Samsung a117 Prepaid GoPhone (AT&T) with $35 Airtime Included

by Samsung

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.4 x 1.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0017OCN76
• Item model number: A117
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,842 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A great choice for those seeking an uncomplicated communications partner, the Samsung A117 gives you high-quality phone calls and has just enough built-in fun and personalization to make this phone your own. And with AT&T's GoPhone pay-as-you-go service, you pay for just the minutes you use without having to sign up for an annual contract--this phone even comes with $35 of airtime included. You can easily refill your minutes via prepaid cards or the Internet, or choose to prepay each month and roll over unused minutes. Other features include a speakerphone, headset jack, text messaging capabilities, access to personal email and instant messaging, and up to 5 hours of talk time.

The easy-to-use Samsung A117 helps you keep up with voice communications and text messaging.

AT&T GoPhone Service
AT&T's pay-as-you-go GoPhone plans are wireless plans made easy. Simply pay in advance for what you need. No long-term contracts, credit checks, or surprise bills--just all the benefits of wireless, with no complications. In addition, AT&T's Rollover Balance feature lets you carry over your unused account balance when you purchase refill minutes before your balance expires. Other great features include no long distance or roaming fees across AT&T's national service area, the ability to track usage via text messages with an updated balance after each call, and the ability to refill your minutes 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. You can also cancel any time without penalty.

With the Pay As You Go option, you'll choose the rate plan that fits your needs and then start dialing. Your balance is lowered each time you make or receive a call or use services such as text messaging. You can then refill the minutes in your account via the Internet, using your phone (by calling 611 from your cell), or purchasing a pre-paid card in denominations up to $100.

With the Pick Your Plan option, you'll set up monthly, automatic payments with your credit/debit card or checking account. If you need to make more calls or you use up your balance during the month, just add minutes to your account at any time--you'll pay the same per-minute rate as your plan. You can buy more minutes in increments of $15 and $25 using your credit/debit card or checking account.

Phone Features
Under the clamshell, the Samsung A117 has a 128 x 128-pixel screen, standard alpha-numeric keypad, five-way navigator, send/end keys, and two soft keys for navigation. It's complemented by a monochrome external screen (96 x 64 pixels), which displays current time and date, signal strength and battery life. The phone can store up to 300 phone numbers with each entry supporting up to 3 numbers (at 40 digits and 40 characters in length) and an email address. It also includes eight speed dial numbers. The integrated speakerphone provides loud and clear handsfree communication.

Support is built in for sending and receiving text messages. T9 text entry, 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.

Other features include:

• Organization tools: Calendar, calculator, alarm, converter, world time, timer
• Compatible with 16-chord polyphonic ringtones
• Displays last 20 incoming/outgoing/missed calls
• Any key answer
• Mute function, vibrate alert
• Headset jack
• Multi-lingual support: English, French, Spanish
• Downloadable ringtones

Vital Statistics
The Samsung A117 weighs 2.86 ounces and measures 3.39 x 1.67 x 0.76 inches. Its 800 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 250 hours of standby time. It runs on the 850/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent, August 15, 2008

By 

Paul M. Madsen (Brigham City, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samsung a117 Prepaid GoPhone (AT&T) with $35 Airtime Included (Wireless Phone)

To start out with, this phone seems to have good mechanical design. It feels sturdy, and doesn't squeek, or make creeking noises while in use like a lot of my other phones have. The firmware is decent, and the interface is relatively easy to use. There is no way to set the phone to vibrate, and ring at the same time (a little annoying, in my opinion).

It has an external LCD so that you can see the time, signal strength, mode settings, and caller name (if it's in your contact list) without having to open the phone. Both LCD's seems to be high quality, and are easy to see/read.

Operationally, the phone it's not bad.

Now for the kiss of death. This phone has poor reception. It often does not have any service at my home, where my cheap Motorola phone works just fine. Since my main reason for owning a phone is to be able to make/take phone calls, the poor receiver performance is a major problem! For this reason, I wouldn't buy another one. Maybe mine is just a lemon, maybe not. But be warned, you may be frustrated by frequent dropped calls, and poor service.

If you live near an AT&T cell tower, maybe this phone is OK.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid at any cost, October 28, 2008

By 

anonymous - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung a117 Prepaid GoPhone (AT&T) with $35 Airtime Included (Wireless Phone)

I purchased this phone for $9.99 at a big box store as another reviewer mentioned. The redeeming qualities are it's small size and the exterior is built sturdy. The flip mechanism is secure and the keypad is a nice size and has a blue backlight.

However I agree with the reviewer who said the reception is not good. AT&T says I am in a "best" signal area. However the phone struggles to get even 1 bar whether indoors or outdoors with AT&T. It is however easily unlocked with a code I found online so I tried it on T-Mobile. I am not supposed to be in as good of a T-Mobile area but actually I do get a little better reception with it on T-Mobile, at least outdoors.

Now for the icing on the cake... After a mere month of very minimal use, the power button does not work all of the time. The phone has also frozen and it has shut itself off at random. I have achieved 1 - 8 days battery standby with just 5 or 6 days on standby being common. Less than the battery is rated.

I am so glad I did not pay more than $9.99 for it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It is much cheaper outside, September 7, 2008

By 

Chirag Sanghavi (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samsung a117 Prepaid GoPhone (AT&T) with $35 Airtime Included (Wireless Phone)

When Purchased from other large electronics retailer ( B&M, not online), This phone is available for $9.99 or so without Airtime.