broadband-like speeds. Stream or download content from Sprint TV™ and the Sprint Music Store™ faster then ever before.
1.3 Megapixel Camera
- Capture high resolution digital pictures to send to an email account or compatible phone.
Stereo Speakerphone
- Play your music for friends or talk to them hands-free thanks to the a900’s stereo speakerphone.
Advanced Voice Recognition
- Speak phone numbers or contact names to dial. Use voice commands to launch applications or dictate text messages to the phone.
Specifications
With standard battery
Dimensions: 3.9″ x 2.6″ x .06″
Weight: 3.9 oz.
Continuous digital CDMA talk time: Up to 3.0 hours.*
Color: black
Main Display: 240 x 320 pixel 262K TFT color display
External Display 96 x 96 pixel 65K TFT display
Mode: CDMA Dual Band (1900/800 MHz).
Wireless Protocol: CDMA.
Service Provider: Sprint.
*Please Note: Standby and talk times will vary depending on phone usage patterns and conditions. Battery power consumption depends on factors such as network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, vibrate mode, backlight settings, browser use, frequency of calls, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns.
Posted by Jeff
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[...] Samsung’s sights seem to be firmly set on the wildly popular Motorola RAZR with the SGH-T809 (not to mention the mm-a900). But how does it stack up on performance? [...]
[...] This is fantastic news for people like me who are more or less satisfied with the service from Sprint, but have been disappointed with their selection of quality phones. Up until this point, the MM-A900 from Samsung, was our best bet on getting something akin to a RAZR. Now that they will be getting the real thing, I just might have to stick with Sprint a while longer. [...]