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Review: Samsung Alias 2

Form Basics Extras Video Wrap Up Comments 7

Here is where Verizon and Samsung blew a golden opportunity. A phone such as the Alias 2 would be perfect for new, more advanced messages features and services. Alas, the Alias 2 offers nothing unique here. The only additional messaging feature is visual voicemail. Otherwise, it's the same old Verizon messaging tools.

The text message shortcut is present on the keyboard whether the Alias 2 is open as a normal flip phone, or open sideways. The default action in the messaging center is to initiate a new message. With a new message, you have to choose which type first, be it a text, picture or video message. Once in the messaging tool, entering numbers, text and selecting pictures of videos is easy enough.

If you're looking for threaded messaging, be prepared to do some digging. Threaded messaging is not a natively-enabled feature (as it should be). Instead, if you dig into the message settings, you'll find something called "contact view". This simulates threaded messaging by lumping all messages from a single contact into one place, but it is not nearly as seamless or usable as threaded messaging is on other devices. My guess is most users won't even know to find this, as it is not explained well in the user manual.

In this menu, you'll also find email, mobile IM and chat. The email option fires up the Web browser and takes you to Verizon's WAP email portal, which provides access to Hotmail, AOL, Yahoo, etc. This is just weak. Verizon needs to start offering a free, on-device email application.

The IM application plays with AIM, Yahoo IM, and Windows Live Messenger. Signing into and using the IM services is no different than on any other phone. The Chat option is another selection that takes you to Verizon's WAP portal.

Where are the shortcuts, applications or integration with Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and other social networking sites? Nowhere.

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Samsung Zeal / Alias 2 SCH-U750

2.6" display 240 x 320 pixels
880 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Hardware Text Keyboard

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