Samsung SCH-U550 Phone (Verizon Wireless) | 
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| Brand: Samsung
Category: Wireless
List Price: $99.99
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $99.98 (100%)
New (2) from $0.01
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 5526
Color: Black
Media: Wireless Phone
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
Model: SCHU550ZNV
UPC: 635753469769
ASIN: B0017O3OT2
Release Date: April 10, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Access Verizon's V Cast Music and Video service via fast EV-DO data network; GPS-enabled for turn-by-turn directions | | • | 1.3-megapixel camera with video recording (QCIF resolution); MP3 and WMA compatibility | | • | Bluetooth connectivity for stereo music streaming; MicroSD expansion; USB connectivity | | • | Up to 3.5 hours of talk time, up to 200 hours (8.3 days) of standby time; measures 3.77 x 1.93 x 0.64 inches (HxWxD) | | • | Includes: rechargeable lithium-ion battery, travel charger, user guide, quick reference guide |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Sporting a trend-setting brown finish, the fashionable clamshell Samsung SCH-U550 from Verizon lets you to easily download and listen to music, check out short video clips, and take pictures and videos while on-the-go. It's compatible with Verizon's V Cast Music Service, which enables you to purchase songs through your phone and download them via Verizon's fast EV-DO data network. Other features include compatibility with Verizon's optional VZ Navigator location service, stereo Bluetooth support, microSD card slot supporting up to an 8GB SD card, and instant messaging via popular IM services. 
This fashionable clamshell sports a trend-setting brown finish and a unique digital clock on the exterior LCD. | Verizon Service Options
With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon's multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.) The V Cast Music service enables you to download songs instantly to your phone, or purchase music through your PC and transfer the files to your phone. If purchased from your phone, you'll receive two copies of the song: a Windows Media Audio Pro Plus format at 64Kbps stereo is sent to your phone, and a Windows Media Audio 9 format at 160Kbps stereo is sent to your account in the V CAST Music online store for downloading to your PC. V Cast Music offers nearly 2 million songs, with more being added all the time. With the V Cast Video service, you can stream or download video clips to your phone from a variety of news, entertainment, sports, and weather channels, including CNN, ABC News, E!, CBS Sports, The Weather Channel, and VH1. Getting on the Internet is easy using Verizon's Mobile Web 2.0 package, which allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with this phone. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service. With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access Verizon's VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps. And Verizon's Chaperone service lets you easily locate your loved ones from your Verizon Wireless phone or PC in real time. After defining a zone, such as an area designating a school or summer camp, you'll be sent an alert via text message when the Chaperone handset enters or leaves the zone. 
Enjoy music and video downloads from Verizon's V CAST service. | Phone Features
The Samsung SCH-U550 has a standard clamshell design featuring a 2.1-inch internal 176 x 220-pixel screen with support for 262K colors and an external 65K color screen that measures 96 x 96 pixels. The outside screen also provides call information, signal strength, and a digital version of an analog clock. You can also change the display wallpaper and the clock style. The phone book can store up to 500 contacts, and each entry offers storage of up to 5 numbers. It offers both picture and ringer ID functions, and the phone is compatible with 72-chord polyphonic ringtones. It also has a vibrate mode for when you want to keep things silent. And the phone's speaker-independent voice dialing feature makes calling family, friends, and business associates as easy as saying their names. This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and audio/video remote control. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server. The 1.3-megapixel camera offers five resolution options (ranging from 1280 x 960 to 128 x 96 pixels), and it includes a night shot mode for capturing photos under low-light conditions. Other features include a digital zoom, brightness adjustment, self-timer, several color effects (including sepia and black-and-white), and two multi-shot modes. It also provides a video capture mode with sound, and longer videos can be saved to optional MicroSD memory cards (up to 8 GB in size). In addition to text (SMS) and picture messaging (MMS), the SCH-U550 is also compatible with instant messaging services including AIM, Yahoo!, and MSN. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users. The phone also sports an airplane mode feature, which allows the user to safely use the non-wireless functions of a phone (such as music, games, or organizer functions) on an airplane during flight. Other features include: - External music playback controls
- Create and manage music playlists within the phone
- Voice Commands: Voice Dial, Menu Readout, Digit Dial Readout, Text Message Readout and Call Announcement
- Personal Organizer: Calendar with Scheduler, Note Pad
- Tools: Alarm Clock, World Clock, Calculator with Converter, Stop Watch
- Speakerphone
- Hearing aid compatibility Rating: M4/T4
- Bluetooth profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PBA (transfer contacts), SPP (serial port profile)
Vital Statistics
The SCH-U550 weighs 3.35 ounces and measures 3.77 x 1.93 x 0.64 inches. Its 800 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.5 hours of talk time, and up to 200 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 850/1900 frequencies and Verizon's EV-DO data network.
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| Customer Reviews:
I really like this phone October 5, 2008
K. R., Lind (Rohnert Park, CA USA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I have to admit I got talked into this phone by a salesman at Costco. I got it for free with the understanding that I could switch back to my Samsung a950 without penalty. I was okay with the old phone and I really did not want to obligate myself to Verizon for two more years. I just wanted to check it out.
First of all, this phone has all the features I want in a phone. I don't do a lot of text messaging, web surfing, or game playing on my phone. Not that this phone can't do these ehings, I just don't do them often myself. There are any number of phones better suited to those pursuits. The camera comes in handy for recording purposes though it isn't really a high quality device. The 8GB memory (with optional micro SD card) means that I can take a hefty selection of music with me wherever I go. And even though it took several tries, once I got Verizon's obscure methodology figured out, I now have some good quality 96000 kbs files to listen to.
As I said earlier, I was pretty happy with my old phone and it had most of the features this one has. One thing it didn't have though, was a lock out feature for the exterior controls. With the u550 the external music controls can be turned off (they are touch screen rather than keys). This will prevent you from accidentally setting off the music player, a increasingly annoying problem with the a950. Another improvement on the new phone is that the directional controls are all programmable. This allows quick one or two touch access to seven of the features you want and not just the ones some engineer thinks you want.
Then again, it hasn't all been perfect. Most of the problems I first encountered were, it turns out, with the operator not the phone. The lack of support from Verizon in the way of intelligent instruction or usable information was sometimes a contributing factor. I had read in an online review that the call volume was weak and I too found it to be a problem, at least it was until after a few days of straining to hear in a noisy environment, one of the Costco salespersons pointed out that there was a nearly invisible protective film over the speaker. Once that was removed, it was loud and clear (I can't help but wonder if the professional reviewer at CNET ever found it). The aforementioned multiple attempts at loading new music was a function, not of the phone but of Verizon's incredibly arcane and non-intuitive methodology and that is no longer an issue. That leaves the one minor gripe I think I'm stuck with. On the a950 once you turned on the speakerphone it remained on until you turned it off. This is not the case with the u550. It turns itself off as soon as you finish a call and turning it back on is not always an easy operation. At least I haven't gotten comfortable with it yet.
Lest I forget, this is a telephone. That is why I bought it and it works very well. That is also why I am a Verizon customer. I only wish Verizon could get its ancillary functions to work as seamlessly and easily as their basic communications.
In conclusion, I like the way it looks, the way it feels, and the way it works. It is a great phone and it won't break the bank or require some kind of klutzy carrying case (it fits nicely into the watch pocket of a pair of Levis). I recommend it highly.
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