Introduction

The Samsung Renown was designed for the avid business or pleasure traveler who needs to stay connected and has little time for more than basic multimedia options.

Text, video, voice and picture messaging as well as phone service in more than 200 locations worldwide keep Renown users connected with home or the home office. A clock that tells time across the globe, a feature that adjusts the phone's clock to match the time zone they're in, and a calendar to keep track of appointments near and far also come in handy for those on the go. Renown owners can talk for up to five hours without charging the phone's Li-Ion battery or leave the phone idle for 320 hours.

Connected to the Internet through Mobile Web 2.0 via Dashboard, Renown users can also check email and news tips. Unfortunately, Renown owners will have to limit travel to inside the United States and stay within Verizon Wireless Enhanced Service Areas to take advantage of this feature.

The Renown has basic camera and camcorder functions without a lot of editing extras and provides access to VCAST Video and Music, plus the phone can sync with a computer music library. Beyond that, though, entertainment extras more advanced than a stopwatch are sparse or cost extra to download. Anyone looking for games or special applications to pass the time on those long trips will be out of luck with this no-nonsense phone.

Design

The Renown may look familiar to previous Samsung phone shoppers. Like the Renown, Samsung's T339 and a few other models all have a rectangular clamshell design and a camera lens perched like a third eye above the LCD screen on the phone's front.

What sets the Renown apart from its doppelgangers is its sheen chocolate-bronze shell, which gives the phone a unique, metallic finish. The phone also has flat instead of raised buttons and a flashy silver arch framing the top of the phone's interior two-inch screen. The multi-tap keyboard includes, send, end, clear speakerphone, voice recognition and navigation keys.

The left side of the phone includes an outlet for the battery charger and volume keys. Keys on the phone's right side turn the camera/camcorder on and off and lock or unlock the play/pause, forward and reverse music keys located on the front of the phone beneath the exterior screen. The top of the Renown's right side also includes a headset jack for Bluetooth use. The matte chocolate back of the phone covers a battery, SIM card, and storage space for a microSD memory card. The memory card is sold separately.

The design of the Renown is something old, something new and something borrowed. Consumers interested in a sleek, pocket-friendly phone with a distinctive color won't be blue about this phone. But those seeking a larger screen, exotic detailing and a discreet camera lens are out of luck.

Out of the box, the Samsung Renown comes with a standard Li-Ion battery, a wall charger, a pre-installed SIM card, a user manual, quick reference guide and Australian, U.K. and European power plug adapters.

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