By And just like that, another Galaxy S smartphone is introduced. Just after we reported on the announcement of the Samsung Epic 4G, we found Verizon’s getting a Galaxy S device of their own. The Samsung Fascinate joins an extensive line of new Galaxy S devices that Samsung’s bringing to nearly every corner of the world.
Pretty much like every other Galaxy S smartphone (except for Samsung Epic 4G which includes 4G connectivity and a physical slide-out keyboard), the Fascinte takes its cues from the original Galaxy S that we learned about back in March at CTIA Wireless. It features Android 2.1 and Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, WiFi hotspot capabilities (with the ability to serve data to up to five devices) and everything else a Galaxy S phone is known for.
That includes a 5-megapixel camera, Samsung’s 1GHz Hummingbird processor, a six-axis sensor to correlate with the included accelerometer (gyroscope), HD video recording, WiFi, Bluetooth, DivX support, a beautiful Super AMOLED display, and more. The Fascinate doesn’t look to be coming with a front-facing camera like Sprint’s version, unfortunately. The device comes packed with 2GB of internal storage and is also being shipped with a 16GB microSD card (expandable up to 32GB). No pricing and availability details are ready to be discussed, but I have a good feeling that we’ll see a lot more of this device come this Tuesday when Samsung hosts what looks to be the unveiling party of one of their biggest line of smartphones yet.
Stay tuned to Phandroid.com for all the details as we’ll be covering it live from New York. Full press details ahead.
[Note]: Picture is of the international Samsung Galaxy S. We haven’t yet received press images showing how different the Samsung Fascinate looks (that’s if it’s any different at all).
Verizon Wireless Announces the Samsung Fascinate™, a Galaxy S™ Smartphone
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS, June 28 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless voice and 3G network, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the number 1 mobile phone provider in the United States(1), today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Fascinate™, a Galaxy S™ smartphone.
Powered by Android 2.1™, the Fascinate is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including, Gmail™, YouTube™, Android Market™ and more. Additionally, the Fascinate boasts a brilliant four-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display, Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor, and an integrated entertainment, multimedia, messaging and social networking experience.
Color: Mirror Black with chrome details
Key features and specifications:
Android 2.1 platform – With support for Google Mobile Services including Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk and Android Market
Full HTML Web browsing capabilities
Preloaded with Bing Maps and Bing Search
3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities – Allows customers to transform their phone into a wireless modem for up to five compatible Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Super AMOLED Screen Technology – Brilliant display makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life like never before, even in bright light and outdoor environments
Advanced touch screen gestures capabilities, including multi-touch pinch to zoom, double tap to zoom and horizontal swiping, which provides easier and quicker access to many applications, including location-based services, Web browsing and digital photos or videos
Multiple file formats supported, including DivX support
Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor – Produces amazing graphics, faster upload and download times and HD-like multimedia content
Six-axis sensor that works with the smartphone’s accelerometer to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down or panning the phone to the left or right
Virtual QWERTY Keyboard Featuring Swype Technology – Input text faster and in a more intuitive way with one continuous finger motion across the screen keyboard
Full suite of messaging options – Text, picture, video and voice messaging; corporate and personal e-mail accounts supported
5.0-megapixel camera/camcorder – Auto-focus and LED flash with HD video recording and playback (720p) capabilities to capture photos and videos for playback on your HD television
WiFi Connectivity (802.11 b/g/n)
Stereo Bluetooth® Technology – Support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, object push for vCard and vCalendar
Corporate Email – Supports Android Eclair Exchange ActiveSync e-mail to synchronize corporate e-mail, contacts and calendars from office e-mail accounts
Music and video players and 3.5-millimeter headphone jack
2GB internal memory expandable to 32GB, 16GB microSD™ included with handsetLifestyle features:
V CAST Music with Rhapsody®, V CAST Video on Demand, V CAST Song ID, Visual Voice Mail, V CAST Tones, VZ Navigator® and Mobile IM , City ID
Samsung’s Social Hub – Built around messaging, contacts and calendar sync, which allows users to send and receive information, whether it is e-mail, social network updates or SMS messages
Integrated Calendar information from portal calendars, on Exchange, Google Calendar™ and social networking services (SNS), including Facebook®
Integrated Contacts syncs with Exchange, Google, Twitter and Facebook® and displays a user’s contacts in four categories including Information, History (previous calls and messages), Activities (status updates and notifications on social networking sites) and Media (Facebook profile photos and photo gallery)
Feeds & Updates – Displays feeds from multiple SNS sites such as Facebook®, MySpace and Twitter, which also allows users to update their status instantly
AllShare Application – Enables inter-device connectivity through Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), so users can send multimedia content wirelessly to other DLNA-enabled devices such as TVs and laptops
Daily Briefing – Instant access to weather, news, stocks and schedule
Write and Go – Quickly jot down an idea and later decide on a format, such as SMS/ MMS, e-mail, calendar or memo, to send or post to popular SNS sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace
Weather Clock – Displays current time and weather of the selected city (ability to add and select other cities)About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
(1) Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S. claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Q1 2010, Q1-Q4 2009 and Q3 and Q4 2008 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.
