- Samsung U740 Alias Black Phone (Verizon Wireless)

The u740 is a dual hinge phone. It opens two ways: one like a standard flip phone and two like a laptop, from the side. When you open it like a standard flip phone, you'll see a nice D-Pad with a big "OK" button in the middle accompanied with two gray pre-set buttons to access Menu and Contacts or choose options while using the camera, etc. You'll also see small numbers with the standard texting system (pqrs, etc.) highlighted in gray. These buttons are also on the keyboard once you flip it the other way, revealing a full-scale QWERTY keyboard. When you're not typing a text message or in memo form, the gray buttons will act as numerical buttons in order for you to call people from the sideways-opening feature. It's a bit of a problem here, because calling people from the sideways feature requires you to remember your numbers all over again because they're sideways. (See the next paragraph for solutions...) The QWERTY keyboard is accompanied by a num lock button, which allows you to type in buttons to access symbols and numbers while texting. It makes it an easy and fluid feature.

The keyboard is a bit cramped, though, but there are some new features that come with the phone that make life a lot easier. For one, most new VZW phones come with VoiceSignal, a voice command feature that allows you to speak through the speakerphone to call people and translate your voice into a text message. "Dictate Message" allows you to say words you'd like to include in a text without typing--it requires a 3 minute session for VoiceSignal to become familiar with your voice. And, as long as you train it properly, it will say basic words right. But, longer words (such as "banana") take so much time. It took me 13 words to actually get banana, which was actually pretty sad. The feature isn't the best, but it's a step up. VoiceSignal allows you to call out numbers and people and have your phone immediately call them. This works great when you flip the phone sideways so you don't have to memorize typing numbers sideways.

Like most Verizon phones today, the u740 includes the full workings of the popular (argumentatively) VCAST service, which features Music, Video, Games, and News for download (for a fee). It also allows you to buy ring tones through applications for small fees and use VCAST Song ID, Verizon's latest technology that allows you to identify songs that are playing. This feature is rewarding and handy when you're on the road and here something you like, but it takes some time (I'd say about a minute in total). Unless you're an absolute music junkie, you might just want to go along your way and forget about it. The VCAST service only works in the sideways flip form, which is a bit odd. This phone has a nice speaker and could serve as a great music phone, except for the exclusion of the standard 2.5mm port. It comes with a headset adaptor that you plug in to the charger slot. Then, you must find the smaller headphones (or even get a different adapter for the standard port), which seems too much of a hassle to me. And, to download music from your PC to the u740 requires a VCAST Music package, which retails for $30.

The u740 has a decent camera (1.3MP) that takes great photos when the lighting is right. It also has a teeny stamp screen on the front, and I think that Samsung should have made the front screen a bit bigger. (The LG VX8600 has a lovely front screen that allows you to view texts from the front) And, it includes pre-set play, next song, and previous song buttons that are nice to use if you're listening to music. But, like all Verizon phones, you can't listen to any music while using other components of the phone, so it ain't that rewarding. On the sides of the phone, you have the charger slot, a handy microSD slot (for storing video, music, photos without having to go through the hassle of buying the VCAST music pack), a dedicated VoiceSignal button, a dedicated HOLD button, a volume rocker, but no dedicated camera button. This was quite surprising.

If you're looking at the u740, you've probably also looked at the VX990. If you have fat fingers and need to type on a full scale keyboard, the VX990 is probably for you, but at the same time, the u740 can fit in your pocket without revealing a big bump. The LG enV/VX990 cannot do that. This is why the phone is so enticing.

Overall, the u740 is a great phone that has really been good to me so far. Available in two colors, Champagne Gold or Black, the phone is sleek and sexy, thanks to its dual-hinge technology, QWERTY keyboard, and RAZR-like thinness. It's an attractive package and Verizon's best phone for texters. Right now, it retails for about $100.