Samsung Renown U810

The Samsung Renown is a quad-band world phone compatible nationally on Verizon Wireless's CDMA network and internationally on GSM networks -- a definite plus for frequent travel abroad. Similar in design to the Samsung Gleam, the Renown measures about 2 inches by 4 inches by 0.7 inches and weighs just over 4 ounces. It has a bright 2.3-inch display of 240 pixels by 320 pixels, a roomy keypad and a navigation menu that CNET describes as "spacious and intuitive," although the external screen is small relative to the phone's overall size. While the Renown offers some multimedia functionality, it is not a standout. The 2-megapixel dual camera and camcorder is capable of nice photos but lacks flash, and the music player is standard issue. With only 128 MB of internal memory, using the microSD card slot, which is expandable up to 8 GB, is a must. 

The Renown's biggest asset is Verizon Wireless's high-speed 3G EVDO network support. Verizon's network is the leader in large user surveys from Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and Associates and PCMag.com, and experts and users praise the Renown for its superb voice quality and reliable reception. The Renown supports email, text and picture messaging, instant messaging, PC syncing, Mobile Web 2.0, Bluetooth, VZ Navigator and V Cast Music. On the downside, the Renown's video streaming is poor, and users report that the phone has a short battery life. These setbacks, combined with the Renown's unremarkable multimedia functionality and steep price, diminish its value. "There's not much to distinguish the Renown from other phones in its class," says Kent German of CNET. Still, for anyone wanting the convenience of a single phone for home or abroad, it may be worth the trade-off, even if it means being locked into Verizon's international roaming partners and fees. Frequent travelers may prefer to step up to a smartphone such as the BlackBerry Curve 8830, which is also a world phone.

Most leading cell phone review sources have yet to weigh in on the Samsung Renown. CNET and PhoneScoop.com take a detailed look at the Renown, but with little comparison to similar products on the market. Rounding out these reviews is a handful of user comments at CNET and Phone Scoop that help to establish common experiences and potential problems with ongoing use.