Let’s get it out of the way first: Samsung’s brand spanking new Ultra Smart F700 looks a whole lot like an Apple iPhone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Right, okay. But actually, whereas Apple seem to have concentrated on building a nice little ecosystem of OS and pre-installed software, Samsung have gone the extra mile when it comes to hardware.

Let me reel it off to you until you get dizzy: 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, VibeTonz vibrating feedback, 5-megapixel auto-focus camera, 2.78-inch 440×240 touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, microSD memory slot, front-mounted camera for video calls, Bluetooth and a Flash-based UI.
Oodles of photos after the cut…

Okay, so it doesn’t run OS X. So what? Neither has any of the computers I’ve ever spent any meaningful length of time with. And here in the UK let me tell you those features – especially the 3G data – are much more appealing than the iPhone’s slow slow slow data rate. Trust me, once you’ve tried HSDPA you won’t want to go back to EDGE.



That QWERTY keyboard is going to appeal to a lot more push-email addicts than any on-screen version could - it does to me! And while the bevy of media formats it supports (MPEG4/H.263/H.264/Real MP3/AAC(+)/eAAC+/Real) might not include those bought at the iTunes store, frankly I’ve no desire to spend my money there either. Bring it on, Samsung, bring it on!







10 Responses to “Samsung brings out the big guns: F700 is Ultra Smart”
electro^plankton February 8, 2007
I thought I would never hear these words come out of my mouth but “it’s too thick!”
NeutralChris Davies February 8, 2007
Ha! Well, I think I’d accept the thickness for the keyboard. At least it’s not as dull as the relentlessly dreary designs HTC are churning out.
[quote comment="18056"]I thought I would never hear these words come out of my mouth but “it’s too thick!”[/quote]
NeutralSteve February 9, 2007
It’s not thick… it’s only 1.64cm thick… that’s bout the same as the bottom half of my clamshell phone I got right now… the samsung sph a920… so I think it’s pretty sweet
NeutralAng3l February 10, 2007
Ive really got to say… I have an Audiovox XV6700 (the black PocketPC from Verizon wireless) and this new Samsung F700 is almost an exact duplicate as far as the physical aspects are concerned. I suppose the advances will be in the software and maybe the hardware but my XV6700 has been a dream phone, prettymuch everyone who sees it likes it. It’s a touchscreen and has the flip out keyboard, which looks and acts the same as the one shown above in the F700.
NeutralBasically what Im saying is: “Sweet, I’ve already got one.”
Liz February 11, 2007
The phone that first replaces the useless QWERTY with the Phraze-It® premium 3 row keyboard for typing with fingers on large, full size buttons directly on the screen will be the one to succeed. With the Phraze-It® full size keys, you can type with your index fingers directly on the screen or hold and thumb with the same hand. Phraze-It® puts a full computer keyboard on the screen of a PDA phone and also lets you view and edit at least five lines of text.
NeutralAJ February 12, 2007
lol now samsung wants to try out iphone designs…the front looks similar to the iphone in a way.
NeutralJulie Ann February 12, 2007
I think iPhone is setting a new trend again :)
Neutralmoh August 28, 2007
man this phone is sweet i’m gonna gert it the day it releases but 1 question when does it release??????
+1Susan October 27, 2007
2.7″ or 3.2″
Why am I seeing various sites saying the screen is 2.7″… while others are claiming
Neutral3.2″?
isabelle March 17, 2008
[quote comment="30432"]2.7″ or 3.2″
Why am I seeing various sites saying the screen is 2.7″… while others are claiming
3.2″?[/quote]
actually it is 3.2 cos on the actually samsung website its say 3.2 n they gotta no they MADE THE FONE!!
Neutral