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New cell phones for fall
By Kent German(September 12, 2005)
The start of autumn usually brings the arrival of new cell phones to the major U.S. carriers. And as if on cue, LG and Samsung earlier this month introduced four new handsets each, aimed squarely at less-demanding cell phone users. Forget megapixel cameras, expensive multimedia options, and Bluetooth--these phones are simple, functional models that try to be as uncomplicated as possible. Sure, a few of them have VGA cameras and, fortunately, speakerphones, but that's about as high-end as they go. And because they shun the flashy features, they won't take too much out of your pocket.
LG's new offerings include the red-hot AX5000 camera phone for Alltel; the basic C1500 and C2000 camera phone for Cingular; and the VX5200 for Verizon, which comes with voice dialing and commands, as well as dual-color displays. Samsung's additions range from the practical SPH-A560 for Sprint and SGH-X497 for Cingular to the PM-A840 camera phone, also for Sprint. Additionally, Samsung unveils a compact slider phone, the SGH-E635, for T-Mobile; it has a camera, multiple-messaging options, and a speakerphone.
| Model | Network | Carrier/pricing | What's cool about it |
LG AX5000  Read preview |
CDMA 800/1900; AMPS 800; 1xRTT | Alltel; $149 |
VGA camera with flash and 5X zoom; video capture and playback; 32MB memory; voice commands and dialing; text and multimedia messaging; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser; 65,000-color internal display; monochrome external display |
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LG C1500 Read preview |
GSM 850/1800/1900 | Cingular Wireless; $59 |
Speakerphone; instant messaging; text and multimedia messaging; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser; Java (J2ME) support; 65,000-color internal display; external display |
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LG C2000 Read preview |
GSM 850/1800/1900; GPRS | Cingular Wireless; $89 |
VGA camera with 4X zoom; speakerphone; voice dialing; AOL, Yahoo, and ICQ instant messaging; text and multimedia messaging; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser; Java (J2ME) support; color internal and external displays |
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LG VX5200 Read preview |
CDMA 800/1900; AMPS 800; 1xRTT | Verizon Wireless; $149 |
VGA camera with flash and 2X zoom; speakerphone; 32MB memory; text and multimedia messaging; voice commands and dialing; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser; 65,000-color internal and external displays |
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Samsung A560 Read preview |
CDMA 800/1900; AMPS 800; 1xRTT | Sprint PCS; $169 |
Speakerphone; voice dialing; text messaging; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; 65,000-color internal display |
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Samsung PM-A840 Read preview |
CDMA 800/1900; AMPS 800; 1xRTT | Sprint PCS; $229 |
VGA camera with flash and 5X zoom; speakerphone; voice commands and dialing; text and multimedia messaging; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser; monochrome external display; 65,000-color internal display |
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Samsung SGH-E635 Read preview |
GSM 900/1900/1900 | T-Mobile; $199 |
Slider form factor; VGA camera with flash and zoom; speakerphone; instant messaging; text and multimedia messaging; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser; 65,000-color display |
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Samsung SGH-X497 Read preview |
GSM 850/1800/1900 | Cingular Wireless; $49 |
Speakerphone; AOL, Yahoo, and ICQ instant messaging; text and multimedia messaging; polyphonic ring tones; basic PIM functions; WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser; 65,000-color internal display; monochrome external display |
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