Electronics & Computers Deals here!Samsung Convoy SCH-U640 (Verizon Wireless)
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: Convoy
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Despite a couple of design complaints and a missing feature, the Samsung Convoy is an easy-to-use phone with great performance.
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CNET editors' review
Samsung Convoy SCH-U640 (Verizon Wireless) price range: $69.99
- Reviewed by: Kent German
- Reviewed on: 11/19/2009
- Released on: 11/05/2009
The good: The Samsung Convoy has a durable, easy-to-use design and a respectable feature set. Call and photo quality were excellent.
The bad: The Samsung Convoy has a 2.5mm headset port and a proprietary charger jack. 3G performance was a bit slow.
The bottom line: Despite a couple of design complaints and a missing feature, the Samsung Convoy is an easy-to-use phone with great performance.
Editors' note: This review originally reported that the Convoy does not support Verizon's push-to-talk network. In fact, the phone does support the service. We apologize for the error.
Hot on the rugged heels of the Motorola Barrage comes an equally durable phone for Verizon Wireless called the Samsung Convoy. Similar in form and function to AT&T's Samsung Rugby, the Convoy is built to withstand the elements while offering 3G, a 2-megapixel camera, GPS, and a music player. We consider it an easy-to-use phone with admirable voice quality. It will cost you $99 with service and after a $50 mail-in rebate.
Design
You'll know right away that the Convoy is meant to be a rugged phone. It has a tough plastic skin, rubber sidings, and a battery cover that locks firmly into place. It's not completely waterproof, but it is certified to the usual military specifications for humidity, dust, shock, temperature, and salt fog. Indeed, the Convoy has a solid, comfortable feel in the hand and the hinge is sturdy.
The postage stamp external display supports 65,000 colors (128x128 pixels). You can adjust the contrast only, but the screen shows the date, time, signal strength, and photo caller ID. It also works as a viewfinder for the camera lens and you can use it to access a selection of features like your calendar, Bluetooth, the music player, and voice commands. Below the display are three dedicated music controls, while below them is a large speaker. The camera lens sits above the display, and there is no flash.
The internal display measures 2.2 inches and supports 262,000 colors (220x176 pixels). It's not exactly eye-popping, but it's bright and vibrant with sharp colors and graphics. Outside of your usual Verizon complaints, the menu interface is easy to use. We like that you can choose from three menu styles and that you can adjust the position of icons and replace the standard menu choices with your favorite apps. Other editing options include the backlight time, clock format, dial font size, and menu font size and style.
The navigation array includes a large toggle with a central OK button, two soft keys, a camera shutter, a voice dial control, a clear button, and the talk and End/power keys. The buttons are flush, but their spacious design makes them easy to use. You also can set the toggle to offer shortcuts to four user-defined features. The keypad buttons are equally spacious. Though they're flat, we could dial and text quickly without making mistakes. The numbers on the keys are large as well and they have a bright backlighting.
On the right spine you'll find a microSD card slot, a speakerphone control, and a 2.5mm headset jack. It's disappointing that we don't get a 3.5mm jack on a music phone. On the left spine are a programmable shortcut button, a volume rocker, and the port for Samsung's proprietary charger. Samsung is making good strides toward the Micro-USB charger standard, but it didn't happen here. Also, since the rubber flaps covering the ports and memory card slots aren't completely secure, we suggest taking care that the Convoy doesn't get a full dunking.
Features
The Convoy has a 1,000-contact phone book with room in each entry for five phone numbers, two e-mail addresses, a street address, and notes. You can organize callers into groups and pair them with a photo and one of 20 polyphonic ringtones. Other essentials include text and multimedia messaging, a calculator, a calendar, a speakerphone, an alarm clock, a stop watch, a world clock, and a notepad.
For more demanding users, the Convoy offers speaker-independent voice commands and dialing, USB mass storage, PC syncing, stereo Bluetooth, instant messaging and chat, and support for POP3 e-mail. Thanks to the integrated GPS, you also can connect with Verizon's VZ Navigator. On the whole that's a fairly strong feature set, and you can access Verizon's push-to-talk network for an extra $5 per month.