Android, Google, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, Android Market are trademarks of Google Inc.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
did I just read, from verizon, that this comes with LED flash?
Dang… Samsung isn’t playing around! They have a Galaxy S on all of the top 5 carriers in the United States — T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and U.S. Cellular!
“Preloaded with Bing Maps and Bing Search” do we know if this is a replacement or an option? better not replace google search and navigation/maps. that could be a deal breaker
LOL! i wonder if they took any features out?
@ Jack
Has to be a mistake, if true than tmobile got screwed once again
Dude…
This will be interesting if they have swapped search and maps for Bing. I wonder how this will be tolerated.
Buying it.
How does this affect the Droid X?
Bing search and maps seem to work fine. It has turn by turn directions as well, so you’re not really missing out in functionality with Bing instead of Google. But if you want the Google apps I’m sure you could download them from the market. They’re on VzW other Android phones so I can’t see them preventing you from installing it. Of course logic some times never enters the equation.
@Alex. I was wondering the samething. Does anyone have more info about the “hummingbird” processor? It’s the first I’ve heard of it. Thanks in advance
Wow so Verizon got the perfect phone from samsung?
FUCC YOU T-MOBILE!
What the hell did T-mo get? 16gb storage and some “free” subscription apps that end at the end of 30 days.
Why t-mobile? why? why can’t you once get a device that is ahead of everyone else or even on the same level?
T-mobile is behind again and I am newly stuck in a 2 year contract with them. >:( fucc
verizon always gets all the goods! I love it! I wouldn’t be surprised if they add a front having camera
Whats the default search in the browser?
its pretty awesome that they added an LED flash to the verizon version, which was a feature that many people lamented about. I guess no other except the evo and the iphone 4 will have a front facing camera. That kinda sucks but whatever.
TMo has lamed off when it comes to high end phones but the rumor is they will get a dual processor HTC Vision later in the year. And given that rumor, why would anyone jump on the TMO Samsung Vibrant?
bing search kills this unless there is a google search widget too. I use my phone to search for images all the time, and i really dislike bing’s image search and don’t feel like i should have to open the browser to do a search.
Jeebus, is there any carrier that’s NOT going to have a version of this phone? It better be good, or there are going to be a lot of people p/o’ed at Samsung out there. Kinda like anyone who’s been waiting for a month to get a DInc with a Samsung AMOLED.
Ill stick. With the x seems like there will br major shortages since all the big carriers will have it
Divx Support? You mean it will play videos straight across without any conversion necessary? How does Samsung get that and we don’t even get a decent player in the Android Market to allow that (there is ONE app that says it supports Divx/Xvid but it’s so crappy I’m sorry I even mentioned it).
firelight: simple. Samsung can license the divx codec because it is a major OEM. Several years ago I was thinking about an open source OS that wasn’t under the GPL. The OS was free and tried to be complete so what could a commercial company do to add value? I thought of 2 things: add licensed codecs and fonts. And that’s exactly what Samsung has done. They have the codecs you can’t get for free and they also have font technology from Monotype.
My only fear is when it comes with flash that they don’t change the shape or at least if so don’t make it thicker like they did the omnia II compared to european version
If they don’t announce that the Froyo update will be coming soon, Samsung will have missed the boat again. I want this phone with Froyo more than I want the Droid X or Droid 2, but those have already been announced as getting Froyo at time of release or soon thereafter. However, if it won’t be getting Froyo, I’ll settle for one of the Motorola’s.
No support for BT voice dialing with 2.1 either. The Droid X does support that with 2.1.
Read all the info provided – but still don’t know if this is a global ready/international phone. After researching, I know that the Samsung Captivate [AT&T] is, the Samsung Vibrant [T-Mobile] is but can’t seem to find out if the Samsung Fascinate is?