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Lightning Review: Samsung Access Mobile TV Phone for AT&T

The Gadget: Samsung Access, the second (and cheaper) phone launching AT&T's mobile TV service.

The Price: $199 w/ 2-year contract.

The Verdict: Underneath the shiny mobile TV veneer with its crystal clear, mondo-size-for-a-candybar screen, it's actually a fairly basic phone. (Which wouldn't be a problem, except for the price—you're essentially paying for the privilege of watching mobile TV.) The UI is better than average (other than the generous slathering of orange), but you'll get nothing truly deep here. It has the same gimpy built-in email client as LG's Vu (no Gmail or custom IMAP or POP support) but the non-QWERTY keyboard means you wouldn't be doing any heavy lifting anyway. Also the browser's not very robust—expected for this kind of phone, but at the same time, I feel like the phone's slick aesthetics promised me more (a la N95).

Let's talk about what this phone is supposed to do well, though: Mobile TV. It does succeed there. The screen is pretty exceptional, if a bit smaller than what I'd want to watch mobile TV on. But I can definitely get through Colbert or 30 Rock on it, and pretty much everything good (and bad) about the service comes through here: Resolution, clarity, content (yay CNN), etc. Yet, if you're really buying this phone because you're dying mobile TV, you should stick with the Vu (if you're paying $15-$30 a month for TV, I'm guessing the price difference is non-consequential for you).

The Vu has a bigger screen, enough said there—even though the Access is taller and wider, making it a tighter pocket fit (this won't fit in a hipster's jean pocket). (They both have lame proprietary headphone jacks though, grrr.) Also, the mobile TV signal is better with the Vu (tested by descending into the bowels of my apartment building), courtesy of the mondo antenna you can whip out to look like you're visiting from the 80s. And the Vu's only $100 more, plus is simply an overall richer phone. [AT&T]

8:30 PM on Mon May 5 2008
By matt buchanan
6,098 views
12 comments

Comments

Evangelion at 08:42 PM on 05/05/08
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Cool.
man_in_gauze at 08:48 PM on 05/05/08
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Cheap and snazzy looking? Sold.

...what?
Ferg1 at 08:52 PM on 05/05/08
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GIVE THE IPHONE MOBILE TV AND IT WILL BE THE GOD OF ALL PHONE NO QUESTIONS. (in my book)
Derek Devine at 08:54 PM on 05/05/08
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I always assume that there'll be a video/walk-through with these "Lighting Reviews" tisk tisk tisk. It would make sense.
carmen89 at 09:58 PM on 05/05/08
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I want this, There needs to be a change where all phones take sim cards, b.c I am getting pissed off at all the cool phones sprint and at&t are coming out with.
::kicks sidekick lx in the face::
Grifter at 10:14 PM on 05/05/08
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I am confused. It seemed like a pretty lackluser review an people seem to want it. I say good looking phone but thats it. Does it make good phone calls??? How does it web browse?? I say pass. Wait 3 more months and you will see a much better phone around the corner.
Noobs-R-Us at 11:17 PM on 05/05/08
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I bet the 3G in June will have this. It will be the "oh, one more thing..."
Noobs-R-Us at 11:18 PM on 05/05/08
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or, maybe not since Jobs wants you to pay to get programming, a la iTunes.
sinrtb at 01:27 AM on 05/06/08
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I don't get it why not get a Samsung Blackjack II or a Blackberry Curve both are cheaper and have great video playback the blackberry even has the standard headphone jack and both have up to 4gig microsd slots. that and they both are less then half the price with the 2 year contract. And still cheaper with just the upgrade option.
marcplante at 08:54 AM on 05/06/08
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This is the Qualcomm MobiTV service. It's interesting for a couple weeks (days?) then the novelty wears off. Big constraint is the number of available channels [about 10). You're better off getting a DoRA device and plugging in a mobile sling client. Not quite the same picture, but more of the programming you'll want
SpeneyG at 09:06 AM on 05/06/08
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I honestly don't get it. I've had SlingPlayer on my phone for some time now and I'm not getting charged a monthly service fee for it. What's the difference?
firesign at 09:16 AM on 05/06/08
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@marcplante: no, it's not mobitv. it's based on mediaflo and is a different service, which is why it only runs on certain phones, currently two on at&t's service.