Features
4.3
The Katana is a dual-band/tri-mode phone, which means that you get the combined coverage of dual-band and digital dual-band networks. For digital service, this phone operates on CDMA networks in the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands, so you can roam on other carriers' networks in addition to your Sprint PCS network coverage. For analog service, this phone operates in the 800 MHz band, which allows you the possibility of coverage in places without digital service. If you travel extensively, the Katana might not be your best choice since it does not work with GSM networks (the primary networks outside of North America).
This phone has many of the standard tools you would expect, including a world clock, an alarm clock, a schedulable calendar, a stop watch, voice memo capabilities, and a calculator. The world clock on the Katana is especially well done – it includes multiple cities in many of the time zones (instead of just one city per time zone), which can be very handy if your knowledge of geography is as sketchy as mine. The stop watch is also designed with the user in mind. With the push of a button, you can simultaneously record the time for one lap and start the timer for the next lap. You can record up to five laps at a time and save the lap data for later comparisons.
As with most or all contemporary phones, Airplane Mode is offered for those times when you aren't allowed to send or receive data on your phone, but you still want access to other functionality. Games are one way to pass the time when you are on a long flight, and this phone comes with four preinstalled games (Midnight Pool, Ms. Pacman, Tetris, and World Poker). Unfortunately, all four games are only demos. If you want any full-access games on your phone, you will have to download them.
Two outstanding features of the Katana are Wireless Backup and Update Phone. With Wireless Backup, you can upload your contacts' information to Sprint's website so you have access to it if your phone is stolen or damaged beyond repair. (You do have to pay an extra fee for this service.) Update Phone is a function in the Tools menu that allows you to update your phone's software quickly and easily without having to call Customer Service or take it into a Sprint store (a time-saving improvement from previous Sprint phones).
The menu structure of the Katana is extremely intuitive. You should be able to pick up the phone and be ready to go almost immediately. One great element of the menu structure is that you can designate the left softkey (the top key to the left of the navigation panel) as a shortcut to something you access regularly. I change my shortcut frequently depending on my specific needs at the time. When I travel, I designate the world clock; when I have a lot of appointments, I designate the calendar; when I have several crucial deadlines, I designate the alarm clock.