The 2-megapixel camera takes pictures in five resolutions, from 1,600x1,200 down to 160x120. Other editing options include a self-timer, three quality settings, five color effects, four white balance choices, a 10x digital zoom, an adjustable ISO, spot metering, and a brightness meter. You also get several shooting modes--divided multishot, autoshot, and panoramic--and a selection of shutter sounds. The camcorder has a smaller number of editing options. Videos for a multimedia message are capped at 60 seconds, but you can shoot for longer in standard mode.
Photo quality was very good for a 2-megapixel shooter. Colors were bright and there was little to no image noise. Some of our shots had a slight pinkish tone, but that was our only complaint. Just remember that without a flash, you'll need to have enough light to get a decent image. Videos were fine, but nothing great. You can transfer images off the phone in a message, via Bluetooth, or through a wired connection to your computer. Verizon also gives you an online album. The Convoy has a respectable 90MB of integrated shared memory and can accommodate microSD cards up to 16GB.
As an EV-DO phone, the Convoy supports the full range of Verizon's 3G services, including V Cast streaming video content, and the V Cast Music with Rhapsody. Both the V Cast menu and music store interface are pretty much unchanged from other Verizon phones. Player options include the usual limited shuffle and repeat modes, but V Cast Music also will recommend other songs based on your playlist. The Convoy includes an airplane mode for listening to your tunes while aloft.
You can personalize the Convoy with a banner, wallpaper, and display themes. The Convoy doesn't come with any additional games or applications, but you can download options form Verizon with the WAP 2.0 browser.
Performance
We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO Rev. A) Samsung Convoy in San Francisco using Verizon service. Call quality was quite respectable on the whole. The signal was clear and strong, voices sounded natural and the volume was sufficiently loud. We also didn't encounter any interference from other electronic devices. We used the phone in a variety of places and could hear clearly in each one. Honesty, we have no gripes. The Convoy is compatible with M4 and T4 hearing aids.
On their end, callers said we sounded great as well. We heard no complaints even when we were calling from a noisy place. Some couldn't tell we were using a cell phone. Speakerphone quality also was admirable. The external speaker gets quite loud and the audio remained clear on both ends. We also were pleased with Bluetooth headset calls and with the quality of the voice-command feature.
The 3G connection was shaky when downloading music tracks from the V Cast Music Store. It took almost 2 minutes to download a 3.73MB song, which is quite long. But once the music was on the phone we were impressed with the quality, both over the external speaker and headphones.
The Convoy has a rated battery life of 5 hours talk time and 22.37 days standby time. Our tested talk time is much longer at 7 hours and 32 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the Convoy has a digital SAR of 0.912 watt per kilogram.
User reviews
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In the past week, I obtained Verizon's Samsung Convoy.
by agentdbl07 on November 23, 2009
Pros: This phone is EXCELLENT in the categories I focused on: (a) NO data plan is required, (b) good volume, (c) good SPEAKERPHONE volume, (d) low to medium radiation level, (e) removable memory NOT behind battery, (f) 2.0 MP camera & (g) clamshell design.
Cons: The "Convoy" is physically larger than I would have preferred, since it is replacing my old Motorola Razr. I would have liked a camera flash. Unfortunately, it has a slightly higher radiation level than its non-Verizon twin, the AT&T Samsung Rugby.
Summary: Thank you, Kent, for your excellent review.
At Verizon, as a new customer switching from a different carrier, and signing a two-year contract with NO data plan, the Samsung Convoy ...Summary: Thank you, Kent, for your excellent review.
At Verizon, as a new customer switching from a different carrier, and signing a two-year contract with NO data plan, the Samsung Convoy was $99 with a $50 rebate, for a net price of $49.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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WOW SUPER BATTERY LIFE FIVE DAYS WITH HEAVY USE! WOW!
by jrubyaz on December 11, 2009
Pros: The battery alone is worth it! Add in military specs, tunes , and voice command ,PTT, and texting with phone closed or open, you got it made! I use a phone several hours a day and text all the time, this phone lasted FIVE DAYS on one charge! WOW !
Cons: Really nothing. Some folks complain you can't see clock on outer screen, but push a button and you can, and it saves on battery life. I have not found any major issues on this phone-really love it,
Summary: I would highly recommend this phone for anyone who is into sports, sailing, hiking, adventurer, heavy laborer, trucker, construction, or someone who just wants a great phone with a great ...
