Introduction and Preface
Let me open this review by stating that this is the first formal review that I have ever written for a PocketPC, so if I miss something important please let me know and I'll try to fill in the gaps. Before I get to the core of the review,...

The emergency location service that is based on triangulation is accurate to about 300-500 feet (E-911 Phase 2 and trialed for possible Phase 3 use but no one could make it accurate enough for the FCC mandate). The FCC mandate is that it be accurate to 20 feet for E911 Phase 3. I believe all the players have gone to the GPS chip intigrated into the phone due to this, the GPS chip is exactly that while it wont give you the 3-10 foot accuracy you get from a true GPS device, it will narrow it down to where you would be practicly standing on top of the person in an emergency situation. As far as I know there isnt any way to pull the data from the phone to use with GPS maps. Some phones do have the ability to display the info in text format (Lat, Long) but it is in the settings so the phone function would be disabled if you are viewing it because it is in the Programing settings.

Here is a link to the technology
http://www.cdmatech.com/solutions/products/gpsone.html
My understanding is that it's more accurate than standard GPS because it adds in Cell towers in addition to standard GPS and wouldn't driving directions be considered location based services?

No, it isn't more accurate at all. In order for it to be more accurate you would have to have a connection to at least 3 towers at once to triangulate your position, much like you have to receive a minimum of three satellites on a GPS receiver to triangulate your position. This may work in a dense urban area, but once you get into a suburban setting the likelyhood you're connected to three towers declines.

Even under most ideal conditions the accuracy isn't very impressive.

A WAAS capable GPS has accuracy to within 3 meters outdoors, and no GPS works reliably indoors, so once you take your cell phone in a mall or office building, any location data the phone is providing is strictly from the cell towers. They don't specifically mention what that accuracy figure is.

Check out the GPSOnce Fact Sheet at cdmatech.com.

Is this processor similar to the ARM processor found in the iPaq? Has anyone had trouble with any particular applications or have all seemed to install and work properly. I have a billing application I currently use on my iPaq and want to carry it over to this phone and am curious about how it may work.

Also, what variety of accessories is currently available?

Thanks.

Seconded. In the past week I purchased my i700 to replace the LGVX4400 that I just bought 2-3 months ago, and I purchased the Color Sidekick the day it was released. Foolish, ain't I?

I have had my i700 for about 1 week and love it so far. I thought the review was great, and was glad to hear I can still use it with a laptop (or in my case a Tablet PC) so I can have a larger screen surfing the web while traveling. Verizon doesn't show a "Mobile Office" kit for this phone however like it does for the Samsung A310 and Audiovox Thera among others. My rep is still researching how to sync to a laptop/tablet PC. I thought I was home free when I discovered the undocumented option to switch the USB setting from Activesync to "External Data Call" while connected to my Tablet PC. When I did so, the XP operating system automatically detected "Samsung CDMA technologies" and tries to install a new hardware driver (even though it had already done so for Activesync). Unfortunately it can't find the driver on the supplied CD.

Question: How do I find the driver to allow an "External Data Call" or what must I do to use let me use the phone as a modem to access the internet?

Thanks

KStratMD

I'm in the Boston, MA area and don't leave the area much. Verizon wireless coverage here is great.

I've read that AMPS is disabled on the phone for the Verizon network here. Anyone know why?

For the camera, anyone have shots they can or have put on a web page so at least I, along with others, can see real-world samples?

Verizon boasts/encourages over-the-air programming of its phones for firmware upgrades. Does this phone qualify?

For all the features, including camera usage and memory storage, how long does an average battery last?

For the camera, does the unit go into sleep mode if I want to keep the camera on for a while looking for a good shot? Can I swap quickly from a shot taken back to camera-ready mode for the next shot? If there is a battery save feature, can it be disabled to allow me the unlimited time for shots when I am ready to take them?

Can the unit receive and send calls while/when in camera mode? How about SMS messages? I'd like ensure camera operation and SMS are not hindered for the real use of the unit - making and receiving calls.

I think there may be more questions, but I'll start there.

Thanks.

Scott

I found the answer to my own question in the FAO area, guess I should have looked closer first. This reply is being done on my Motion Tablet PC while connected to my Samsung i700 as a modem on the Express network at 240 kbs while traveling by car in rural central Utah, and using handwriting recognition. It is much faster surfing this way on a large screen and faster screen redraws. This is great! If it was Bluetooth, it would be perfect.

KStratMD

I got my i700 yesterday, and it would be fair to say that I am ecstatic about this device...I had to order it (there are none to be had in all of Manhattan), but Verizon overnighted it for free, so I only waited 48 hrs...

BUT the BEST news is a huge pricing change for the ExpressNet service - as of June 2, new (or renewing) subscribers get ExpressNet INCLUDED in their cell phone plan. So now, instead of paying $30 - 50 extra per month, your data minutes are subtracted from your available voice minutes, including those invaluable unlimited evening and weekend minutes...

The only real downside to this deal is that most Verizon reps haven't heard about it - either in the stores or on the phone. I only stumbled on it talking to a Verizon ExpressNet tech rep directly. Theoretically, ExpressNet access will be automatic when you sign up, but I never trust things like that to happen, so I when I placed the order, I asked the rep to find the "ExpressNet Zero Dollar Feature Code" to include with the order. It took her about 15 minutes to find the information on her system, but in the end, she did find it. HOWEVER, once I received the device and called the 800# to activate it, THEY had a problem with activation because THEY had never heard of this deal, and said that I had an "incompatible package". Just as a side note, they couldn't tell me what a "compatible package" might be. Anyway, I called up the local rep who had sold me the i700, and she did the activation for me in about 3 minutes. So it's all the luck of the draw...

So RUN, don't walk to your nearest Verizon store and get this baby...

Steph

Great review!!!! Helped out alot.... I really want a pocket pc / phone... but want one that can run off my wireless network at home too. When I am on the road.. I would like to be able to access the web and email... but when I am home.. I would like it to run off my network (so I can use it around the house)... and not have to pay by the minute.

There isnt an expansion slot or a wireless card is there? or an expansion for a GPS unit is there? If not.. are there any other pocket pc / phones that have this capability?

Fingers crossed

I too want to use my local wireless network. I understand the i700 had sdio support so therefore when a wireless sd card is made it should work. I have heard there are some on the way. A SD GPS has also been mentioned.

In regards to the battery life the standard one usually lasts most of a day. I have not had a problem especially because you can leave it on the cradle charging and still do all your PDA and phone functions. That plus the fact that you can recharge before the battery runs out with no memory effect (they recommend recharging before the battery wears all the way down). My biggest problem now is to make sure I take the extended battery off the secondary part of the cradle charger and actually use it (It shouldn't be continuously charging for over 7 days in a row). I haven't had a chance to test the actual battery life but I believe it is reported elsewhere in this forum. I don't think I would even have a need for a car charger unless I was on vacation longer than a weekend (and even then the travel charger would probably suffice unless you were going on a camping trip or something).

any chance u could post a pic w/ the case on... i'd like to see how everything lines up. btw for anyone in canada... a guy i know (who works w/ telus) has informed me that they will be carrying the i700 shortly. also wondering, any chance you can show some screens of browsing. telus has a deal right now for $50 CAD for unlimited d/l for 6 months and 10MB a month after for 1x speeds.