iPhone 3GS from AT&T. Free ShippingSamsung to launch two Android devices in U.S.
During Samsung's press conference at CTIA 2009, company executives didn't have much to say about its Android plans, other than that it's on track to deliver devices during the second half of 2009.
However, Samsung Mobile's executive vice president of global product strategy, Won-Pyo Hong, was feeling a little more chatty and revealed some new details in a conversation with Forbes.
While Hong didn't get any more specific about release dates, he did say the United States will get two smartphones using Google's mobile operating system later this year and that they will be offered by two carriers.
Of the U.S. service providers, it's believed that Sprint and T-Mobile will be the ones to offer them, since they're both part of the Open Handset Alliance.
Hong added that the two handsets will look "totally different" to appease carrier preferences, while Europe will probably get one device at launch, since the same model can be shared across multiple carriers. Samsung's first non-U.S. Android device is slated to be released in June.
When asked why it's taken so long for Samsung to bring an Android handset to market, Hong said part of the reason is that the company wanted to add its own twist to the Android user experience, but it also was waiting for clearance from carriers.
"Some operators were concerned about the vision Google has, (and) that affected (timing)," Hong said. Hmm, wonder who that could be?
Bonnie Cha is a senior editor for CNET, covering smartphones and GPS. When she's not testing the latest gadgets, you can find her chasing after her crazy lab or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California. E-mail Bonnie.
even the Crappy Blacberry Storm is outselling the g1
I don't care how good android is It needs to be running on a decent phone first !
With everything that Apple's brought to the table with the iPhone (not just the actual device, but the patented Apple hype machine and the legions of proselytizing fanbois), they can wait a year between new version releases, and even the original has yet to be surpassed by the competition.
In the meantime Android is confined to a decidedly lackluster phone, with only an equally boring successor in the pipeline and rumors about some other handsets coming later this year.
As it were, yeah right!
No sizzle, no cool, no hype...no life.
R.I.P. Android.
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by atcj0611
April 11, 2009 7:09 PM PDT
- Sounds almost like the phone carriers are trying to smother Android to death. Foot drag and downplay any news about android until everybody forgets about it. I'm sure vzw won't jump at android anytime soon after Google drove the price up on the in the spectrum auction and Apple still has AT&T by the bells. I scared nobody will care by the time a decent hand comes out.
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