Samsung SCH-U740 Alias user review

Pros: QWERTY, ingenious form-factor - can use as reg phone and transforms into a qwerty text friendly messenger, small and thin yet durable and functional for both calls and texting

Cons: Camera is very weak (but you didn't inquire about this phone for it's camera anyway - it's the QWERTY you want - screen could have been a little bit bigger - did we really need to have a half inch black space with *verizon* label and a few milimeters with *samsung* smacked on it? Poor use of screen real estate there especially since the landscape mode could have rivaled or been up to par of a sidekick - and tho you can use speakerphone with the phone closed, the speakers are inside so it comes

Summary: Overall, I LOVE this phone! It was my first introduction to a QWERTY keyboard on a phone and now I know I can never go back to any phone that does not have this wonderful feature. NOTE: It DID take me 2 weeks to get used to the keyboard and landscape mode, but now that I've had the phone for over a year, I will be sad to have to choose another phone when it comes time to upgrade - GROW YOUR THUMB NAILS just a little bit and you will never have any problems texting on this phone (I have big hands too). I keep looking to see if Samsung or another brand comes out with more *dual flip* phones like this one. The pivot is incredibly sturdy with no signs of *weakness* - it does feel slightly stiff in the beginning and then slightly *loosens* afte a few weeks but it's almost as if a little bit of oil has been applied and it pivots from flipphone to landscape mode flawlessly. I've dropped it on tiles, concrete, marble floors and in the street and it doesn't even show any signs of ever having been dropped! Phone reception in both receiving and sending are excellent as well - other verizon customers sound like they are standing right next to me, and non- verizon people merely sound like you can tell they are on a phone. It's thin and can slide into pockets w/o a huge bulge and because it is so light and thin, you actually can lose it in a medium sized purse if yo just drop it in there. I suggest an external leather case that clips to your pants or some light-up stick-ons accessories so you can find it easier. I do like strong vibrate phones since I suffer from nerve deafness and rely on vibrate mode to let me know I have a call, but it isn't so weak so I only miss a few calls this way. The loudest ringtone it has is the musical funky tone everyone has nowadays. Usually I have it near me in view so I can tell if I am getting a call. If you want QWERTY, a unique design, excellent reception and small/thin with clear LCD, this is the phone for you. just give the keyboard 2-3 weeks chance before you toss it lol. Oh, btw, most new phones coming out now, like the LG Lotus from Sprint, have a similar keyboard layout.