Introduction

Moving forward, Verizon Wireless recently broke the 3-megapixel barrier, introducing the most advanced camera phone to date. Offering not just a powerful 3.2-megapixel lens, advanced functions only commonly found on standalone digital cameras are included on the Samsung SCH-A990, such as flash, auto-focus, picture editor, PictBridge Digital Printing, zoom, TV-out, and a 180-degree swivel screen.

Consumers can also record video, watch streaming video through VCAST Video, and listen to and download music through VCAST Music service. Rounding out the versatile feature set, Verizon Wireless' VZ Navigator ensures consumers are never. Integrating a tool for customers to find directions, the A990 includes mapping, audible turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to find over 14 million points of interest.

Providing a robust imaging, audio, and entertainment package, the Samsung A990 is the leader of the new generation of not just camera phones, but multimedia entertainment devices.

Design

Being designed around camera functionality, the A990 offers vertical (phone) and horizontal (camera) viewing conventions. Encased in a silver-lined sleek black exterior, the A990 measures 97 x 48 x 21 mm and weighs 125 g; average in size, but heavier and thicker than most devices on the market. Fairly traditional in style, right angles and straight lines are highlighted by an external display for convenient view of essential information.

The sides of the A990 offer a dizzying number of buttons and ports. Offering Rewind, Play / Pause, and Fast Forward Keys to let music listeners control the integrated MP3 Player, the left side also includes a microSD slot for extra memory. Dual external speaker ports are positioned on both sides, blasting a loud open-air listening experience. Meanwhile a Headset / Audio Video Jack provides handsfree access, also doubling as a connection port to view audio and video files on a television monitor (using a data cable).

The right side has a Speakerphone and Volume Keys, along with various buttons used during Camera Mode (when turned sideways) for Zoom and Options. The top has a loop to attach a Hand Strap, while the bottom contains the Charger Port.

Opened, a brilliant internal display reveals 262K-colors at a large 240 x 320 px resolution. Able to rotate the screen 180-degrees, the clamshell can close with the internal screen facing outwards; turning the screen into the viewfinder in Camera Mode. Suddenly the Camera Keys on the right edge become apparent, now positioned on the top when holding the A990 horizontally. Intuitively placed for familiar Zoom and Setting controls, users will forget they're using a camera phone and think the A990 is a standalone digital camera.

With the 3.2-megapixel camera lens, flash, and mirror positioned on the opposite side of the viewfinder, photos up to an amazing 2048 x 1536 px resolution can be captured. A manual switch opens and closes the protective lens cover.

Surrounded by a Camera / Camcorder, Voice Recognition, Send, Clear, End, and Left and Right Keys, a standard 5-way navigational keypad doubles as shortcuts to the Mobile Web (Up), Calendar (Down), Get Pix and Flix (Left), and Get It Now (Right). The numeric keypad below provides a large and tactile area to comfortably text message using T9 predictive text.

Out of the box, the Samsung SCH-A990 comes with a Standard 1000 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, TV Out Cable, 10-Pin Headset Converter, Hand Strap, Welcome CD, Quick Reference Guide, and User Manual.

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