Call Quality, Messaging, Browser

Calling / Data

The Samsung Focus S supports AT&T's "4G" HSPA+ network. During my tests information technology was capable of hitting download speeds of virtually 4Mbps, comparable with other AT&T HSPA+ phones in the same areas. Upload speeds were a chip slower than expected though, topping out at just 0.67Mbps. The Focus Southward supports the new Internet Sharing characteristic found in Windows Telephone seven.five, but use of it requires a tethering programme from AT&T.

Calls on the Focus S were loud and clear, though the sound lacked the depth plant on other smartphones. Callers were able to hear me without issues, and the speakerphone got suitably loud without distortion, but had the aforementioned thin-sounding qualities as the earpiece.

Messaging

As with all Windows Phone vii.five smartphones, the Focus S features an integrated messaging client that supports SMS/MMS, Facebook Chat, and Windows Live Messenger. Conversations are threaded and grouped by contact, regardless of which service the chat is being held in. The system makes it easy to bounce from Facebook chats to SMS conversations and back without breaking step. The app likewise supports grouping messaging, but I wish that Microsoft would back up Google Talk and AIM in addition to Windows Live Messenger and Facebook Conversation.

Windows Phone 7.5 includes a powerful email customer that supports POP3, IMAP, and Commutation accounts. About web-based e-mail services will configure automatically, and the app supports linking of multiple inboxes into a single view, threaded conversations, multiple bulletin management, and full HTML email. The Windows Telephone 7.5 e-mail app is ane of the all-time available on whatever mobile platform, and makes processing large amounts of email simple and piece of cake.

Apps / App Shop

AT&T managed to keep pre-installed carrier apps to a minimum on the Samsung Focus S. The user is likewise given the power to remove the apps as desired. The Focus S also has Samsung's At present app and Microsoft'due south excellent mobile Office suite installed out of the box.

Unfortunately, while the Windows Phone Market place has seen significant growth in the past year, and now is home to over 40,000 apps, information technology does not offer almost the quantity of apps in the Android Market or iOS App Shop and a number of large name apps are still not bachelor for the platform.

Browser

The Samsung Focus S features Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9 Mobile browser, which provides a fast browsing feel and back up for multiple windows. Spider web pages load very speedily, and pinch-to-zoom and scrolling are effortless. It does non support Adobe Wink, which might exist a deal-billow for some, and since information technology lacks support for WebKit rendering, many mobile-specific sites do not render properly with it.