Summary: I would highly recommend this phone for anyone who is into sports, sailing, hiking, adventurer, heavy laborer, trucker, construction, or someone who just wants a great phone with a great price and great battery life. (Or someone who drops their phone a lot, lol)
PS forgot to mention, you can talk on this phone without opening the flip-there are buttons to talk and text on the front, right below screen, that allow you to so o. I am still wowed by battery life, five days between charges with heavy use, several hours talk and text a day!
This phone is not for those who want a full keyboard for texting, but who needs that ? It has the option to read the texts and listen to tunes without opening phone. It is not bulky like some tough phones, but has a solid feel and is bigger than your average cell nowadays. Combine Verizon coverage with great stuff, and you got a winner.
Note, I don't use the PTT or VZ Navigator, but both are availalbe, as is data, email, web, etc.
Updated on Dec 17, 20092 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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One tough phone
by capt124 on December 6, 2009
Pros: This phone works great. The battery life is amazing, don't need the car charger.
Cons: Wish the display was better in bright sunlight.
Summary: If you have been waiting for a tough, no-nonsense phone from Verizon, this is it. Had a Casio G'Zone, Moto Barrage, but neither were very good. This Convoy has ...
Summary: If you have been waiting for a tough, no-nonsense phone from Verizon, this is it. Had a Casio G'Zone, Moto Barrage, but neither were very good. This Convoy has worked flawlessly.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Many optional features. Great as an MP3 player also.
by verboseone on January 15, 2010
Pros: Heavy duty phone. Many optional features, like Bluetooth, plus Internet connections, at a price.. Good sound quality. Built in stereo MP3 player using optonal adapter cable and stereo headset.. Large exernal. spk. Good digital camera & camcorder.
Cons: "Hidden" Verizon costs for services such a VCast news etc. Not mentioned in the "Hints, Tips and Shortcuts" manual. The full manual does not come with the phone. No built in driver to use with the supplied USB/power cable to the computer .
Summary: The product is well made and functional. Menu driven access to Verizon amplications like VCast and the Internet where there may be additional "as used" charges with no warnings or ...
Summary: The product is well made and functional. Menu driven access to Verizon amplications like VCast and the Internet where there may be additional "as used" charges with no warnings or requests via the phone that these charges are being added if you do not have the "right" plan. This is not the fault of the phone.itself. .
Once posted, this site does not allow for correcting text. Only additions. The web site for this phone says that the external speakers in the phone are stereo! Not monoural as I wrote. in my review. The sound, however. is only appreciated using a good quality headset in my opinion.
This phone has optional Push to Talk capabilities, Bluetooth, standard Text Messaging, VZ Navigator, and Internet at additional pricing so the buyer needs to be aware as the phone is probably too easy to use! Menu driven. Not by slidding aps icons . This is a standard cellphone with many options., mostly at a price.. You need to use it with caution.
There are several data transfer issues with this phone, but all with work arounds. Some for a cost for additional adapaters and memory chips The basic cost for the phone covers only your cell phone connection.. Do not expect full functionallity without additional costs. even if certain funtions are accessible on this phone without warnings.
The MP3 playback quality via sterio headphones is excellent despite lack of equalizer settings. A special adapater cable is required for the none standard audio jack to listen in stereo with a good connection. The large, for a cell phone, standard speaker on the phone is mono of course, and the quality is about that of a small portable radio The manual, such as it is, does not point the possible problems using the hadphone jack. It was done this way to hopefully prevent casual use with both ear pieces and to allow an external mike They do not make this clear in the only manual that comes with the phpone. The Tips, Hints and Shortcut manual. I believe they shoud included the rull manual, which appears to be available on the internet..
Used with the proper adaptor cable his unit can serve a dual funtion. As a standard cell phone or a quality stereo MP3 player, providing the MP3 files are put in the proper folder. This is not intuitive on this phone! It does work well.
The built in digital camera as noted by other reviewers does not have a flash, but takes excellent pictures with reasonable lighting. By depressing the same button that turns on the camera, there is also a camcorder mode that will take up to a 60 second video clip..
