- Unique flip phone with dual-hinge form factor with innovative, transforming E Ink keypad/QWERTY keyboard
- Access V Cast Music (with Rhapsody) and Video servicse via fast EV-DO data network; GPS-enabled for turn-by-turn directions; Visual Voice Mail
- 2-megapixel camera/camcorder; Bluetooth stereo music; MicroSD expansion (to 16 GB); access to personal and corporate email; instant messaging
- Up to 5 hours of talk time, up to 33 hours (14 days) of standby time
- What’s in the Box: handset, battery, charger, quick start guide, user manual
Amazon.com Product Description
The next-generation Samsung Alias 2 for Verizon Wireless retains the original’s uniquely innovative dual-flip form factor with full QWERTY keyboard, but now the keyboard utilizes E Ink technology–the same found in today’s most popular e-book readers. With the E Ink-powered keyboard, the keys can transform from vertical to horizontal depending on your orientation as well as switch from numeric keypad to full keyboard depending on the application in use…. More >>
By simple I mean that in a good way, having come from an Envy 2 I am glad to be able to open the phone and dial and not have to deal with clicking OK twice to unlock the “locked” screen. Quotes intentional, the screen was only locked when I needed to urgently make a call but had a lot of phantom dialing while in my pocket. So back to the Alias 2 the phone is easy to figure out but does not work in all the ways it is said to work. Specifically I can not get this phone to pair with my blue tooth in my new car. I tried, the car dealer tried and while NO issues are reported with this phone and its blue tooth capabilities I beg to differ! I read another review of a person who had exact same trouble with a different model car and was also told the phone is fine. It is obviously something unique to this model only because other samsung phones pair without problems. I got my phone exchanged and after going through that it still will not pair with my car. I wanted this phone because it is simpler than the previous envy 2 I owned but even that phone will pair with my car. I plan to switch to a smart phone as soon as the Nexus One comes to verizon. Considering the very large increase in the monthly charges they will thus receive and extending my contract I sincerely hope they work as hard to keep the customer happy as they say they do. This customer is not terribly happy right now! I will say that the network is the strongest for my area so I hope to stick with verizon but can and will change if they wont try and keep me satisfied.
Rating: 3 / 5
I have been using this phone for a few days now and I like it. I am not a big “gadget phone” fan, preferring a simpler device that does just what I want. The voice quality is acceptable and after a short learning cycle is easy to use. The Alias 2 allows me, a novice texter, to send and receive text messages with no real hassles. The keypad is a great size, even for my larger fingers.
I would have given 5 stars, except for the learning curve required to figure the phone out. Not that this is bad, but it is definitely different than the older phones I was used to.
Rating: 4 / 5
Pros: Creative use of buttons, big screen, qwerty keyboard
Cons: Doesn’t sync with Outlook, clunky user interface, muddled audio in ear piece/speakerphone
I really have to give credit to Samsung because of the creatively designed keypad, but I don’t recommend this phone overall. The phone user interface isn’t simple, and is made somewhat more complicated because they keyboard layout is constantly changing based on what screen you’re on. For example, there’s an awkward key layout in some versions of the layout, takes too many keystrokes to do things like turn off an alarm (I guess I’ve been spoiled by almost always owning Nokias, as they tend to have the best-designed user interfaces). Aside from the clumsy UI, the biggest thing that killed this for our family was its inability to sync contacts and calendar events with Outlook. Maybe there’s a way to do it with a combination of MyVerizon and USB cables, but its not worth the effort, especially when I can switch to a Nokia that takes care of it (as an aside, I switched to AT&T a week later because of the poor phone selection at Verizon. Also, Verizon disables any Bluetooth syncing capabilities with Outlook, even for the few Nokias they offer.)
Overall, the phone is designed creatively, but its hip design doesn’t make up for its poor UI and lack of features that were essential to me.
Rating: 3 / 5
The real standout feature on this phone is keyboard. I made the mistake of assuming that the mp3 bluetooth audio would be at least as good as my original LG chocolate from 3 years ago, especially since verizon just copies its old OS onto everything. The bluetooth stereo is almost unusable, very tinny, no way to adjust the sound profile. If you plug a wire in it sounds great, but not very useful. Phone call quality is ok. it has a spot for upto 16GB card, which would be perfect if it was useful as an MP3 player. If it wasn’t too late to return it , I would. Also the Voice recognition is not accurate or useful, something else that used to work flawlessly with my 3yr old chocolate.
Rating: 3 / 5
Overall I like the phone for its call quality. I love the keyboard and find it very easy to type text messages. I haven’t used the camera or the Bluetooth features. I can access my email accounts easily.
The main problem with the phone is that locks up when I attempt to use the MP3 player. I have an 8GB MicroSD card with all of my music on it. I hook the phone up to my car radio to play it. Everything was fine for the first month, but now the phone locks up or freezes when it’s in media mode and the only way to unlock it is to remove and then replace the battery. Very annoying.
The phone has also turned off several times when I was attempting to answer a call.
Rating: 2 / 5