Owners of Casio's G'zOne series of ruggedized handsets seem to be, by and large, pretty enthralled with their performance. Pretty, they're not -- but when it comes to cellphones you can toss in the pool without turning them into paperweights, beggars can't be choosers. It turns out that the
original model released on Verizon probably won't be the last, either, with a picture surfacing of a new model being referred to as the "Type S." Besides seemingly improving by leaps and bounds in the looks department, the Type S should add Bluetooth and expandable memory (in the battery compartment to maintain water resistance), bringing some media capabilities to an otherwise all-work-and-no-play clamshell. No word on a release, but something tells us the G'zOnes out in the field should have no problem lasting long enough for this one to come out.
[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
posted Jan 27th 2007 4:50PM
I don't know much about the current phone, but I saw one in person at a local Verizon store a few days ago and played around with it, and I gotta say - it's by far the FASTEST cellphone I've ever used, as far as navigating the menu structure. Compared to my Samsung 990, it's probably 5-10x faster, which made a huge difference to me. No Bluetooth on the current one is certainly a dealbreaker, so an upgraded one would be welcome.
Hopefully that upcoming Samsung i760 will be as fast...
Well, they took the ugly facemask off ... and replaced it with an ugly handlebar antenna.
Hmm.
UTStarcom makes the actual phone itself, Casio simply makes the outer digital watch look-a-like display. But I guess as far as name recognition goes, Casio makes more sense.
The current G'zOne is actually a damn good phone (albiet ugly, yes) and rugged as they come. I have hurled a live phone on the floor several times with no noticable damage at all.
And the phone also has a little LED flashlight built in, kinda neat. And the outer display can also has a stopwatch mode too.
This newer one seems to be a pretty worthwile upgrade, and definitely nowhere near as ugly as the current one.
@elgee02
Casio Hitachi Mobile phones of Japan is the manufacturer of ALL Casio and Hitachi branded or trademarked (as the G'zOne trademark belongs to them) phones. UTStarcomm is the distributer in North America but has absolutely nothing to do with the manufacturing process. This phone is pure Casio design and Casio Hitachi made. UTStarcom does the distribution here because Casio does not have the service network set up and is not willing to meet the marketing requirements Verizon imposes on all manufacturers (Verizon forces all manufacturers with branded phones on their network to match a percentage of the total value Verizon spends on marketing the phone with their own marketing dollars) who wish to self brand their phones.
Casio may self brand in the future and introduce more of their products depending on how well this series of phones does. They are merely taking the cautious approach
Thanks for the info KC, that was never really made clear to me before.
nice post, kc.
anyone know if the phone is gonna be as big as the original? i actually like the way the first one looks, but when you see it in person, you reallize tha it's just huge! no bluetooth + huge monstrous phone= lame
Hey KC would you care to take a guess as to when it should reach store shelves?
Ive seen a preview pic of the type S for verizon, it was dark metallic blue. looked very nice
Wow! This looks way better than the type V. I cannot wait to buy one. I hope it comes to Verizon soon.
I have the new Type-V and I love it (including the looks). The lower handle makes it easier to open the phone as well as help protect it if dropped. The phone works much better than any of my other previous cell phones and it should hold up much longer than most other phones. I don't use bluetooth so that's not a problem for me, but I can understand that others may miss this feature. I do wonder why they made it digital only instead of both digital and analog. I guess they must feel that everything will be digital soon and there will no need for analog service(?). Other wise I love the type-V.
good day
where i can buy casio gzone type S without carrier
i will try on net but i just found with verizon carrier
can you help me
thank
I don't know if this helps any but I have been reading about the type-s and I called verizon and nobody would tell me anything basically I got a "we find out when you find out" answer. So I went to the casio website and went to support. I talked to a person from distributor only phone line (didn't check to see if I was one) and asked. At first he said that Verizon approved it last week some time and it shoudl be out in about a month, then put me on hold and came back and said that Verizon will carry it but there are no details of when it will come out. So I asked for a ballpark figure of when and he said he shouldn't see it taking longer than a month to be one the market. Again I don't know if this helps but these were the answers that I got from the guy at utstarcomm.
