re: Samsung SGH-A500 GSM without GPRS for Women (formerly)
>> Preview: Samsung SGH-A500
David Cánovas
translated by Miranda Drew
GSMBOX
May 16, 2002
Samsung received more than one criticism for its SGH-A400, a telephone that the company dedicated to the female public. It included useful functions such as a calorie counter and a menstrual cycle calendar, all in a cherry-red colour with gold detailing and a small rose on the front. In some Nordic countries several feminist groups even called for its sale to be forbidden. The controversy also managed to eclipse the fact that it was one of the smallest bivalve terminals on the market (only 70 mm of length), as well as being very light, only 80 grams with the standard battery.
In any case, the idea was not completely off-target. There are telephones for managers, or for the youth market, why not for women? Now Samsung, adjusting its aim, is presenting the SGH-A500, the natural successor to the A400. Aside from having some new features, this model brings to light the change in strategy on the part of the company. Now it is an elegant, not feminine, telephone, even though the consumer is practically the same.
The SGH-A400 has more sober aesthetics, even though the exuberant cherry shade has been kept. The measurements are a bit wider: 80 x 39 x 17 mm, but the weight has been reduced to 75 grams. The display is high quality: 4 scales of grey and a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels, just like the SGH-A300.
We are faced with a GSM 900/1800 terminal that leaves aside GPRS technology and uses a WAP browser in version 1.2. It is lacking the EMS standard and an infrared port, something pretty predictable in a telephone designed to be essentially aesthetic and not professional. On the contrary, we find ring tones at 16 tones that have already demonstrated excellent performance in terminals from the Korean company. The number of ring tones is 20 predefined and 3 defineable. The phone book contains up to 100 contacts. As in the A300 and A400, the autonomy is one of the weaknesses of the terminal: 80 hours in standby and 2 in conversation.
To close, the SGH-A500 is a model with a decisive design, that leaves behind the debate created by its predecessor. There will be some complaints about the lack of some technological features, but in the end, the important thing is that it matches your lipstick... <<
- Eric - |
