Basic Features

Released for Cingular Wireless, the Sansung D807 features GSM quad-band (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) technology, permitting use of the handset on compatible GSM networks in North America, Europe, and Asia, provided it has been unlocked.

Locking phones is a common carrier practice to keep customers from purchasing phones at a discounted rate with a service plan and bringing them to other carriers. Since the D807 is a Cingular exclusive, it's locked by default. But good-standing customers can usually request the unlock code after 90 days of service. Only after the handset has been unlocked can users take it to other networks.

Samsung offers a straightforward 3 x 3 menu that can be easily navigated with the four-way directional button or by entering the 1-9 keys that correspond to each item. To get a custom look, the D807 gives the user the option of changing wallpapers, ringtones, and skins but the menu can not be altered.

Essential for the business user, the phone features a clear and easy to use speaker phone. To enable the speakerphone, users simply press the middle select button in the center of the directional button when answering or during a call. The sound on both the speakerphone and the earpiece is low. Loud environments can be troublesome for D807 users, who may struggle to hear the other party they are speaking with whether they are holding it up to their ear or have it on speakerphone.

Samsung rated the D807's 880 mAh Li-Ion battery at 5.0 and 250 hours (10.4 days) of talk and standby times respectively. However, these times are under optimal conditions and testing suggested it may yield a lower performance. Moderate to high users may find it necessary to charge the phone nightly to avoid battery troubles. While charging, the LCD remains lit so users who are not interested in having a night light will need to lay the phone on its face.

Screen

The centerpiece of the D807's sleek design is the vibrant 262K-color LCD screen that offers 176 x 220 px resolution. Built from TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology, the D807's high resolution LCD offers bright and vivid colors that allow the screen to remain visible even in direct sunlight.

With TFT technology, circuit transistors placed directly on the glass provide fast refresh rates because each pixel location does not have to be scanned. This allows for noticeably faster response times for games or for use as a viewfinder and brighter, more distinct colors. The drawback with TFT is its significant power consumption and the resulting reduced battery life.

To conserve battery life, the D807's screen can be set for different intervals to fade out and turn off (15 sec, 30 sec, 1 min, and 3 min). To see the time or check the phone's static information, the user must slide the phone up or press the left softkey. With Samsung's knowledge and expertise in flat panel displays, the D807's 262K-color screen offers an optimal balance of performance and battery life economy.

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