Samsung's smart i730 reveals a surprise
Samsung i730
The product: We came, we saw, we liked. Samsung has packed the i730 with so many goodies that we don't know where to start. How about the slick slider design that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard? This Windows Mobile 2003 smart phone also rocks a 65,000-color, 2.8-inch display; 128MB of flash memory; 64MB of SDRAM; and integrated Bluetooth. Operating on a CDMA (800/1,900MHz) network, the i730 supports EVDO for faster download speeds. Further features include:

• Windows Media Player 10.0
• WMA ring tones
• Instant messaging, e-mail, Web browser, and text messaging
• Portrait and Landscape modes
• SDIO expansion slot
• Dual stereo speakers with 3D sound

The prospects: We suspect that many mobile professionals will take note of the Samsung i730. With EVDO capabilities, the latest OS, a full keyboard, and plenty of memory, this phone has plenty of smarts and makes working on the road a breeze. Of course, we'll have to reserve our final judgment until we actually get the mobile in for testing, but it has plenty of promise. The i730 will be available in Q1 2005; however, pricing and carrier were not determined at press time.

By Bonnie Cha, associate editor, CNET Reviews