I just ordered one of the net, the blue one. Go to verizon home page. And you can look at three colors. Hope this helps all of you.. Zbub
I just went to a verizon store and he told me that the old type-v will be going down in cost to $65 on the 20th. My contract ends on the 30 of this month so I can get one for free or maybe I should wait till the new one comes out I don't know yet. He said that he didn't have a timeframe of when it will come out but the price dropping the way it is is a good sign and he could access an internal website that has info about the phone (I want to say like a spec sheet). He did say though that there were still a lot in stock so they might wait until they unload a few more before issuing the new out.
Watching. As of the 24th, no further price drop from $99.95. My NE2 kicks in 4/8, so I'm hoping for the new version at reasonable dollars.
Finally! Found something more on the Type-S (waiting for Verizon is worse than watching paint dry). 3/27/2007, [Alledged at NAB Show in Las Vegas April 14-17 - Handset Vendors Segment The Market: Attendees looking for the lowdown on new handsets... Here’s a sampling of what attendees will find at select booths: Casio: The company is expanding its G'zOne (Jeez-Wun) lineup of ruggedized phones with the Type S, which is smaller and more stylish than the original Type V but still promoted as being resistant to shock, dust, water, humidity, salt, fog and solar radiation. It also resists scratches and vibration. It will be on display in the booth of UTStarcom, which will distribute it in the United States.
Two versions of the CDMA 1x phone will be available, one with push-to-talk (PTT) and the other without. Both add Bluetooth to the series and replace a stub antenna with an antenna embedded inside a handle at top. Like their predecessor, both models are digital dual-mode 800/1,900MHz models with GPS, speakerphone, built-in camera and a lantern. [Lantern or a LED flashlight? Anyway...]
As part of Casio's G-Shock family, the phones' exterior screen looks like the face of a watch and features a stopwatch and countdown timer. [ibid] Now I hear VZW’s PPT is pretty bad, but another new development is that Verizon / AllTel-Lucent acquisition (today) may help develop their PTT capabilities further. See the article @ http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=119148
When?
Price?
Thanks for the info. Looking for more.
I stopped in to my local Verizon store the other day and inquired on the 'Type S.' The salesman had not heard about it, but he checked the computer and said that it is due to be released in about a month and a half, meaning middle of May. He also confirmed that it was going to have bluetooth and that the 'Type V' was being discontinued.
Obviously, I was surprised that he would tell me this and that it was even in their computer since generally from what everyone says Verizon doesn't reveal much before it happens.
As I drove away from the store, I realized I should have asked him to print out a spec sheet. As helpful as he was being, he probably would have done so if it was available to him. Perhaps one of you can try at your local Verizon store.
dd.
A co-worker just upgraded to the Type V, and I was about to do the same until I found that it didn't have Bluetooth. Since I have a Bluetooth earphone and speaker/rearview mirror, this was a deal-breaker. The Type S will be a "must buy" when it hits Verizon.
I emailed casio, and got this response.
"Verizon will be selling our new G"zOne Type S cell phone. They should be selling it sometime late April.
Check with your Verizon dealer for more information."
Another forum had pictures of theType-S (kudos to "gunny"):
http://saucerater.com/g.jpg
Have to say, Im disappointed. The phone looks nice, and if like the Type-V, should work great - it just seems to be lacking the thing I wanted most: A LARGER SCREEN/LCD! Other Jap models have 2.6s and even 2.8s, while form loks of it, the Type-V is a step BACKWARD to maybe a 2.2 or even 2.0!!! Pictures can be decieving, so What do you others think? Waiting so long for this, to get specs, or even see pics, this is a major disappointment. Wonder if Verizon or Casio Japan is to blame? Why a LARGE screen - for using VZ Navigation (those morons). This just plain pisses me off!
Wow!!!! I like this Type S G'Zone I am going to buy one. I need Bluetooth. Looks way better than the type V.
[COLOR=Blue]I returned to this same Verizon Wireless store today and they now have no idea what I'm talking about. Big surprise. They claim it's not in their computer system and no one has ever heard of the phone.
So, I went home and called UT Starcom and spoke with someone there. He said that he does not know when it's coming out, that it's still being approved by the carrier, but it should be out in the next couple of months.
He said that he expects the price to be between $150-200. However, here's the crapper. He confirmed that it will have bluetooth, but that the trade-off will be that IT WILL ONLY HAVE A .3 MEGAPIXEL CAMERA! I said, ".3 or 1.3?" and he confirmed, ".3." He did not know why they had to put this camera on it, but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about.
