Samsung has had success with its iPhone-like touch-screen phones. Sprint users have the Instinct; Verizon users can opt for the Omnia. Now, T-Mobile users have a touch-screen option of their own: The Samsung Behold.
Price and Availability
The Behold is available from T-Mobile for $200 when signing a new two-year contract. A $50 mail-in rebate brings the price down to $150.
Design
Like the Samsung Omnia, the Behold is a candy-bar-shaped phone with a big touch screen and minimal buttons. The Behold measures 4.1 inches tall by 2.1 inches wide by .5 inches thick. Its screen measures 3 inches diagonally (a half-inch smaller than the iPhone's touch screen) and has a resolution of 240 by 400 pixels.
The Behold is available in rose or espresso; those colors are only apparent on the back of the phone, though.
Web Browsing
While the Behold supports T-Mobile's 3G HSDPA network, it lacks support for Wi-Fi wireless networks. That means you'll have to rely on the availability of 3G service for speedy Web access. The included browser is a full HTML browser, and you can zoom in and out on Web pages.
Software
Unlike the Omnia, the Behold does not run Windows Mobile, so its software options are limited--especially if you're looking for business or productivity applications. It does include Samsung's TouchWiz interface, though, which is designed to make it easier to access the phone's various features using its touch screen.
Messaging
The Behold's e-mail client supports Web-based POP3 e-mail accounts, and the phone comes loaded with an instant messaging application that lets you access popular IM services, like AIM and Windows Live Messenger.
Camera
The included camera is a 5-megapixel model, and it includes lots of extras. You can select from four different resolutions and can adjust the exposure and ISO. You also get a self-timer, auto-focus, scene settings, an anti-shake feature, and a flash. It captures video clips in addition to still photos.
Music and More
The Behold includes a basic music player, and you can transfer music files to the phone using a USB cable. But it doesn't have access to a music store that would allow you to purchase and download songs directly to the phone.
