Samsung Sunburst A697 Phone (AT&T)

by Samsung

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches ; 3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B003CN5JBC
• Item model number: a697
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,652 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

One of AT&T's new line of Quick Messaging Devices, the Samsung Sunburst helps you stay on top of all your communications--from voice to e-mail to instant messaging to social networking. It features a stunning design that accents Sunburst's 3-inch touchscreen-enabled display, with a curvy exterior and light accent below the screen. A widget bar allows one-touch access to a wealth of phone functions like creating a text message, in addition to direct links to social networking sites.

The Samsung Sunburst with 3-inch touchscreen-enabled display (see also a pop-up schematic image of all controls).

The user-friendly interface makes it intuitively easy to navigate through the menus, and Smart Unlock gesture control makes it even easier to launch various functions. Draw the letter 'U' to unlock, 'B' to browse, 'M' to message, etc. You assign the characters to the task. There's also one finger zoom that lets you enlarge the image on the screen.

This GPS-enabled phone can access the AT&T Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions as well as its Video Share service, which enables you to send video of yourself to another compatible phone while making a voice call.

The Samsung Sunburst also features a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder with 4x digital zoom, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD memory expansion (up to 32 GB), digital audio player, FM radio, personal organizer tools, and up to 5 hours of talk time.

Next Generation Messaging and Data Services

Offering an advanced messaging experience designed by AT&T, this phone's familiar text messaging experience is enhanced with group messaging and "reply all" functionality for up to 10 contacts, a threaded conversations format, a consolidated inbox, and enhanced multi-media display.

Additionally, with the free AT&T Address Book service, you can sync your contacts to an online address book, enabling you to access and manage your mobile contacts from your handset--or your PC. From the online interface, you can import contacts from other Web-based address books, such as personal e-mail accounts, as well as send text messages to your contacts' mobile numbers.

The AT&T Mobile Share service helps you quickly transfer photos and videos captured on your mobile phone (up to 10 MB) to other destinations--including home computer, social networking sites, other people and a personal Internet-based storage locker from AT&T. AT&T Mobile Share is available for $10 per month for 50 media transfers; you can also pay per use at $0.35 per transfer. The service also includes 250 MB of online storage at no additional charge.

The Sunburst includes AT&T's next-generation messaging and data services, including threaded text messaging conversations, address book sync, and AT&T Mobile Share service.

Key Features

• GPS navigation capabilities via AT&T Navigator service includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options.
• 3-inch touchscreen display (240 x 400 pixels, 262K color depth)
• Virtual, landscape QWERTY keyboard for fast texting and e-mail.
• 2-megapixel camera/camcorder with 4x digital zoom, brightness adjustment, and multi-shot capabilities
• Multi-format digital audio player compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC formats.
• Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity with stereo music streaming (A2DP) capabilities as well as hands-free headsets and car kits. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send e-mail, and access files from a server (additional charges or subscription applicable).
• Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
• 189 MB internal memory (shared between MP3 player and camera)
• Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture and IM instant messaging (via popular services including AOL, Yahoo!, and Windows Live).
• Conversation view messaging displays messages in time order from contact.
• Access to personal e-mail (AOL, Gmail, Yahoo!, and Windows Live)
• Web browser
• Speakerphone with mute functions
• Organizer tools including calendar, memo book, converter, calculator, and more.
• 1000-entry phonebook
• Call management features include tracking the last 30 outgoing/incoming/missed calls, number redial, caller ID, conference calling, and more.
• Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off

Vital Statistics
The Samsung Sunburst weighs 3.08 ounces and measures 4.3 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches. Its 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 250 hours (10+ days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies

What's in the Box
Samsung Sunburst handset, rechargeable battery, charger, quick start guide, user manual

AT&T Services

The full-featured, premium AT&T Navigator GPS navigation application includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options, and 3D moving maps (additional charges applicable). AT&T Navigator offers several other features to make your commute more enjoyable and reliable, including mobile access to Yellowpages.com. Additionally, AT&T Navigator is the only mobile phone-based GPS service that provides integrated speech recognition for address entry and points of interest search.

