The phone is true value for money I am in love with Android but after Sales and Customer service with Samsung is Pathetic it SUCKS.
Few goodies offered by phone are:
Android: Boon to use, lots of free applications, open source, robust and fast.
Processor: 600 MHz Enough to host OS and apps without delay
Swipe Keyboard: Really easy, fast and fun to write text.
3G: Support for HSDPA 7.4 which even Galaxy3 does not.
Screen: Capacitive screen, soft n precise to use, though bit small but serves the purpose
Wi-Fi: B/G though signal catching strength is low, so need to be around Router.
Bluetooth: Easy transfers among devices
Memo: Type and save notes as appointments or memos.
Apps: Download Adobe reader and Think free office for free and enjoy office or PDF.While YouTube and Gtalk, Gmail and office-mail, maps are available by default.
Music: Offers media playback and FM with decent sound output with 5.1
GPS: With Google maps locate you and directions quickly.
Quad band: Allows using it in almost all parts of globe.
Camera: 2.0 MP without autofocus but serves the purpose.
Memory: Internal memory sufficient enough and 2GB external card free.
It is boon to have this full featured phone with such price tag but beware of battery and specifically 3g standby times which is only 4% of specifications. 10-15 hrs 3G standby time in place of 365 Hrs in specifications.(FACT: Iphone and HTC too fail to adhere specifications on 3G backup times, but they have smartly placed* for that and still are comparatively far better).Below is the long story of standby time problems I faced:
On 21st of October I bought a new Galaxy 5 to harness the 3G features and so discarded my 3 years old HTC touch. The surprises started from day two when on Standby 3G mode I found phone switched off in just 11 hours instead of quoted 15.65 days. I re-checked with all optimizations like full charging in switched off mode, no background tasks(killed though task manager), no Bluetooth, no WI-Fi, no GPS then it extended to 16 hrs. Called up MTNL to setup best 3G settings and hooked myself to Samsung Mobile Tech Support whole day to find out any alternatives with Tags as 8417843211, 8413855493 etc. Lot of time wastage in waitings, disconnections and call backs does not require mentioning. Next day evening visited Ashok Vihar Service Centre got my battery checked(found in good health) and was advised to Nehru place head office as I refused to allow them opening up the 4 days old handset. Next day another day off from office to visit Nehru Place Service Center and they concluded battery is faulty which will take a day or two for them to procure and next visit might work out(Job No - WA09871041033). Somehow managed another battery from my friends same set and it also fetched same results and now im sure that there is no problem. No way would it increase standby time from 18 hrs to 375 hrs. How bad the signal and other X reasons would be, the specifications cannot go so wrong. Even if 3g standby could be one day it could served my purpose but how the performance is just 4% of the SAMSUNG specifications? NOT AT ALL ACCEPTABLE.
I was about to recommend the handset to all in my office with crush on only value for money and fast Android set in market. But now I am all otherwise, I have taken two days off to resolve the issue which is not an issue actually but just the wrong technical specification disclosure on part of company. I don’t mind to spend 3k more to buy Galaxy3 instead with additional 300mAh battery which might have covered my whole day but due to wrong information disclosure now the box is crap to me. The smart phones has got huge potential in market but I would like to update all perspective smart users about the battery backup realities though all communication means.
Transaction numbers 2005407239, 2005394022 provided for the mails to Samsung support but still no calls or updates. Till date I am making calls to tech support and they are suggesting crazy new things each time to hide the shortcoming. I have tried them all and still there is no resolution. Now they are kind of avoiding by scheduling never happening call backs. Do not be-fool people by providing unrealistic specifications, these are the only means to consumer to match products to their requirements.
If specified properly or disclosed before I could have thought of larger battery Galaxy3. This is worth every penny of money, but do remember to use 2G(GPRS) all time or otherwise 3G on need basis to extend battery life to a day. The battery last for 10-16 hrs if you keep 3G always ON which is real problem. Connectivity is mandatory for a true Smartphone; now think yourself is it really Smartphone….
LAST UPDATES:
Its been a month I have bought Galaxy5 GT-I5503 and since day three I am facing problems with my phone. More than 20 mails to Samsung support, at least 30 calls to Mobile Technical support, two visits to Service Center and numerous callbacks but the state of problem still remains the same. The call automatically gets resolved and thereafter starts a new episode. Below are some of the service requests histories:
Transaction Numbers:
2005483317
8417843211
8413855493
2005459873
2005407239
2005394022
2005499693
WA09871041033
Never expect some professionalism in handling customer complaints from Samsung. They just increase count of resolved queries of all respective departments without doing anything so customer remains in same mess ever. Never expect some resolution and progress from Samsung. The company is CRAP and it sucks afterwards you buy.