T-Mobile built its reputation as a no-frills wireless service specializing in simple cellular phones to run on its relatively slow data network. Text messaging was offered, but you could forget about music downloads, GPS navigation, or services other carriers provided on their faster, 3G networks.

Now the times, and T-Mobile, are changing. The carrier now has a 3G network, and is launching phones that take advantage of its capabilities. One of the first such offerings, the $180 G1, a.k.a Google phone, has now been joined by the $150 Samsung Behold, a sharp-looking touch-screen model with a decent 1.6-in. x 2.6-in. display. (Click on the image at right for a closer look.)

The display has vibration feedback for a more realistic button-pushing experience. The virtual QWERTY keyboard, which you can peck with your finger or the included stylus, seemed to function rather well when I used it at a recent press event. The phone itself, which measures 4.1 in. x 2.1 in. x 0.5 in, fits comfortably in the hand. Color choices include rose or espresso.

While the Behold lacks the G1's Wi-Fi connectivity, document-handling capabilities, and other advanced features, it does offer GPS navigation with audible, turn-by-turn directions. That's something very few T-Mobile phones, including the G1, can yet do. It also comes with a 5-megapixel digital camera, among the highest resolutions we've seen on a cell phone. We haven't yet tested the phone, so we can't comment on its photo quality. But the photos I saw at the demonstration appeared sharp and bright on screen. The phone's photo album arranges photo previews in filmstrip fashion, which looks rather nifty.

You can customize the Behold for easier access to favorite functions. A tool called TouchWiz allows users to drag and drop "widgets" onto the phone's main screen that are linked to the applications and features they use the most. Other features include a full Web browser, and support for Bluetooth stereo and data and microSD cards of up to 16 gigabytes (the phone comes with 1-gigabyte card).

Bottom line: Samsung's Behold appears to cram a lot of promising features into an attractive case. Our upcoming lab tests will determine if it has the performance to match.

—Mike Gikas