AT&T Mobile Music enables you to buy tracks while on the go, access the Napster and eMusic subscription music services, stream music video, discover what's playing with Music ID song-recognition software, and find out what's hot with The Buzz music news portal.

Product Description

Samsung Sunburst SGH-a697 AT&T Phone: The Samsung Sunburst delivers a full touch experience without the price tag. Along with a full range of customizable widgets that offer one-touch access to applications, easy to use full virtual keyboard and large screen to clearly view photos, scroll through contacts and surf the web, you can have the latest touch technology at a reasonable price. This brand new Samsung Sunburst a697 is unlocked and ready to use on any GSM network. Just pop in our SIM card and you're all set.MicroSD card slot for up to 32GB of expandable memorySend SMS, MMS, and e-mail messagesMotion sensorLarge 3'' touch screenBluetooth version 2.1 with A2DPGPS-ready (AT&T Navigator)TouchWiz UIWAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML browserRecords video2MP cameraAT&T

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice phone - except in the sunlight, April 11, 2010

By 

Whatshername - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung Sunburst A697 Phone (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

PROS: This phone has good call quality, is small and will fit in a pocket, has a QWERTY touch keyboard, and is user friendly.

CONS: You cannot see the touch screen when you are outside in the sunlight. If it's a sunny day it's hard to see the phone even when sitting inside of a parked car. This is not true of other touch screen phones such as the IPhone.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really good phone, and its affordable too., April 28, 2010

By 

L. Velazquez "LLV516" (Elmont, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've had this phone for a little over 2 weeks now, and I love it. This is the first touchscreen phone I've ever owned, and It seems to be very user friendly. I was a little aprehensive about buying a phone that had a touchscreen keyboard, but after using it for a couple of days, I found it to be very responsive, and fairly accurate. The camera takes good pictures, it lacks a digital zoom and a flash, but it has a lot of fun effects that you can use to distort the photo's you've taken.

Overall, I'd say the good aspects:
-Its lightweight.
-It holds a charge.
-Its great for messaging.
-2mp camera.
-expandable storage.
-3 home screens for apps, versus Solstice's one.
-Smart unlock feature which allows you to launch programs such as messaging, contacts list or the music player from unlock mode by drawing a character on the screen.
-The screen is very big, and features a wide color spectrum.
-Its sleek, slim and fits nicely in a pocket.
-Its very user friendly.

Its bad aspects:
-Its kind of lacking in the games and apps department, but that might change over time.
-it dosent have much storage on it for photos, so a micro SD card is somewhat required.
-the camera has no flash or zoom.
-The screen can be a little tricky to work with at first (HINT: This can be fixed by calibrating the screen.)
-Its a little too light, I havent dropped it yet, and I worry about the day I do.
-If you buy it with a plan, your required to buy a data package.
-It requires an adapter for headphones and USB connections.

Overall, I'd say its a really good phone. And for the price, it can't be beat. As for its durability, I can't say, since its still a new phone.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Phone I've Ever Had, November 6, 2011

By 

chunkeeone - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung Sunburst A697 Phone (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

You won't be disappointed!

The touch screen took a little getting use to, I think mostly because I hadn't had one before. The text/buttons aren't as small as you'd think they would be with such a small phone. The internet is just as fast as others have mentioned. And the photos and mp3 player are spectacular (provided you buy a beefy enough memory card, of course). The battery life is better than any other touch screen out there (Seriously; I have listened to the mp3 player for a whole 8 hour shift at work before and it wasn't even close to dead.) And I didn't have to get a data plan with it, if I didn't want to.

The only complaint I actually have, after having this phone a year+ is that it comes with nothing but a wall charger. No car charger, data cable or hands-free included. I actually wouldn't even complain about that if anyone sold these things at all. I had to order them from Hong Kong.

Side Note: It is kind of strange that I haven't seen one other person with this phone either. They should be more popular.