Hands-on with the Blade, aka the Samsung SPH-A900

There weren't a ton of phones we hadn't seen before at Samsung's media event here in NYC last night, but we did get a chance to play withthe SPH-A900 (aka the SCH-V740 aka the "Blade"). Samsung tried their damnedest to disguise all of the carrier branding on this one, but a quick reboot of the phone revealed a Sprint-branded startup screen (not that we didn't already know which carrier would be getting this one, but you know how we roll). Still no solid release date or pricing, but we do know that this thing will be crazy thin (it's just 14.5-mm) and have Bluetooth, a swiveling 1.3 megapixel digital camera, and EV-DO. Click on for a few more shots.

[mrdelayer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

first post.

can you say "RAZR RPOF"?

[Pacey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

'Bout damn time.

Anyone know if bluetooth is going to be crippled on this by Sprint?

I like my sprint service where I live, but if they don't knock off this crap with limiting bluetooth to just headsets, I'm heading over to Cingular.

It amases me that in the face of competition offering full bluetooth access, that sprint and verizon keep their bluetooth crippled.

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

According to the marketing brief it has full OBEX support and is DUN ebabled which is consistent with sprints new tethering policy.

[Snider @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Now for the uveiling of the Verizon one !!! Will hopefully be cheaper than the Razr

[jalapeno @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

If the price is right I really could care less if it's a RAZR ripoff...because the RAZR is a ripoff..price wise.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Pacey: er what? its verizon who does that, not sprint. I have yet to hear of sprint crippling bluetooth.

[Pavejon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Does it have a memory slot?

[Timmay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Hey Numba 9... do you remember the Treo 650? it was castrated for 6 months b4 sprint officaly gave the ability to use the DUN.

Timmay

[Pacey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

My lg pm325 doesnt have full bluetooth. I can't use it for anything but a headset. I think the treo is fully unlocked though. Everything but the headset fails to work on these phones, thanks to sprint

[Greg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

i had the chance to play with the korean version of the phone at the samsung experience at the time warner center in manhattan...it's very sleek but i wish it was metal. also, i like the round, small buttons of the korean version better. the screen is quite bright and clear...can't wait!

[chase @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

CANT FRIGGIN WAIT....get this for my sprint phone and a SLVR or Q for cingular and i'll be in heaven!! =)

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Any screenshots of the UI for this thing? Looks like the phone might be a winner.

[AndreG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Who cares if its a rip off? I'm looking for a cool phone to use with my Sprint service. Sprint has never had a cool phone IMHO.

[phlyingpenguin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'm on the lookout for a sprint antenna... no... something's wrong here!! A phone that actually looks decent and doesn't have a 20 inch antenna!?

[andy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Ummm, that phone is really big. That's no rip off of the razor- moto can rest easy.......

its thinner than all the current pig-sized sprint phones, but that is NO razor- not even close.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

christ...that thing is bigger than the sandwich i brought with me for lunch

[Ted @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The Sprint COO gave a speech last week stating the phone would be out in "a couple weeks"...so, hopefully we'll see it soon.

[djTA630 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Hrm... looks pretty good...
I currently have a Sony Ericcson T608 - and had an N400 before...
I've been waiting soooooo long for a decent phone that supported bluetooth iSync from Sprint (although I see no Samsung phones on http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/isync/devices.html ). I know I could look this phone up - but I wonder if it'll support push-to-talk....

I like my Sprint service in the U.S. (so far) - but if only Sprint would have a phone that would be supported in Denmark, too.......... *sigh*

[djTA630 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

*edit*

>>

---I mean besides the Sprint PCS� International Phone IP-A790 by Samsung for $399.99 with no bluetooth

[Matt E. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Yeah ppl. Those are called, "Close-ups". It's not that big. And RAZR knock-off or not, that's one cool lookin phone. I want one for my Verizon service.

[alienhead @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Is it just me or is thing fugly?

[alienhead @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Is it just me or is thing fugly?

[wirelessguru77 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Umm. EV-DO people. and about 1.2 mm larger/fatter than the RAZR. This one looks to be a killer.

[daschupa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

If the Matrix was made in 1985, that'd be the phone they'd have used. I am digging the Knight Rider red thing though, does it talk all sarcastic to you too?

[eso @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#9 (Timmay), Sprint didn't cripple the 650 per se, the DUN functionality just wasn't done yet. They announced near the time of release that it *would* support it.

[KC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I suppose it does not have a microSD slot huh?

That's the only thing this phone could have used to make it the best thin phone on the market (better then Cingular's upcomming V3i)

[Thought @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Expect to see most of the new phones out in time for the Holiday shopping season.

It's very simple: all companies release their hottest consumer products for the hottest shopping season.

So there really is no mystery as to when these new phones will hit...most will hit this month or early December. Most companies probably want their hottest products available for purchase at least by the weekend after Thanksgiving.

