Samsung Haven U320, a Basic Phone for Senior Citizen

Targeting senior citizen, Samsung together with Verizon wireless released Samsung Haven U320. The phone comes in a simple clamshell design with a large buttons, a large screen, and large fonts. The phone is also features basic functions. In details, here is the review and specification of the phone.

Samsung Haven U320

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Samsung Haven U320 is designed in a basic clamshell with high-impact textured plastic material and a striped finish on the front and back side. The phone feels comfortable in the hand and light measuring 100 x 51 x 18 mm and weighing 99 grams. Located on the front is 1 inch external display showing time, signal strength, and battery life. MicroUSB charging port is located on the right side while 2.5 mm headset jack and volume rocker is on the left side. Flip open the clamshell, there is 2.2 inches (176 x 220 pixels resolution) TFT internal display. Right below the internal display is three physical buttons serve as quick-launch for accessing voice commands, pictures, and voicemail. On the other side of the flip below the display, there are navigation array and alphanumerical keypad. The navigation array consists of four-way toggle pad with central OK key, two soft keys, 911 key, In Case of Emergency (ICE) key, and speakerphone key as well as Call key, Clear key and End Call key. Unfortunately, the phone is not equipped with camera.

Come to the phone’s interface, the menu is categorized in contacts, recent calls, messaging, pictures & sounds, tools, settings, phone info, wellbeing & health, and My Verizon. Wellbeing & health menu is a new feature of the phone consists of 5 different reminders, 15 exercises from an on-screen fitness trainer, four different ‘healing music’ sounds (sky, leaf, cloth, and rain), and medial info. You may also personalize the interface but only limited in changing of the ringtones, font size, wallpapers, and themes (golden blue or simple blue).

Samsung Haven U320 runs on Verizon CDMA 800/1900 MHz network. There is no web browser, and the only connectivity available is microUSB connection. All of Samsung Haven U320 features are designed in simple way and large as well as easier to use since the phone is especially targeting older consumer or senior citizen. Truly in a simple way and very basic as the phone comes with no IM, e-mail, Web browser, music or video player, no card slot, no GPS, and even no camera.

The phonebook can save up to 500 entries; each may consist of multiple phone numbers, ringtone ID, and photo caller ID. For messaging features, Haven is not only supported by text messaging (SMS) but also multimedia messaging (MMS). The multimedia messaging (MMS) is still limited as it only can receive images – note that the phone has no camera feature. The attached image of the multimedia messaging can be used as wallpaper. Although the phone doesn't have a camera and can’t download applications, the device is still equipped by 25 MB internal memory. No external memory available as it doesn’t have microSD memory card slot.

Other basic features of Haven include a calendar, an alarm clock, a world clock, a calculator, a tip calculator, a stopwatch, and voice commands. To support its performance, Samsung Haven U320 uses standard battery Li-Ion 1000 mAh. It is rated up to 5 hours of talk time or 14 days of standby time.