14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows Mobile-powered Samsung Saga would seem to come with no extraordinary features to make it stand out from the crowd. At the same time, it is able to provide great mobile productivity packed inside a well-shaped device that feels good in your hand. It sports soft-touch plastic covering the front and rear, and has been labeled as a straight-up business handset.
The phone has been built for Verizon and can be considered as being targeted towards the business and enterprise segments of the market, for it has few features that would appeal to consumers. The blue color of Saga seems to fit perfectly into that area, as regular users would rather go for black, white, gray, or dark red.
The keyboard offers great tactile response, the keys have enough space between them, the numeric layout is well defined, and there are also several dedicated keys on the bottom row, including speakerphone, music, and messaging. The phone can go between ringer and silent mode through a long press on the spacebar.
The Samsung Saga runs on Windows Mobile 6.1, and some would consider the OS as better fit for the targeted segment. The software does not feature a great load of customizations, but it comes with a simple, familiar layout, which should appeal to those using the device mainly for emailing and teleconferences.
Another interesting feature of the handset is its on-screen mouse pointer, which seems to be rather accurate and extremely easy to use. Although it may be considered hard to use sometimes, anyone can adapt to it fast enough. Considering that some users won't be able to, the phone allows them to turn it into an old-fashioned 4-way button.
Basically, the Samsung Saga brings more in terms of functionality than as regards its form. Due to its great feel, its optical mouse, great keyboard, the simple but efficient Windows Mobile 6.1, and its roaming capabilities, this device can be seen as one of the best Verizon has in its lineup.