Samsung Solstice a887 Touch Screen Cell Phone
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| Enjoy an instant connection to social networking, messaging and multimedia features with the Samsung Solstice for AT&T, which also features a full-touch QWERTY keypad access via its large, vivid 3-inch touchscreen. This phone can quickly download video, music and more over AT&T's lightning quick HSPDA 3G network. This phone is also compatible with AT&T's Video Share service, which enables you to send video of yourself to another compatible phone while making a voice call.
AT&T Services In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which 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 video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go. You'll also enjoy quad-band GSM connectivity, which allows you to make calls in more than 190 countries and access data applications in the more than 135 countries where AT&T offers international data roaming.
You'll be able to access AT&T's Cellular Video (CV) service and the Internet while on the go. Cellular Video features content from CNN, The Weather Channel, iFilm, Comedy Central and exclusive premium content from HBO and much more. And you get access to AT&T Mobile Music, which enables you to buy tracks while on the, 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. 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
The phone has an internal 80 MB user accessible memory, and it's expandable via optional microSD/SDHC memory cards up to 16 GB in size. The internal phonebook can store up to 2000 contact entries, and it offers support for caller groups, multiple numbers per contact, and photo/ringer ID. Other features include 8 one-touch dialing numbers, display of the last 30 outgoing/incoming/missed calls, automatic redial, vibration alert, and compatibility with both MP3 and 72-chord polyphonic ringtones.
Hands-free communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server (additional charges or subscription applicable). The Solstice 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:
Vital Statistics |
- Sleek 3G-enabled touchscreen phone with full QWERTY touch keyboard and one-touch access to Facebook and MySpace
- Compatible with AT&T Video Share, AT&T Mobile Music, and streaming video from Cellular Video service
- 2-megapixel camera/camcorder; Bluetooth stereo music; MicroSD memory expansion; access to personal email and instant messaging
- Up to 5 hours of talk time, up to 240 hours (10 days) of standby time
- What's in the Box: handset, battery, charger, quickstart guide, user manual (on CD)
 Pretty smart for not being a smartphone! |
| Review Date: October 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: B. Kurth, Boston area |
| The Solstice syncs nicely (using the free PC Studio software downloaded from the Samsung website) with the Calendar, Contacts, and ToDo list on my desktop PC Outlook program, and it does so even though it's not a smartphone, which saved me from having to buy a monthly data plan from AT&T. The basic phone function works well, the battery life seems quite good, and the voice recognition feature is quite handy. I couldn't figure out how to turn on the speakerphone for a while, so I finally broke down and read the owner's manual. Ah, you SLIDE the speakerphone switch which shows up on the touchscreen, not simply depress it! Dumb me. The touchscreen works well, with only an occasional misstep. Very nice display, and I like how it can do a slide show of the pictures I put into it from my PC. The alarm is very easy to set and use, and shuts off by simply turning the phone from face up to face down. The music player even sounds good, once I set the built-in sound equalizer to the "Wide" or the "Dyna" setting (a total of 9 equalizer settings are offered), and has enough volume. No earphone jack though, so sound quality is a bit limited compared to what headphones would offer. I am very pleased with this phone!
Update: someone has just pointed out to me that Amazon lists a headphone jack adapter. I did a quick search, and it's $0.99 from Amazon. It doesn't list the a887 as one of the phones it fits, but it does list the a867 and a877, and I think those Samsung phones use the same data jack as the a887 Solstice. Another Update: Want to be able to read a Word or Excel document on your Solstice? Just select "Save As" and save it as a Web Page on your PC. Copy it into your Solstice into a folder such as "Other Files", click on My Stuff, then Other Files, and voila! it will open up in the phone's web browser. You won't be able to edit it on the phone, of course, but you will be able to read it! This is very handy for text documents or numerical data that you frequently reference and want to have with you in your phone. |
| Solstice is a solid phone (even the speakerphone) |
| Review Date: September 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Ellis, Dallas, TX USA |
| I searched high and low for a good alternative to touchscreen "smartphones" with all their fancy doo-dads and high monthly costs, and I found it with the Solstice. The longer I have it the more I like it.
I chose this over the Eternity (last year's model) because the touchscreen interface performs better: it is noticeably snappier and faster responding. I chose this over the Impression because of personal tastes: I liked the lighter weight and trimmer form factor of the Solstice; it fits nicely in your hand. I also do not care for slide-out qwerty's (I have big thumbs); I prefer texting with T9, and the Solstice's vibration-feedback touchscreen works great for me. Battery life is not great, but good: I have run the phone for 2-3 days without re-charging if I don't use the Bluetooth, but normally I do, so I recharge every night, but I've yet to run it down in one day. Call quality is not the best I've heard, but still pretty good. Beware that there is a real issue on this model, where SOME phones have a terrible echo on speakerphone (for the person you are calling). My first Solstice had this problem, but I took it back to the AT&T store where they cheerfully exchanged it, now my speakerphone sounds just fine to everyone I call. Web browsing is ok; I can get from the main menu to a nice animated radar loop in about 20 seconds when I'm on 3G. It has GPS, built-in clients for Facebook and MySpace, YahooIM, but not Twitter. That kind of thing was not a priority for me so I can't speak to it more. I wanted a good, easy to use, music player, and the Solstice delivers, making it easy for me to play hundreds of my favorite tunes over Bluetooth to my car stereo. Being able to customize the home screen with your favorite tasks is a very nice touch on the interface. Cons: Can't think of many. Wish the camera was better than 2MP (Eternity had 3MP), but it takes decent pix and has a zoom. The multi-tasking capability is a little hard to get used to (especially with the music player), but that's just a learning curve. |
| Love the Solstice! |
| Review Date: September 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Nancy R. Keller, Roseville, MI |
| Great phone! I initially bought the Eternity and returned it because I found out it did not have speed dial and the battery did not last but 48 hours. It also did not have the ability to customize the Widget as the Solstice does. The Solstice is smaller than the Eternity and fits better in your hand. The battery seems to last longer and the phone is totally customizable. The camera takes great pictures and the voice quality, even on speaker is wonderful. The Internet is easy to access and the screen gives good detail. I would recommend this phone to anyone who is looking to upgrade to a touch screen. |
| You will love this easy to use phone! But what's up with those wallpapers? |
| Review Date: November 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Brian Stromberg, |
| The Samsung Solstice is a well designed phone. It hits on every mark. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
Screen: Beautiful Sound quality: Excellent Interface: Easy to use! Touch Screen: Responsive Battery Life: Good My favorite part about the solstice is the intuitive interface. There is almost no learning curve. Just play with it a bit and you will have it figured out in no time. Some reviewers have mentioned problems with the speaker phone, however I have not experienced that. My speaker phone is loud and clear. I love that I am not tied to an AT&T data plan with this phone. My only complaint is the included wallpapers. You can NOT delete them and most of them are hideously ugly and when the phone is locked they randomly display. |
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Tagged with: a887 • AT&T • Phone • samsung • solstice • touch screen
Filed under: samsung
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It seems like a great phone. I guess it’s gonna compete with the IPhone or maybe it’s a more affordable IPhone knockoff. I was thinking about changing my service to ATT but I know a good amount of people who say the service is not that good. So I think I’m gonna stay with Sprint and grab the Palm Pre.