[Lawyers @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

That phone is obviously a fake.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

"close ups" no kidding. you can still use the guy's hand as a reference for size...ass

[iNime @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Dude, no matter how nice a phone is, no matter the specs, the size, whatever, there's no reason to plaster the damn thing with 1-inch "SAMSUNG"

[iNime @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I mean cmon it's on the damn thing 4 times! 4! take that crap off. It's like the days of those "GAP" sweaters that had "GAP" in HUGE letters. I'm not a billboard dammit!

[WEJER @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Any advise on if Verizon will get the Razor soon.

I need a Blue Tooth phone or PDA/Phone that will work with UConnect in my Jeep!

Any opinons welcome!

[WEJER @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Any advise on if Verizon will get the Razor soon.

I need a Blue Tooth phone or PDA/Phone that will work with UConnect in my Jeep!

Any opinons welcome!

[oZone @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

No one else noticed the huge Samsung stickers on the outside and inside the phone? What gives? It's already on the front of the phone, why need another?

[Don @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The big "SAMSUNG" sign on the front is a sticker for the event.

[Don @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The "SAMSUNG" stickers are to cover the carriers logo.

[Lippy Lou @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

For all the donkeys who think this phone is bigger than the RAZR, you can stop boasting your ignorance and just pipe down. Do some research before you crow off. When the flip is closed, it is the exact same size at the RAZR.

There are many side by side shots of the two phones that are out there. When opened, yes the A900 is bigger, but that's because the top part flip is longer, but there is NO gross and visually heinous "hump" at the bottom.

And the benefit of the top being longer is a MUCH bigger internal screen. And a lot clearer to boot.

[CoreyTheGent @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

"Samsung tried their damnedest to disguise all of the carrier branding on this one"...

They are stickers placed for the purpose of hiding the Sprint logo.

[Thought @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#32: Most expect Verizon to start selling the CDMA RAZR sometime this month...

[diannnoeora @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

That is a gorgeous piece of electronics. Small with a huge interior screen, bluetooth, EV-DO capable, plays music. It WILL be mine.

[Willis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

God I hope this phone makes it to the market; I have a T608, and I hate it. I bought it because of BT, but the slow interface is killing me. And Sprint has had their head up their ass as far as phones go. Every other carrier has decent phones, and Sprint can't come up with anything good since, forever. The only reason I've stayed with them is longevity. If this phone doesn't come out, I'm switching.

[Vadim Lozko @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I just bought the 940 through telesales. That has bluetooth (uncrippled), too.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

the blade is set to come out n dec. likely mid or at least by late dec. the price is set for $349.99
-via radioshack employee

[cy7 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

again, samsung not only borrow idea from japanese maker, now, they even try to rip off our US brand motolora razr :-( samsung said they will be the top3 elect. maker in the world by 2010, and im pretty sure they will, they just keep rip off people's idea, so they dont have to waste money on invention. so typical. just like microsoft, lol!

[cy7 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

just look at that keypad, they totally copy razr (im designer myself, i can tell where samsung got their "influence"). and to #5, its clear they rip off the idea, because just look back @ the mobile phone history, NO ONE ever come out with the razr keypad design. no wonder razr is groundbreaking cell phone since 2004 (and best selling too). dont get me wrong, im not a big fan of moto, i hate them actually (lack of GUI, entertainment function...etc). but dont fotgot about this, motorola always come out with something new, because i know they spend some $$$ on invention. (go visit their lab, you will know what i talkin about)

[iscripter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I won't be getting this phone unless it has a built-in email application. What ever happened to handset makers including a email application so I can log on to my POP3 or Imap account to check my email.

[jhemming @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

"Sprint has never had a cool phone IMHO."

Forgetting the Startac???

[boxstra @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

iscripter, I totally agree. My beloved Hitachi P300 I had 3 years ago had an email client, yet these days only [big,] smartphones have them. Very disappointing.

(btw, that phone was awesome: small, light, great screen and speakerphone, polyphonic ringtones (novel then), an email client, light sensor that auto-adjusted ringer volume and screen brightness, 3 way switch on side to quickly change ringer profiles, customizable 7 color LED caller ID flashing, etc..

[azark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

cy7: are you saying Samsung has no advanced technologies? I think their 3gb and 8 mp camera phone say otherwise

[vicellb626 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Simply put, there seems to be a lot of bashing of this phone because either its a "rip off" of the RAZR or "late" in this technology. Or that its huge or ugly or what not. Im so disapointed how people feel were back in the 3rd grade saying mines better than yours. In all honesty, no matter what types of devices we look at, there will alwys be resemblance among them. Take for instance MP3 players. So many that come out, act or may resemble the i Pod, but thats simply because thats where our technology is leading to. So many flip phones out there resemble eachother, sometimes to a T, but I dont see people bashing each company for saying that it flips open like the other does or cause one phone has a camera just like the competition. Simply because this phone is the same thickness? Maybe this will become the new standard in phone size...will we still compare a phone 3 years from now to the same ole RAZR? Samsung has made this phone, granted the design may be comparable to the RAZR and a little late into the phone market, but atleast its here and sprint users like me can actually have a phone that we can call "cool" looking. If you feel the RAZR is better, than more power to you. I feel that each phone has its pros and cons and I just cant wait for this phone. Only time will tell.