KYOCERA KX21 SWITCHBACK VIRGIN MOBILE CELL PHONE

by Kyocera

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• ASIN: B000F1LMZG
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Get ready for high-powered messaging, email, chat, and a whole lot more with the ingeniously designed Kyocera KX21 "Switchback." At first glance, the phone looks like just another candybar style handset. Flip it open, though, and you've got a QWERTY keyboard and a large internal display. Plus, features like a VGA camera, support for the wireless Internet, and a speakerphone make this phone far from ordinary. It's a great way to take advantage of all that Virgin Mobile prepaid service has to offer.

Design
The KX21's face features a large, 65,000-color screen with 128 x 128 pixels. You'll also find a dialpad here and a five-way center button that controls most of the phone's on-screen menus. Flip the phone open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, another five-way center button, and call control buttons. The design allows for calling functions to be performed with the phone open or closed. A horizontally oriented 160 x 128 screen is placed above the keyboard, right next to a speaker that enables the phone's speakerphone functions.

On the back of the phone, you'll find a VGA camera, as well as a self portrait mirror and an LED flash, which can also double as a flashlight. Other design features include a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets and side keys for controlling call volume and other functions.

Calling Features
The phone's internal phone book can accommodate up to 500 contacts for quick retrieval of numbers, email addresses, and other info. The phone supports polyphonic ringtones and Virgin Mobile's "Superphonic" music ringtones, as well as vibrating alerts. Voice dialing lets you call your favorite contacts by simply speaking their names, and you can also control many of the phone's features and dialing functions with your voice. Meanwhile, picture and ringer ID functions allow you to set specific ringers and pictures to certain callers. And last but not least, a built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk hands-free.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools
Support for basic text messaging and robust multimedia messaging (MMS) are built into the KX21. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. Instant messaging chat is also supported, thanks to an embedded AOL Instant Messenger client. A built-in wireless web browser lets you surf Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 2.0 sites via the Virgin Mobile Web service. eZiText text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy tools ship with the KX21, including an alarm, a calendar, and a calculator with a tip calculator. There's also a voice memo application for recording quick notes or numbers.

Imaging and Entertainment
The KX21 is designed to kick the fun up a few notches. The built-in VGA camera captures great stills and comes equipped with a flash, a five-step digital zoom, multi-shot adjustment, a self-timer, resolution adjustment, and white balance. Because the KX21 supports Java applications it is compatible with many Java-based games. Many games are available from Virgin Mobile's wireless download service. You can also customize the phone with custom graphics and wallpapers, many of which are also available from Virgin Mobile.

Vital Statistics
The Kyocera KX21 Switchback weighs 4.1 ounces and measures 4.25 x 2.05 x .95 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of digital talk time, and up to 150 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars no "hidden fees" in by-the-minute plan, May 7, 2006

By 

Music Fan Jeff (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KYOCERA KX21 SWITCHBACK VIRGIN MOBILE CELL PHONE (Wireless Phone)

For anyone considering the purchase of this (or another) Virgin Mobile phone, do not be influenced by the identical negative reviews posted for several Virgin Mobile phones by someone calling himself "lookout guy." I cannot comment on the month to month plans, having only been a pay-as-you-go by-the-minute guy since I got my Virgin Mobile phone over two years ago. I can tell you that lookout guy is totally WRONG in terms of any "hidden fee" in terms of the by-the-minute service offered by Virgin Mobile. There is NO $1.50/day fee; if there was, no one would choose this option because it would end up costing more than a monthly plan. (Duh.) I can confirm that you only pay for the minutes you use. If you don't use your phone for days (even weeks) at a time, you pay nothing. The ONLY charge for having access to a Virgin Mobile phone on the by-the-minute plan is the minimum top-up charge (supposedly $20 every three months but after you become a customer you can get it down to $15 every three months if you choose auto top-up with a credit card). So if you NEVER use your phone, that's what it costs. Of course, you would simply end up accruing money in your account to be debited when you do finally use your phone. As long as you use your phone minimally (for emergencies and for very brief, occasional conversations only), you'll pay only $5-$6.66/month. I oughta know -- my balance keeps growing and growing because I rarely use my phone; if I were being charged a $1.50/day "access charge" I would know it.

Only you can decide if a pay-as-you-go plan such as this is suitable for you, but here's the quick math: if you know you will use your phone at least five minutes per day almost every day, then this plan isn't for you as it would cost you $37.50/month for only 150 minutes of use based on 25 cents/minute. If, like me, you are likely to have many days where you don't use the phone at all and other days where you use only a few minutes (with rare days that you use over 10 minutes), then this plan will be a bargain. (I used to be a Sprint PCS customer and ended up paying, on average, $1/minute for my calls because of my minimal phone use -- in other words, over four times as much as my Virgin Mobile minutes cost at their highest rate.)

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars greatest pnone yet, November 26, 2006

By 

M. Barker "God bless us all" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KYOCERA KX21 SWITCHBACK VIRGIN MOBILE CELL PHONE (Wireless Phone)

Ok. I can say I have been a realtor, a nurse,an HR person, a mom. That means a heavy phone user- since 1990. My first phone was the old motorola brick analog. One of the greatest and biggest phones ever. I remember my first digital phone, and first pnone with games. I have had a total of 5 phones, motorola, nokia, ericson, panasonic. This kyocera is the best. I don't want a treo palm because I already travel with a lap top. What I want is a text phone that is small and easy to use. This querty key board rocks. The menu is just like a computer and easy to make selections. The more features you need on the phone, the more you want a qwerty key board. Get this phone and be happy. Also the saleslady threw it on the ground and when the back came off she snapped it back on and used it. Very sturdy little phone, and the antena is the loop so it won't poke you. Comes with a very easy to read guide book so start up is easy. I paid $199 for this phone in my region and it is worth every penny.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Price, Great Features, Great Plan, April 30, 2006

By 

V. A. Karabinus - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KYOCERA KX21 SWITCHBACK VIRGIN MOBILE CELL PHONE (Wireless Phone)

I recently purchased the Kyocera Switch_Back, and I am thrilled with the features and ease of use. Contrary to what "lookout guy" might say, the service plan is an excellent deal for those who rarely use their phone, and don't need several hundred minutes per month. The Switch_Back takes excellent pictures, and the flash is extraordinarily useful in dark lighting. The QWERTY keyboard is excellent, perfect for the internet, text messaging, and even entering contact information. In conclusion, I believe this is an excellent phone for people who rarely need to make calls.