Samsung F700 Launch Update

Vodafone will be the carrier launching the Samsung F700 smartphone in Europe. Still no word about where it will end up in the U.S.A. I'm still holding out hope that it will come with Xohm service from Sprint, but I bet Sammy would like to launch it before 2Q 2008.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading mobile phone and telecommunication equipment provider announced the SGH-F700, an elegant phone for the European market with Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile community. The phone was first introduced at 3GSM World Congress in February earlier this year and is expected to be available in Europe beginning early November. It delivers 3.6 Mbps data speeds under Vodafone’s 3G broadband (HSDPA) network allowing users to experience fast access to the Internet and faster music downloads. With its intuitive touch screen technology, it allows users to navigate freely when using applications and menus.

The Samsung F700 aspires to be the easiest to use multimedia handset on the market with tender touch keypad and a surplus of multimedia functionalities. Samsung has applied its legendary expertise in human interface engineering and design to the Samsung F700, which boasts a full touch screen, touchpad interaction and QWERTY key pad.

Using the new F700, business and creative professionals are able to view content on a 3.2" stunning color display. The device features first class entertainment with a top-of-the-line auto focus 3 mega-pixel camera and 3.6 Mbps HSDPA capabilities, making it easier to watch videos, listen to songs, take high-quality photos, browse the Internet, or catch up on email while on the move. With a full QWERTY key pad that slides underneath the display, it will give users enhanced access to mobile e-mail and text messaging services.

The F700 features new user interface which has been award iF Communication Design Award 2007. As users acknowledge the growing importance that user experience takes on the full touch LCD device as the LCD dominates physically on the device, Samsung has employed analogue cross concept everywhere (across all applications) and has named the UI(User Interface) “Croix” which stands for cross in French. It has an enthusiastic reflection on the usability in terms of input methods, basic navigation, content access methods and task completion scenarios. Pleasure, agility and performance were values when creating the UI.

“We are proud to introduce this new type of innovative multimedia handset. Not only have we considered the latest technology, but also the usability to enhance the user’s multimedia experience,” said Geesung Choi, President of Samsung’s Telecommunications Network Business. “This multimedia driven handset is designed for consumers who wish to stand out from the crowd, showcasing unrivaled performance, advanced functionality and world-class design.”

Samsung F700 Specifications
Standard HSDPA 3.6 Mbps, EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz + 2.1GHz
Camera: 3 Mega pixel with Auto-Focus
Display: 265,536 TFT (3.2”, 240x432)
Memory: microSD™
Size: 112 x 56 x 16.mm
Features Full Touch Screen
MPEG4/H.263/H.264/ MP3/AAC(+)/eAAC+
QWERTY Keypad
MMS / E-mail / JAVA / WAP 2.0
Bluetooth 2.0 / USB
Flash UI / Document Viewer
Full HTML Browsing
Offline Mode, BGM

* Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

More Gphone Musing

SmartMoney had a story about the gPhone and made some really good points. I like to read what the wallstreet analysts have to write about technology and I found the story to be well written. As I have previously written I think that Google is looking for an ecosystem to support an open source type of OS like maybe a Linux based system that has the Google infrastructure to support Google applications like Talk, Maps, Earth, Spreadsheet, Documents, Calendar, Contacts, Photos, Videos, and all the other on-line Google apps. Additionally I think the devices will be GPS enabled so the user will get realtime Maps and Earth location information. The discussions about Google funding a Gphone by selling advertising on the device would be ground breaking and I really don't see how that would work, others talk about a device like the iPhone or iPod, but I can't see that either. Here are a couple of connect the dot type things that I've found coinsidense maybe. I won't be surprised to see HTC and Palm devices that are developed with and for Google. Digitimes has a story about HTC "HTC is still paying close attention to the latest developments in Linux technology." This quote may or may not mean anything or it could be an invitation or a table setting of something bigger to be announced in the next six to twelve months. Another theory or idea that is being spread around is the idea of Google and now Apple bidding on 700 MHz spectrum set to be auctioned by the FCC in 2008. I really don't see either of these companies getting into providing a network, and if they did I would think they would partner with a known entity to provide operational support and they'd have to partner with chip manufactures to create a chipset and then partner with device manufactures to embed the chips. I really think we will see a multilevel collaboration between Google, HTC/Palm, and Sprint (Xohm) utilizing Intel chips. Google and Sprint publicly have announced a partnership, Palm has been working on their Linux based OS for about four years now, and Intel is providing Wi-Max chips to help power the Sprint Xohm ecosystem of consumer electronics. I don't think that these devices will be limited to Smartphone types either I think we will see a new class of UMPC that may look like a Palm Foleo, Nokia's N800, Samsung SPH-P9200, or OQO Model 02 and have Xohm and EVDOrevA support, with video phone, gps, bluetooth, wifi, SD and micoSD expansion. As I read more articles and blog posts I'll add new posts on this topic, because I really think 2008 will be a "watershed" year for mobile data devices that come in small packages, but really pack a punch. As a former Platinum frequent flier I know I would have loved to ditch my heavy laptop and my bulky smartphone for an OQO model 02 with broadband and the smallest mobile phone I could find and if I could sync my calendar and contacts of my little phone with my OQO wirelessly even better.