There are multiple resolutions available for the camera and Quality settings. Almost complete photo editiing other then croping pictures on the phone including renaming files before transfer to your computer whch I lie.. You can rename files, make some adjustments, and transfer the picture files easily to the plug in optional Sun mini chips Sizes up to 8 Gig. The internat memory is relatively small, but at low resolution will hold many pictures without the optional chip. Changing the plug in chip is easy, but does not always make firm contact if the covering cap is not closed securely.
Pictures and files on the camera can also be transfered to a free on line storage site after signup for that service... The reason for not easily allowing transer to your own computer is not clear. It can be done through the mini SD chip and an adapter. to a standard SD chip configeration..
As noted by another reviwer, the buttons can be used virtually error free, but like with most such phones where the Clear button is directly under the down scroll pad , it is easy to accidently depress the clear key when you mean to scroll.. I think this phone and others like it should find another location for the clear key!
If you need a basic cell phone with many options available and your primary interests are connectivity, pictures and sounds, rather then "multiple Aps" at your fingertips , this is the phone for you. You can connect to the Internet for a price of course. Much thicker and marginally heavier then the slim cellphones available today, but exceedingly "rugged."
This would be the ideal phone for outdoorsmen or construction workers who also want Push to Talk, walkie talkie, capabilities. That also costs extra on Verizon.. There are very few free lunchs on this phone, and you will not forget you are carrying this pnone in your pocket. Bult supposedly to military specks. HOORAH!
Updated on Jan 16, 2010 -
great phone
by Dpelaez21 on January 15, 2010
Pros: long battery life
tough phoneCons: can't think of any
Summary: Very reasonable price, high quality phone and overall good buy...
Summary: Very reasonable price, high quality phone and overall good buy...
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It's a good solid phone
by frgreg92 on January 9, 2010
Pros: Noticed that the battery life is much better than the Casio Gzone that I just replaced and the Motorola Barrage that was touted has having a great battery life but does not.
Cons: Nothing so far, but have only had it a couple of days
Summary: When I asked those I was speaking with if the sound is good on their end, they said it was fine, and I could hear them just fine. The phone ...
Summary: When I asked those I was speaking with if the sound is good on their end, they said it was fine, and I could hear them just fine. The phone is touted to be shock proof, dust proof, humidity proof. With the wear and tear I will put it thru, those "proofs" remain to be proven. Hence, I will give updates.
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Good phone with it's ups and downs.
by thetruthis19 on January 5, 2010
Pros: Excellent voice quality and background noise reduction, actually too good.
Great battery life.
Good hefty feel.
Good quality camera.Cons: Phone is too big for a flip phone.
Only one volume control for the entire phone.
Background noise reduction is so good you think the other person has hung up.
Battery life is good because the cover display is off most of the time.Summary: Good quality sound and great battery life with a nice camera. I can't comment on the 3G aspect because I only use it for voice.
The phone is too ...Summary: Good quality sound and great battery life with a nice camera. I can't comment on the 3G aspect because I only use it for voice.
The phone is too big. It takes two hands to handle this phone. The belt clip is useless and the phone is too thick to put in a pants pocket.
There is only one master volume control for both audio and ringtone so if you lower it to subdue the ringtone you affect the voice also.
Battery life is good because the front cover display is turned off most of the time as opposed to other phones that constantly display the time and date.
The rubber port covers for the charging port and the microSD port and attached at one end by a rubber stud but I question the lifetime of that mechanism.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: Convoy
- Bottom Line: Despite a couple of design complaints and a missing feature, the Samsung Convoy is an easy-to-use phone with great performance.
General
- Product Type Cellular phone With digital camera
- Service Provider Verizon Wireless
- Width 2 in
- Depth 0.94 in
- Height 3.85 in
- Weight 3.88 oz
- Body Color Charcoal grey
Cellular
- Caller ID Yes
- Wireless Interface Bluetooth 2.1
- Additional Features VZ Navigator, Long battery life, Built-in stereo speaker
Messaging & Data Services
- Short Messaging Service (SMS) Yes
- Messaging / Data Features Text messages
Manufacturer info
- Samsung
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.samsungusa.com/
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001
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