Is the CECT S18 a Decent Clone

A lot of people aren't sure what the make of the new S18. This phone is sometimes called a "SciPhone" which adds a bit more to the confusion because this brings on comparisons to the CECT phones. There's no doubt that the S18 has the popular flow touch screen interface of the iPhone clones, but it looks and functions a lot more like newer alternative touch phones like the LG Vu. Some people call the S a knock off of the Vu, but is it really? This article will point out some of the SIMilarities and differences between these two phones.
Appearance: The S18 is a almost a dead ringer for the real thing, even having the AT&T logo on the top and the little flat rectangular navigation toggle at the bottom. Both have very large (3.2 inches), flat touch screens and are black and streamlined. And, these are a lot smaller than the iPhone weighing only 107 grams. The icons and layout on both phones appear very SIMilar. If you're concerned about the looks of the phone, the S model will likely easily make this hurdle.
SIMilar, But Different Features: Both of these phones are pretty loaded. There allow you to web browse, email, text, enjoy MP3 / MP4s, take photos and use Bluetooth and Java. Both can hold memory via SD memory card. The Vu has an enhanced television / mobile TV feature which the clone doesn't have. However, the clone has FM radio and dual SIM slots. Having two SIMs opens up some doors that aren't available on the original. You can have two phone numbers or two networks. Or, you can use this as an opportunity to save money by using one SIM for a low cost prepaid talk plan and the other for a cheaper data / Internet / email plan. This allows you to get around expensive monthly contracts.
The clone also has what is called shake control. This means that you can advance your music or go to "next song" by just flicking your wrist and shaking the phone. You can also do this with movies and wall papers. The original doesn't have what some feel is a somewhat quirky feature (although some people really love it.)
Cost: Perhaps the biggest difference between these two phone is the price. The original is about $249 without any discounts. The clone cost in the low $100 range. In terms of actual use, at the lowest end, AT&T 300 minutes and added on data plan runs about $65 dollars per month. You can likely do a lot better than this if you go with a pre paid option like T Mobile To Go or AT&T's Go Phone. You can get unlimited T Mobile data SIMs for much cheaper without needed to be tied down each month.
So, whether this is really a decent clone is going to depend on what you truly need in a phone. If you really like AT&T mobile, the clone may not be for you, but if dual SIM, shake and tilt, and having the option of going prepaid appeals to you, the clone may be worth a look.