Pantech Duo

Another new handset has been documented on TBGR. This looks like another really cool device. I've never used AT&T (Cingular) service in DFW, but I hear it's great. I think we are going to see phones that have less than a 2 megapixel camera are going to be low end devices soon. I expect some 5 megapixel phones to hit the U.S. markets in Q4.

New Samsung Smartphone on Verizon Wireless

The Boy Genius Report has an update about the Samsung i760 which is a Windows Mobile 6 device. I really don't care for the design of the device. I do like the sliding Qwerty keyboard, but I prefer a bottom slide vs the side slide, because I like the one handed operation of a bottom slide.

Palm Treo 500v Windows Mobile

After much speculation Palm has announced the Palm Treo 500v smartphone which runs Windows Mobile 6 to be launched on Vodafone Europe in October. Check out the official Palm website for the UK.
Here are some specs:
Platform: Windows Mobile® 6 Standard
Display: 320x240-pixel Transflective colour screen; supports 16-bit colour (up to 65K colours)
Radio:GSM/GPRS/UMTS radio
GSM bands: 900/1800/1900
UMTS bands: 2100
Bluetooth® Wireless Technology: Version: 2.0 + EDR
Profiles: Headset, handsfree, EDR, serial and OBEX. Mono and stereo headsets are supported
Memory: 256MB memory (150MB available user storage)
Camera: 2.0 megapixels with 2.5x digital zoom and video capture support
Battery: Removable 1200mAh, lithium-ion
Talk time: 10 days standby, and up to 4.5 hours of talk time
Expansion: MicroSD card
Connector: mini USB
Dimensions: 16.5mm (D) x 61.5mm (W) x 110mm (H) 120 grams
System Requirements: Windows® XP, or Vista™
Software on device: ActiveSync®, Alarm Clock, Bluetooth®, Bubble Breaker, Calculator, Camera, eBay1, File Explorer, Google Maps1, Internet Connect Sharing, Internet Explorer® Mobile, Messaging, Microsoft® Notes, Microsoft Office (including Excel®, Outlook®, PowerPoint®, and Word), Phone, Picture and Video, Solitaire, Task Manager, Vodafone Mobile Windows® Live™, Windows Media® Player Mobile

Palm / Sprint

Engadget has posted some nice looking Sprint sales documentation for four upcoming devices. The LG Rumor slider, Palm Centro, Blackberry 8130, and HTC Touch. I'm not a huge fan of Windows Mobile but I am curious about the HTC Touch I'd be willing to try one of those out. I wish I could get a new device with all the discounts.

Latest on Palm

Two news items for my favorite device company Palm. First, the new Palm device to be released in Europe is supposedly a Treo 500 with Windows Mobile. I'm not sure if I buy into this rumor, I think we should wait and see what Palm officially announces tomorrow. See the story via TheBoyGeniusReport and mobilityToday.


Update!!!!
New photos have been posted on Gizmodo of the new Palm device that looks like a Centro, but is supposedly called the Treo 500. There is also a white variant of the device, but it does not have the Vodafone badging, so let's wait and see about that one.