Camera Phone Reviews

Verizon G'zOne Type-S

In addition to meeting rigorous testing standards, the G'zOne Type-S is able to access some of the key services that Verizon Wireless customers have grown to expect, including access to Verizon Wireless' Get It Now(R) virtual store and VZ Navigator(SM), a tool that includes mapping, audible turn-by-turn navigation and access to information on more than 14 million points of interest. Features of the G'zOne Type-S from Verizon Wireless include:
- Get It Now - to download games, Ringtones, wallpapers and more
- VZ Navigator - for audible maps, turn-by-turn directions and location information
- Mobile Web 2.0(SM) - customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more
- TXT, Picture and Video Messaging capability - send and receive messages with text, sounds, photos and videos
- Mobile IM - send and receive instant messages using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM(R)), Yahoo! Messenger or MSN Messenger
- Bluetooth-capable* for the following profiles: headset, hands-free, serial port and dial-up networking (DUN)
- 300K CMOS digital camera/camcorder with flash and digital zoom
- Take 15-second Video Messages
- Main Display: 1.8" 65K color TFT (176 x 220)
- Sub Display: 1.3" black and white STN (96 x 96)
- Address book with up to 500 contacts and picture Caller ID
- Calendar, Alarm Clock and World Clock
- Calculator and Notepad
- Countdown Timer and Stopwatch
- Speed dialing
- Voice activated dialing
- Speakerphone
- Frequency: CDMA2000 1x EV-DO, 800MHz/1900 MHz-band compatible
- Dimensions: 3.8" h x 2.0" w x 1.1" d
- Weight: 5.1 ounces
- 1050 mAhLi-Ion battery
- TTY compatible
- Hearing aid compatibility = M4
- Up to 203 minutes usage time or up to 170 hours standby time
- The G'zOne Type-S passed all of the following tests, performed in accordance with Military Standards 810 degrees Fahrenheit, with all ports (battery, headset and charging) on the phone closed**:

- The Water Resistance test was performed in accordance with Method 506.4, Procedure I. The G'zOne Type-S was subjected to this test with the handset open and closed, but with ports closed for 30 minutes on the front of the unit and then 30 minutes on the back of the unit. The test was designed to simulate rainfall of 2 inches per hour with a 40 MPH wind.

- The Humidity test was performed in accordance with Method 507.4. The G'zOne Type-S tested for operation after the conclusion of the tenth cycle. Each cycle was 24 hours and the entire test was performed over ten days. The temperature was cycled between 86 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit with the relative humidity at 95 percent constant.

- The Drop test was performed in accordance with Method 516.5, Procedure IV. The G'zOne Type-S was sequentially dropped in non-operating mode, onto each face, edge and corner for a total of 26 drops from a height of 1.50 meters (4.9 feet). The drop surface was defined as two-inch-thick plywood over a steel plate over concrete.

- The Dust Resistance test was performed in accordance with Method 510.4, Procedure I. A temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit was used for this test. Silica flour as defined by the test standard was used. Devices are given a passing grade when moving parts are not bound or blocked and if the unit powers on.

Pricing and Availability

G'zOne Type-S will be available tomorrow online at http://www.verizonwireless.com and in more than 2,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, for $149.99 after $50 rebate and a new two-year customer agreement. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com.

*The G'zOne Type-S supports Bluetooth headset, hands-free, serial port and dial-up networking. In order for Bluetooth devices to communicate with one another, they must utilize the same Bluetooth profile. For vehicle/accessory compatibility, go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/bluetoothchart.

**Verizon Wireless customers should not attempt any of these performance tests on their wireless phones. The company does not accept responsibility for phones subjected to neglect, misuse, water damage, unreasonable wear and tear, and the phone will not be eligible for any return or exchange program.

Verizon Wireless G'zOne Type-S Reviews

Infosync reviews the Verizon Wireless G'zOne Type-S and writes, "The camera takes a performance hit, dropping from 2-megapixels on the Type-V to VGA on the Type-S, and though this is one feature that we think we might miss in the outdoors, lens quality is always more important to us than pixel count, and in that respect, neither phone was very impressive. We do like the fact that you can turn on the phone's LED light, which is very bright, even when the camera is not active. The speakerphone key inside the flip doubles as this flashlight button."

CNET reviews the Verizon Wireless G'zOne Type-S and writes, "the Type-S comes equipped with a basic VGA camera with 2x digital zoom. It can take pictures in three resolutions (640x480, 320x240, and 120x160) and has a self-timer of up to 10 seconds. Other settings include brightness, white balance, and three color effects. You can also choose to turn the shutter sound on or off. There's a video camera option as well, which can record clips in only one resolution (176x144) and up to 15 seconds in length. Video camera settings include brightness and white balance, as well as the flash, which can be used as a recording light. Typical of most VGA cameras, photo quality was dull, blurry, and utterly mediocre. Video quality didn't fare much better, with jerky and pixilated moving images."

PCMag reviews the Verizon G'zOne Type-S and writes, "The Type-S also sports a weaker VGA camera compared to the Type-V's 2-megapixel camera; the camera also takes 15 second long, 176 by 144 resolution videos. Like all VGA cameras, I recommend it for novelty use only, though it does take shots and videos underwater. Irritatingly, only way to get photos off of the phone is by sending them to yourself over Verizon's network. So it's a good thing that the roomy 49 MB of available user memory will hold a lot of photos. I foresee pics being trapped on the phone indefinitely—what a shame."