14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung MyShot, a handset created for users who don't need too many mobile features, was released today by Alltel, the fifth largest mobile operator in the US. The phone can be bought for as little as $29.99 with a contract agreement for two years, both online (via Alltel's website) or from the carrier's retail stores.
Also known as Samsung SCH-R430, the handset is not really new for the US market, as it was launched at the beginning of April by MetroPCS and Cricket, two regional mobile carriers with 4.4 and respectively 3.1 million subscribers.
Now that Alltel has decided Samsung MyShot was suited for both its network and its customers, let's see what the phone has to offer. Coming in a clamshell form factor, the device doesn't look too bad, but neither too good. Its features include GPS (to work with Alltel Navigation), a 1.9 inch TFT internal display with 128 x 160 pixels and 262K colors, an external CSTN display with 96 x 96 pixels and 65K colors, dual-band CDMA connectivity, Alltel's Celltop interface, Bluetooth, speakerphone, SMS and MMS capabilities, advanced speech recognition, M3 hearing aid compatibility, organizer, calendar, calculator, alarm clock and 20MB of internal memory. A 1.3 Megapixel camera is also present, probably being the main reason why Samsung named the handset "MyShot."
Available in two color versions (Metallic Red and Matte Black), Samsung MyShot weighs 3.21 ounces (91 grams) and, when closed, it measures 3.64 x 1.87 x 0.77 inches (92 x 47.5 x 19.5 millimeters). The battery included in the clamshell is not among the powerful ones, as it can offer a talk-time of up to only 205 minutes and a stand-by time of up to 215 hours.
All in all, Alltel's new MyShot might prove to be a good choice for budget-constrained consumers.