Samsung Magnet a257 Phone, Orange (AT&T)

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.3 x 0.5 inches ; 3.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0028Y4SWM
• Item model number: A257
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #21,180 in Cell Phones & Service (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Service)

  #93 in	Cell Phones & Service > Cell Phones with Service > E-mail
  #69 in	Cell Phones & Service > Cell Phones with Service > Carrier > AT&T

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Nicely affordable and stylishly appointed with a bright orange case featuring an easy-to-grip soft-touch finish, the Samsung Magnet for AT&T is a great choice for messaging mavens thanks to its full QWERTY keyboard. You'll be able to keep up with friends and family while on the go using text messaging, mobile email, and instant messaging via popular services including AOL, Yahoo! and Windows Live (messaging charges apply). Other features include a VGA camera for capturing still photos, Bluetooth for handsfree devices, speakerphone, support for downloadable Java applications, pre-loaded games, and up to 5 hours of talk time.

The Samsung Magnet is an easy-to-use, texting machine with full text, picture, video, and IM support.

Other features include Bluetooth for handsfree devices and a VGA camera for snapping still photos on the go.

AT&T Service
This phone provides quad-band GSM coverage (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) for voice as well as GPRS/EDGE connectivity for receiving data. AT&T's EDGE network offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it's fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including full picture messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.

The phone has a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. AT&T's MEdia Net service enables you to receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more.

Phone Features
A solid, basic phone that gets the job done with a minimum of hassle, the Samsung Magnet has a large 2.2-inch LCD screen with a 220 x 176-pixel resolution and a 65K color depth. Sitting below the display is the handset's navigation pad that's complemented by a dedicated email key as well as standard send/end and soft navigation keys. The full QWERTY keyboard includes an integrated numeric keypad for easy dialing as well as dedicated keys for one-press access to the camera and messaging application.

The built-in phonebook can store up to 500 contacts, and it supports multiple phone numbers per contact entry, caller groups, and picture/ringer ID. The phone has a 64 MB internal flash memory, which can't be expanded.

Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset and handsfree car kits.

The Magnet offers a full range of email, text, and multimedia messaging options. It includes support for mobile email services such as AOL, Yahoo!, and Windows Live (messaging charges apply). You can also keep up with your instant messaging buddies using the built-in IM application that connects to those same services.

Other features include:

• VGA digital camera for still photos with multiple resolution options (640 x 480, 320 x 240 and 220 x 165 pixels), 4x digital zoom, brightness adjustment, and self timer (3, 5 or 10 seconds)
• Organization tools: Calendar, Calculator, Note, Task and Currency Converter
• AT&T Answer Tones enables your friends hear your favorite song or funny phrase when they call you (additional charges applicable)
• Ringtones: MP3 and 64-chord polyphonic
• Any-key answer
• Multilingual text display (English, French, Spanish)

Vital Statistics
The Samsung Magnet weighs 3.09 ounces and measures 4.29 x 2.32 x 0.47 inches. Its 800 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, unique little phone, especially for basic calls and texting, August 27, 2009

By	atlnative29 "atlnative29" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung Magnet a257 Phone, Orange (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

I was looking for a phone I could easily slide right into financially after the 4th Moto Razr I blew through and I found that in the Samsung Magnet. It's not 3G but I didn't need that nor the added cost AT&T plugs on your bill per month to have it. The Magnet was the perfect new phone to replace my Razr and won't cost me more per month in my plan. I like the qwerty keyboard and I find texting much easier than before. Sure, you have to get used to the smaller keys but are raised convenience and overall, I like it. Also, I typically use two hands to text on this one (yes, you can use one hand), but it discourages me from using while driving and that's a plus as we all need not text while driving. I was very guilty of that. Sound volume great on the phone, just be careful on speaker not to have the volume up to high if you're on hold. I almost blew an eardrum when the person came back on. Yikes. Phone tones are cool and different and all the menu keys are pretty straight forward. I didn't pick up the manual once to figure anything out. Phone looks and responds like a PDA and I get comments all the time on the cool color. It's like a rich & vibrant beachy burnt orange which is so different than any phone out there. Great color for girls and guys. Picture quality on the camera not the best but it's not bad either. The only other thing is that I initially kept hitting the WAP (browser) center button which was a kind of a pain, but getting more used to it. I think that had to do more with the fact that my old Razr's center button acted as main menu button.

Pros - looks, sound quality, texting easy, querty keyboard, uniqueness, cost sensible
Cons - picture quality, no 3G offered, keyboard keys are small but effective, center button not menu button - might take alittle getting used to

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great phone for what it is, March 7, 2010

By	C. Brown (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Samsung Magnet a257 Phone, Orange (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

I have had this phone for about 2 weeks and have mostly good things to say about it. My experience with this phone has been remarkably different than many of the other reviewers here.

Let's start with some negatives. First, I do agree that the keys are tiny. Serious texters with high-speed thumbs could have some problems with this. But average texters (like myself) can use it with ease. Second, the image quality is mediocre and the camera only does photos (no video). Then again, people who are even remotely serious about pictures won't be relying on their phone to take them, so this wasn't an issue for me. Third, no 3G, so if you plan on surfing the web, this isn't the phone for you.

The good. It was free after rebate. Size and weight really cannot be beat. Sound quality for me has been fantastic in every respect. Outdoors where its noisy, windy, etc. I could hear just fine and others could hear me. Same with talking in my loud car on the highway, no problems at all. Sound quality on speaker phone is also quite good. Battery life has also been impressive. Granted, I don't talk for hours and hours every day, but I was able to go over 3 days without a charge. So, I don't know what other users have been using their phone for, but average talk times will still get you several days without charging.

The verdict: Just know what you're getting. This is a solid phone with a full keyboard. No more, no less. I was looking for a phone that looked good, had good sound quality, good battery life, and a QWERTY keyboard. I didn't need to surf the web. I didn't need to shoot video or take Pulitzer Prize winning photos. This phone is for people who use their cell phone mainly for talking and some texting. If that sounds like you, this phone would be a good choice.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute phone but not practical, June 3, 2009

By	Diane Kiko "avid reader" (Kent, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Samsung Magnet a257 Phone, Orange (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

I just received this phone yesterday. I was excited to get a "real" phone that I could do some serious texting on. This isn't it. The keys are really tiny (even for my small fingers) and I kept hitting the wrong keys. It's being returned for a full-length slider keyboard. Keep trying, Samsung.