HOPEFULLY, he is mistaken, but if he's not, then I'm sure many of you will change your tune on whether to buy this. I don't use my cell phone camera very often, but when I do, I don't want it to be crappy.
PLUS, if they're going cheap on the camera, then what else in the phone that we can't see is going to be below par?
If this doesn't come out soon and/or it has a .3 mp camera, then perhaps I'll look at the RAZR Maxx. At least they seem to be doing things right.
If you call 1-800-229-1235 and go to the distributor line (I think option #4 on the secondary menu) just tell them you are an independent Verizon carrier and tell them that you have customers asking about the Type S and that Verizon told you to call. Maybe another rep will have different and/or additional information.
Good luck!
dd.
*************** [/COLOR]
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Look at Ebay for sale and full specs of this New Type S Phone.
Faster than Verizon release!!!
Enjoy.
I upgraded my phone yesterday at the Fayetteville, NC store. I was hooked on the old style but wanted Bluetooth. The salesperson went to the back and brought out the phone in the article.
I looked it over and it is indeed a dark blue color. No silly "bumper" on the shell. Bluetooth to boot. The upgrade price was $199 and I went for it. Thus far I am a happy customer. I don't take many photos with a phone so the 640x480 resolution doesn't bother me.
Bottom line, if you like the previous version but wished it had Bluetooth. Oh, and if you don't give a spit about a camera, this is the phone for you.
BTW I forgot to add. The manager had to override the sale as Verizon hasn't "released" it yet for sale. Manager said May May 28 is street date.
Steve please give us an update on your Type S?
Please.
Thank you.
Verizon has now blocked the Ebay and Ecrater website sales until The Official release on June 1st.
This is a very weird release,,,,,,
It's to sell the "overstocked Type V's."
I bought the type-S two days ago and so far I like it a lot. It looks like a man's phone and feels like it too. Finally, a phone I can get a grip on without hitting buttons and changing settings. Still haven't found out how to turn the little led flashlight on. So far, it gets two thumbs up. $199 less $50 rebate.
I just got the new type-S at my local Verizon store. They had it in stock, but said the release date was still 1-2 weeks away. So far, I love it! Smaller than type-v, but still has a hefty feel. The controls are extremely responsive and easy to use. Had to go to a job site in the rain almost immediately and the phone worked great! Bluetooth was a breeze to set up and seems to work better than on my old RAZR.
i have the new type-s, and it does NOT have expandable memory slot, not on th eoutside or in the battery area. :(
the antenna strength is less than desirable...i have ha da motorola E815 for the last year, and always got 4-5 bars, now I get 1-2 bars in the exact same area with this new G'z one phone. I may switch back.
who cares if you can drop it in a pool...is that really a huge dilemma facing our nation?
JUST GOT MY NEW G'Z s WHERE DO A FIND A CASE FOR THIS ODD SIZAE PHONE?
Hello for a case look at www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1094196&page=21&pp=15
Just got the type s today. Was going to get an LG, but noticed this clunky phone in front of me and was going to say something to the rep about it and then noticed it was water resistant. My last phone was trashed from me sweating on it. I work on boats in Florida and have to use my phone for tech support while working and sweating like a pig. Looks like I have a phone that can take it! The extra cost is justified because you don't need the insurance, this phone should take a beating and gallons of sweat running into it and still work. Finally, a phone for the boating community that will last with the water and humidity and dropping it down the engine hatch. If you work on boats or own a boat, this is the phone for you! I'll let you know if I can destroy it, not my intention, just reality! Cheer Verizon!!!
This G'zone is a terrible phone from the viewpoint of someone who is around loud noises and lots of water constantly in his business (Pressure Cleaning)
1, The phones battery compartment leaks like a sive just pour cup of water on the back of the battery especially around the indentation to remove the battery.
2. The voice recognition 9.99 times out of 10 doesn't respond with either bluetooth or without.
3. Speaker is very tinny sounding ... poor quality.
4. The ringer and earpiece volume is a joke this phone is for those of us that are outside where there is construction and other loud noises. The volume needs to be able to be adjusted to a much higher level if we need it...WE DO NEED IT.
5, the font is as small as I've ever seen or cant see and its on large too, it is very difficult to view numbers and words when driving with bright sunlight shining on the phones well as other situations.
I wouldn't buy it again unless, Verizon, Casio Hatachi or UTstar. Stops passing the blame to each other. And starts to take responsibility and addressee all these issues ASAP