Samsung A257 Magnet review

Network and connections
The successful Samsung company and the telephone operator AT&T are launching onto the market a device with a Business design that is nonetheless able to win over every type of user. First of all, speaking of the technical characteristics, we can say that the A257 Magnet has a GSM Quadband receiver, capable of offering optimal coverage in every situation. It does not feature UMTS support, however data traffic management is handled by GPRS and EDGE. In this way, connections to the Internet can also be guaranteed, in order to open HTML pages through the appropriate browser. Bluetooth and a USB cable output complete the picture.

Design and equipment
The monoblock body immediately conveys sturdiness and solidity, with a structure sized to fit the hand for a more secure and comfortable grip. The orange coloring, in contrast with the gray/black of the front, gives the device a more youthful and dynamic look. The dimensions are in line with standards: 12 mm thick for 87.6 grams of weight. The front part is occupied by the screen in the upper section; it is a TFT at 220x176 pixels capable of displaying up to 65,000 colors. Just below is the extended QWERTY keyboard, with small but fairly practical keys to use. In the sales package there are the headset and the data cable.

Main features
The proprietary platform is set up for customization, thanks to Java support for installing compatible applications. In addition to the address book, organizer, alarm clock, calculator, and stopwatch, users will therefore be able to have features of their own personal choice. With the A257 Magnet it is easy to compose text, so as to easily write SMS, multimedia messages, and E-mail. It is also possible to manage attachments with the Office suite and PDF. The phone is set up for the use of Windows Live, Yahoo!, and AOL applications for Instant Messaging. For the voice aspect, there is instead a speakerphone, voice recorder, and support for multiconferencing.

Entertainment and multimedia
To complete the optimal offering of this device, here are the features dedicated to leisure. The VGA digital camera allows images and videos to be captured whenever needed, even if with fairly poor quality. The internal storage support is 64 MB, so as to also have favorite music on hand, to be played through the dedicated multimedia player. However, the antenna for receiving radio broadcasts is missing. The lithium battery life guarantees operation of up to 240 hours in Stand-by.