Samsung U710 goes both ways on Verizon

Major Korean manufacturer launches dual-hinge clamshell on largest GSM network in the US. Said clamshell disappoints; disappears without a successor. Manufacturer goes for another launch, this time on largest CDMA network in the US. What might contribute to the U710's success on Verizon where Cingular's D307 failed? For starters, if these pictures are any indication, the U710 doesn't look so much like the solid block of child-safe plastic its ancestor resembled. Add in some LBS, an honest-to-goodness camera, A2DP, and external music controls, and it looks like Samsung might just have a winner on their hands this time around for the non-smartphone types out there that dig the QWERTY.

[Thanks, Martin A.]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 7:19AM]

awesome!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 7:50AM]

Now why can't they make a WM smarthphone like this?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 9:23AM]

I use the D307 on Cingular and I have been waiting for a successor for a while. The D307 has a lot of shortcomings which I hope the U710 addresses, but why the Verizon network.

Here are a few reasons why the D307 fails to live up to its potential:
1) Cannot add in POP email. You can only check the major webmail services except Gmail.
2) You cannot use the broswer in the "landscape" which means you can't use the QWERTY keyboard
3) Crappy games...j/k. I play them all the time.

I really want a GSM version of this phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 10:43AM]

This looks pretty sweet! They say it's about the same dimensions as the RAZR, give or take a few millimeters.

Looks like the days of VZW having a craptastic phone lineup may be over :P

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 11:09AM]

Yeah, this will be another over priced phone for VZ. Chances are that all the cool software that originally comes with this phone will be locked and you will be forced to use Bru. So really VZ will be selling a crippled and quite bland version of this phone. Oh and don't forget that VZ charges you for everything. Good times.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 1:00PM]

All carriers charge you for "everything," duh! And VZW is starting to allow some flash apps: http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=1940

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 1:54PM]

so anyone think this will come to cingular? i own the d307, and wouldnt mind something similar thaty worked a bit better

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 10:18PM]

Every product that VZW comes out w/ will always respond better then the products before that simply because it runs off of a different network. Did you know that VZW has both a Data network and a Voice network, where T-Mobile and Cingular use the same network for voice and data, causing slower connection speeds and so on. VZW has always had superior technology and superiority above all the other national carriers, be amazed by what I say, for it is true! :-P

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2006 3:21PM]

Chris, Motorola tried to release a Windows Mobile version of a device like this a couple of years ago called the MPx (not the MPx220 that Cingular carried for a while). I think the MPx was plagued with bugs. Here's a link to some pics.

http://www.mobileburn.com/gallery.jsp?Id=666

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2006 8:39AM]

That is one "busy" keyboard. Nothing like printing two characters in two directions to "improve" readability.

My eyes! my eyes! Avert your eye's..

:)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2006 12:05PM]

VZW is a company, not a charitable organization. It's about making money, bottom line. If you don't like the phones or the service, go to a different carrier. That's the beauty of capitalism, you have a choice. Personally, this phone looks hot, and I could care less about not being able to transfer files via BT. Xbox doesn't let you take their games and play them on a PlayStation, what makes you think that spending 4 bucks on a GIN game gives you the right to take it anywhere and put it on any phone you want?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2006 2:34PM]

Yeah, I remember the MPx. Have even seen a few that made it out on eBay for $400+ recently. Would like something newer. WM 2005, 3g, 2+ MP camera & expandable memory (pretty sure MPx had that). There was a Samsung I saw here a while back with the sure-type keyboard. GSM type but no 850 band. That looked nice. A flip, WM, qwerty keyboard, that fits in my pocket is all I'm asking for.... Is that too much?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2006 7:50AM]

Honestly, complaining about Verizon just shows a very serious lack of perspective within the cell phone carrier industry. The plans Verizon, and other US carriers offer are infinitely better than anything offered in Europe. Over here, there is no such thing as an unlimited plan for any sort of data or messaging, and phone prices are even more outrageous.
Back to the phone...does anyone know how to well QWERTY works? I've been waiting forever for a non bulky phone with QWERTY that's not an expensive smart phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2006 3:16AM]

@Fletcher: yes, but don't forget that europe gets ALL free incoming calls and text messages, unlimited ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 15th 2006 3:52PM]

Now called the u740: http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=1967 Look for a December release...