Samsung Ace SPH-i325 Review

<<<... Contrary to some reports, the Ace does not have built-in GPS, at least no more than any Sprint device does. Certainly nothing accessible by the user in its current configuration.

Communications

Unlike most new devices for Sprint and Verizon, the Ace only supports the basic EV-DO Revision 0 standard for high-speed Internet access, as opposed to the newer and updated EV-DO Revision A. While the lack of Rev. A isn't a critical flaw, it does mean that Ace users can't take advantage of the lower latency and improved upload speeds that Rev. A support brings. Not found in most smartphones, the Ace also has a GSM radio in addition to its CDMA hardware. Don't get too excited, though -- the Ace's GSM is strictly dual-band, 900 and 1800 MHz, for use overseas. It can't even see the GSM networks used by companies like AT&T and T-Mobile here in North America, let alone get service on them, so forget any ideas about 100% domestic coverage. Not that it would do you a lot of good if it could get it to work on the North American frequencies: the Ace only features GPRS for data, meaning slow, slow Internet whenever you choose to roam.

It's not seamless roaming, either. You have to manually change between modes, and the change requires confirmation and a reboot of the phone. Of course, this is a breeze when compared to business users needing to pack an entirely different phone for use overseas, so the hassle is minor compared to the alternative. Unfortunately, lacking a ticket to Europe, I wasn't able to test out the GSM roaming. However -- and here's the good news -- unlike comparable world phones sold by Verizon, the Ace isn't SIM locked to a single overseas provider. You can take a SIM card from any local network, slip it into the device, and be good to go. Or you can use Sprint's international roaming service, which is probably a lot more expensive, but allows you to use your Sprint phone number. more >>>