Samsung reveals its first Android phone


27 Apr 2009

Samsung today unveiled its first Android-powered mobile handset, the I7500: a touchscreen device that will have a full web browser with Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Talk, as well as Android Market for downloading extra third-party applications.

The I7500 smart phone will have a 3.2-inch AMOLED full touchscreen with 7.2Mbps HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Connectivity-wise it will also have Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, MicroUSB and a 3.5mm ear jack.

The I7500 comes with 8GB internal memory and can house up to 32GB extra onboard through Micro SD.

The dimensions of the new smart phone are 115 x 56 x 11.9mm, and it will come with an impressive 5-megapixel autofocus camera.

Samsung is the first of the top three mobile manufacturers worldwide to bring out an Android-powered device.

“Samsung is among the earliest members of the Open Handset Alliance and has been actively moving forward to introduce the most innovative Android mobile phone,” said JK Shin, executive vice-president and head of the Mobile Communication Division in Samsung Electronics.

“With Samsung’s accumulated technology leadership in the mobile phone industry and our consistent strategy to support every existing operating system, I believe that Samsung provides the better choices and benefits to our consumers” he added.

The Samsung I7500 will be available on the European market from June 2009, although Samsung states that this is this is for “all major European countries”, so it is not yet clear exactly which countries will have it by then.

By Marie Boran