First Samsung Android phone out next week
But only on O2
Exclusive Samsung’s first Android-based mobile phone – the Galaxy i7500 - will be launched next week, Register Hardware has discovered.
Samsung's Galaxy: out next week on O2
Staff at a handful of O2 retail outlets consulted the chain’s stock management system on our behalf, and told us that the device – which features a 528MHz Qualcomm processor - will arrive in its stores next week.
O2 is the exclusive carrier for the Galaxy.
The phone isn’t yet listed for sale on O2’s website, but a search filter for handset accessories does allow you to select the i7500 as an option. Sadly, it doesn’t bring back any results.
An O2 spokeswoman told us the phone will launch “in the next few weeks”. Thankfully, store staff are a little more up to date.
Speculation had been building in an O2 online forum that the i7500’s launch had suffered a setback after allegedly failing to pass O2's handset accreditation process. Exactly what it may have stumbled on isn’t clear, but the spokeswoman said that all the carrier's phones go through a “customer experience process” prior to launch.
Should the i7500 have failed one of these mighty hurdles then it’s possible that the phone’s scheduled launch date – which was never circulated outside of O2’s HQ – was moved back slightly in order to give Samsung and O2 enough time to rectify the problem.
It’s not yet known how much the i7500 will cost. ®
COMMENTS
Just phoned O2
The Samsung Galaxy (the i7500) is in the new brochure but no price details or info about PAYG. The retentions guy new nothing about it. But O2 seem to still be pushing the Jesus phone - the only option for an early upgrade and you loose your loyalty bonus!
End of month
I asked about this instore on Saturday and was told "the end of the month."
They had no idea on pricing or anything yet, so it sounds plausible.
Screw contracts
I'm just waiting for a sub £150 Android on PAYG. Maybe on something like 3's £5 for a month of unlimited* internet.
O2 = biggest UK network = best exclusives
Some comments seem to mistakenly take the view that O2 are somehow punching above their weight when it comes to getting exclusive handsets.
Perhaps that is because you are unaware that O2 are the largest mobile network in the UK.
http://tiny.cc/BiDfK
No Apple
For once, a smart phone article that DOESN'T mention Apple or iPhone. But of course the first 2 or 3 comments do. I thought you haters, uh, hated always having to read iphone this and iphone that in articles about other smart phones.
Well, congrats, this article's for you. So why bring it up then?
