Bearing one of the most irritating phone names ever devised, the Samsung 
(that's Smiley for you) is a candybar handset with a slide-out, vertical QWERTY keyboard. While the name might give you fits, the functional mid-range features and user-friendly interface makes it a solid option for messaging-heavy users.
Physically, it has a fairly attractive slider design, with rounded corners and a shiny black exterior. It feels a bit weak in hand, so durability may be an issue. We didn't try to slam it on the floor, although it did hold up well to regular handling. It comes with a 2.6-inch TFT display with 320 x 240 resolution, making for sharp and colorful images. It does wash out near completely under sunlight, though. The keyboard is decent, but the keys are arranged too closely for my tastes.
As a phone, the Samsung "Smiley" made for good calls, with clear sound, loud volume and just a hint of background noise. Those on the other end reported exactly the same quality. Speakerphone sounded great, despite adding some harshness to the tone, especially at the higher levels. Battery life is rated at 5.5 hours of talk time, which should be good for a day or more of casual use.
All the basic features are onboard, including a 1,000-person phone book, a number of PIM tools, stereo Bluetooth and advanced calling options. Extra capabilities include aGPS (with Google Maps and Telenav support), an RSS reader and WiFi.
Being a messaging device, it comes with the usual SMS and MMS. It expands the support with IM and email (POP, IMAP and Exchange). Social networking is also built-in with Samsung's Social Buzz app.
The 1.3 megapixel camera takes decent shots for such a low-res set of optics. You can save photos and music externally to microSD cards (up to 16B). It comes with a pre-installed YouTube app.
Overall, the Samsung "Smiley" is a decent messaging phone, especially for the $19.99 price (with a two-year agreement). The name is a tad irritating, but everything else fits nicely.
