Dual-slider phones like Sprint’s new Samsung Exclaim SPH-M550 may not be very common, but they’ve won their fair share of attention because they’re so peculiar. With both a standard alphanumeric keypad and a full QWERTY keyboard, they offer the best of both worlds. And it’s rather fun to figure out how they’re put together.

Similar to the Pantech Matrix and the Helio Ocean 2, the Exclaim offers messaging and media features in a "conversation piece" design. Call quality is decent and it makes for a good alternative to other Sprint messaging phones, such as the LG Rumor2 and Samsung Rant. You can get it for $79.99 with a two-year contract and a mail-in rebate.

Samsung Exclaim SPH-M550 Features

• EV-DO phone, supports Sprint Radio, Sprint Movie, and Sprint TV. The TV interface is similar to that on other Sprint TV phones.
• Music player (MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA formats) also is standard–you get album art, but features are limited to repeat and shuffle modes, and you can’t use MP3 files as ringtones.
• 600-contact phone book with room in each entry for six phone number types, an e-mail address, an instant-messaging handle, a URL, and notes
• Sprint’s Wireless backup service to store your contacts on the carrier’s servers
• Full Bluetooth with a stereo profile, voice dialing and commands, a voice memo recorder, instant messaging, and USB transfer and MSS storage
• Integrated apps for MySpace, NFL Mobile Live, Nascar Sprint Cup Mobile, Sprint Social Zone, Facebook, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Family Locater, and Google services like maps, search, and YouTube
• If you wish, you can add other Google services including docs, news, and photos
• Application manager and rudimentary multitasking that allows you to send applications to the background
• Supports POP3 e-mail syncing for services like Yahoo and Hotmail and Gmail. You also can access IMPAP4 e-mail using Outlook Web Access and sync Outlook contacts and calendar
• 2-megapixel camera takes pictures in five resolutions and three quality settings
• 586MB of shared memory, microSD card for more room. Came with a 512MB card, the card slot will accommodate cards up to 8GB.
• Download more options, and additional ringtones, from Sprint using the WAP 2.0 Web browser

Samsung Exclaim SPH-M550 review via cnet.com

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