Samsung i7500 official pricing details : $630 without contract in Switzerland

A couple of days back, we had reported that the Samsung i7500 awaits a June release in the European market. But, did you know that the device is expected to be launched in Switzerland, in the month of July.

Also, the pricing has been announced. It will be available at a price of 699 CHF (Swiss Francs) without a contract, that equates to $630.

Here’s a translated report of the original Samsung press release :

“Open is not: SAMSUNG I7500 presented with its first Android phoneZurich, 28 April 2009 – SAMSUNG Electronics has launched the Samsung I7500 is the first among the leading mobile phone manufacturers a Android phone on the market. The smartphone with a full-Touch AMOLED display offers high-speed Internet access to various Google services, and much scope for individual design. The Samsung I7500 is in Switzerland from July 2009 to a non-binding target of CHF 699 – (without contract) is available.

“SAMSUNG has been one of the first members of the Open Handset Alliance, and was therefore very keen for the most innovative Android handset to market.” As JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communication Division SAMSUNG Electronics. «With Samsung technology leadership and the consistent strategy of all available operating systems to support, I am convinced that we offer our customers the largest selection and thus offer the greatest benefit.”

“With Android, we offer an operating system to the user a high degree of freedom and individuality possible. In combination with technical finesse, elegance and a variety of multimedia functions, the device is definitely sexy. “, Says Martin Wallner, head of telecommunications at Samsung Electronics Austria.

Google with Highspeed

The Samsung I7500 features a 3.2 inch wide full touch screen AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) that provides sunlight even with a color reproduction is guaranteed. About HSDPA and WiFi connectivity, access to the full Internet browser, and numerous other Google services like Google ™ Search ™, Google Maps ™, Gmail ™, YouTube ™, Google Calendar ™ and Google Talk ™ at breathtaking speed. The integrated GPS receiver allows features such as Google Maps My Location, Latitude, Google, Street View, Local Search and Route Description comfortably underway to use. In addition, the Android market, hundreds of applications. For example, examines the application Wikitude – a mobile travel guide – information about places at the relevant Wikipedia page, and displays the searched data on the mobile phone.

Perfect Multimedia phone with long battery duration

Thanks SAMSUNG technology leadership is the I7500 with the latest multimedia features. The 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED guarantees high-resolution photos. The Music Player plays all common formats, like MP3, AAC, e-AAC +, WMA and RealAudio audio. Videos are in MPEG4 format, WMV or H.263 or H.264, and play. With Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0 allows the user a wireless headset or transfer files. The 8 GB internal memory of 32 GB using a MicroSD card to 40 GB can be expanded, there are numerous photos, videos and MP3 files place. A powerful 1500mAh battery ensures long operating times.

The Samsung I7500 is from June 2009 in Europe and likely from July in Switzerland on a non-binding target of CHF 699 – (without contract) is available.”

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T-Mobile G1 v2 will be made by HTC

A couple of hours ago, we had posted a news that T-Mobile G1 v2 is going to be a Motorola device and not a HTC device. As stated by a trusted source involved in the distribution chain :

  • The G1 V2 is still an HTC Android device. It is a physical, external redesign mostly, of the existing G1. The changes were made due to the overwhelming display of people thinking the G1 hit every branch on the way down when it fell out of the ugly tree.
  • The Samsung devices are not being labeled, internally at least, as anything involving the ‘G’ series. I7500 anyone?
  • The HTC G1 V2 is really codenamed bigfoot…honestly.
  • Most of the ‘pics’ we have seen are really just an artists rendering, designed to raise the interest level of people like us, who tend to pick apart the tiny little details. Obviously, its working.

And, if you think about it practically, why would HTC allow another manufacturer to name its device second version of an HTC device ? Moreover, T-Mobile G1 v2 is being seen as a successor of T-Mobile G1. So, it makes more sense, atleast to me, that it would be manufactured by HTC.

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Android smartphone sale to grow by 900% in 2009

Yes, you read that right. According to a research by the Strategy Analytics, the sale of Android smartphones is expected to grow by 900% in the year 2009.

According to Tom Kang, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, “We forecast global Android smartphone shipments to grow an impressive 900 percent annually during 2009. The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009. Android is expanding from a low base and it is consequently outgrowing the iPhone OS from Apple, which we estimate will grow at a relatively lower 79 percent annually in 2009.”

If this report is to be believed, then the growth of Android Smartphones would lead much ahead of Apple I-Phone and Windows Mobile Smartphones, the other two biggies in the smartphone market. Because, the sale of Apple I-phone is expected to grow at a rate of about 80% (according to a report by Strategy Analytics) and that of Windows Mobile by about 50%(as told to channel web by Eddie Wu, Managing Director of OEM, Microsoft).

This figure does not seem quite difficult to achieve, when compared to the hype and craze surrounding the Android platform. We have got news about almost every major player in the mobile phone arena planning to launch an Android device. Also, we can expect some Android powered notebooks and netbooks very soon, from companies like T-Mobile and HP.

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Android 2.0, codenamed “Donut” in the making

The craze around the Android 1.5 cupcake is still ablaze. Many people are still a couple of days away from even getting the Cupcake update. And today, we have got some news about another update, Android 2.0 aka “Donut”.

It seems, Google is already working on the next update of Android, codenamed “Donut”.

In an open discussion forum in Google groups, Mike Lockwood talked about a new Kernel being developed, named “Donut”. There are no other reports or details about the features that would come with Donut.

Android Framework Engineer Dianne Hackborn said that a detailed roadmap and feature list on Donut is not yet available due to concerns about “implied commitments that people are then going to base device schedules around when we are not confident enough about them.”

Some of the vital features missing from Android 1.0 was corrected with Android 1.5. Now, let us wait and see what Android 2.0 has to offer.

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Is T-Mobile G1 v2 the first Android phone to be manufactured by Motorola ?

g1v2

The image displayed above is possibly, the picture of T-Mobile G1 v2. But, we doubt, if the device is that of HTC. And, as per some rumors, it is manufactured by Motorola. If that’s true, then this would be the first Android powered phone by Motorola.

If you take a closer look, you can make out how different the buttons are, when compared to the buttons of HTC devices, and specifically the T-Mobile G1. Even the keyboard is quite different.

The T-Mobile G1 v2 was supposed to be a true “successor” of T-mobile G1 aka HTC dream. But, it seems there’s going to be vast differences.

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