Samsung C3050

Editor's Review of the C3050

Simple yet classy, the Samsung C3050 is a handset that has a striking resemblance with Samsung's line-up of sophisticated mobile phones, including Samsung Soul and Samsung Classico.

Clad in classic midnight black casing, the mobile phone is a lightweight with full dimensions of 97 x 47.3 x 14.9 millimetres. Users can give it a more personal touch using a wide selection of MP3 ringtones. The handset also supports downloaded ringtones in polyphonic format.

Flaunting a 50.8-millimeter TFT external screen, the handset displays images in more than 65,000 colours over a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. The stylish mobile phone works on slider mechanism, which reveals a keypad with appropriately spaced buttons, with one easy glide.

A quad band mobile phone, the Samsung C3050 operates on 2G networks of GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 1900. The World Wide World is within reach with the mobile phone's built-in Internet browser. It offers the customary messaging services of text or SMS, as well as MMS or multimedia messaging. The Internet connectivity that the handset offers allows users to access their email inbox, and receive or send emails anytime and anywhere, without the need to sit in front of bulky computers.

Users who need to transfer data from or to other compatible gadgets such as a printer, a personal computer or a laptop may do so using wireless Bluetooth v2.0 technology which the handset supports. In addition, as the mobile phone is equipped with EDGE and GPRS Class 10 technologies, users are assured of speedier file transfer and downloading rates.

The Samsung C3050 can pass for a reliable virtual assistant with a set of essential organiser tools that are integrated in the handset. Business-oriented users will find the handset helpful with its large phone book capacity that stores 1,000 contacts, a calculator for necessary computations, as well as a calendar and a clock for scheduling purposes. The handset also supports the Mobile Tracker application. For busy users, making or taking calls with the handset is a breeze with its hands-free feature. It also supports voice memo and comes with a call log that records 30 missed calls, 30 received calls and 30 dialed calls.

While packed with business-focused features, the mobile phone also proves that it is not all work. It comes with a set of fun features that make it a handy entertainment gadget. Users who dig music will be particularly entertained by the integrated music player of the mobile phone that supports MP3 audio format. They may also opt to listen to FM radio that is integrated in the handset. Samsung has built in a speaker phone on the handset for quality music listening.

Similarly, photo buffs will enjoy the handset's built-in VGA camera that takes still photos at a 640 x 480-pixel resolution. Moreover, the mobile phone can also turn into a portable gaming zone with built-in games it offers. It also allows users to download games in Java format from the Internet.

Users may store their contacts, messages, music data and photos in the Samsung C3050's internal storage of 60 Megabytes. Using a MicroSD transflash, the handset's memory capacity can be expanded, allowing more than 8 Gigabytes of files. The handset is powered by a standard Li-Ion 800 mAh battery. It offers users up to 8 hours of talk time, and is capable of staying on standby mode for more than 340 hours.

The handset's features have also gained criticisms from certain users. Some of them dislike the mobile phone for its lack of advanced features such as Wi-Fi and USB technologies or support for GPS application. Others have also found the handset too simple, as its camera is short of editing features for superb photo outputs and does not support recording or playback of video footages. There are also those who have opined that the mobile phone is neither ideal for on-the-go users nor keeps up with most handsets that offer the latest features.

While some users express displeasure, others embrace the straightforward features of the mobile phone. Some others appreciate the handset for being a quintessential organiser gizmo. More notably, users who do not appreciate hi-tech gadgetry laud the Samsung C3050 for its uncomplicated interface.