Samsung Epix Review

Messaging:

The different types of messages (SMS, MMS and E-mail) are placed in the same menu. Since the Epix does have a full QWERTY keyboard, you will only find the traditional virtual keyboards:

Just a few steps away, is the option to add your e-mail account (POP3 or IMAP) and to use it on your mobile phone. Very nice extra is that the phone can try to get the email settings automatically from the internet, and so we configured our Gmail Account by entering only the username and password. Windows Mobile 6 already supports HTML formatted e-mails.

The client is very similar to the Outlook on a computer, you can filter your inbox to see just some results, reply to a message, or forward it to other person. The support for attachments allows you to download or send one, in addition to the text body. The phone can be set to synchronize with your company Exchange Server.


Connectivity and Data:

The Samsung Epix is a quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), with a tri-band 3G (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) which makes it a true world phone for all those traveling. In addition to 3G, the Epix comes with a Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g card for an alternative internet connection and something that the BlackJack II sorely missed.

Bluetooth 2.0 is also included with the Epix which allows for the connection of Bluetooth headsets and stereo headphones. Depending on what operating system you utilize on your PC, you will either have to use ActiveSync for XP or Windows Mobile Device Center for Vista in order to install programs, synchronize phonebook, calendar, etc.

We were disappointed with only having the Pocket Internet Explorer as an option for web browsing support straight out of the box. This is a step back when compared with some of HTC’s devices that come with a modified version of Opera Mobile 9.5. Simple web pages load up fine with barely any slowdown, but complex web pages filled with media files can take some time to load up both on 3G or Wi-Fi connections. Plenty of scrolling must be performed in order to read text that do not fit to the size of the screen and can be tiresome after some time. As always, we recommend installing another web browser for a better experience such as Opera Mobile 9.5 or Skyfire.