Samsung today announced a new addition to its Ultra portfolio with the introduction of Ultra Smart F700. Samsung’s newy mobile phone will be showcased at 3GSM World Congress next week.
The Ultra Smart is a part of Samsung’s Ultra portfolio which feature touch screen as well as physical QWERTY keypad with “VibeTonz” technology which allows them to feel the buttons accompanied by responsive vibrations. Volume, playlists, brightness of screens as well as other menu control can be controlled utilizing the touch screen.
Samsung’s Ultra Smart reflects the latest speed of 7.2 Mbps under the High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network. Samsung says the Ultra Smart will feature a “full HTML browser” for access to the internet for email and data services. The F700 will feature a 2.78″ color display. The F700 does not feature Wi-Fi. The device also features a top-of-the-line 5 mega-pixel camera with auto focus and Bluetooth.
“The introduction of our Ultra Smart F700 reflects the needs of today’s consumers by including features such as touch screen, enhanced connectivity to mobile internet, and access to an array of multimedia content,” said Geesung Choi, President of Samsung’s Telecommunications Network Business, in the press release. “The Ultra Smart F700 is a good example of how mobile phone will evolve in the future. Samsung will focus on bringing products that reflect and pursue our position as a premium leader.”
Samsung F700 Specs:
• HSDPA 7.2Mbps, EDGE
• 900/1800/1900 MHz + 2.1GHz
• 5 Megapixel camera with Auto-Focus
• TFT display (2.78”, 440×240)
• Formats: MPEG4/H.263/H.264/Real MP3/AAC(+)/eAAC+/Real
• QWERTY Keypad
• MMS / E-mail / JAVA / WAP 2.0
• Bluetooth / USB
• Flash UI / Document Viewer
• “Full HTML Browser”
• Offline Mode, BGM
• Memory: microSD
• Size: 104 x 50 x 16.4mm
• Weight: unknown
• Battery life and standby time: TBD (to be determined)
• Price: TBD
• Release date: TBD
MacDailyNews Take: We’ll have to learn more about the Samsung phone’s unknowns, but it looks interesting so far. Note that the Samsung phone does not feature Mac OS X (it has a Flash-based UI), or Wi-Fi, has a smaller screen, lacks auto sensors, has no iPod and iTunes compatibility, and no multi-touch interface vs. Apple’s iPhone. The Samsung advantages are a higher resolution camera and HSDPA 7.2Mbps vs. iPhone’s GSM Quad-band. See specs above and below for more comparisons between the two phones.
Apple iPhone specs:
• GSM Quad-band (MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900), EDGE
• Camera 2.0 megapixels
• Screen: 3.5 inches, 320 by 480 at 160 ppi
• Input method: Multi-touch, touch screen
• Full QWERTY soft keyboard with auto error correction
• Operating system: OS X
• Browser: Safari full html
• Music: Windescreen iPod, Cover Flow
• Visual Voicemail
• Integrated Google Maps: view maps, satellite images, traffic information and get directions
• Widgets
• SMS
• Photo management application
• Accelerometer auto portrait to landscape detection sensor
• Proximity sensor immediately turns off the display, prevents inadvertent touches when held to ear
• Ambient light sensor automatically adjusts display brightness
• Rich HTML email client, POP3 or IMAP, works with Microsoft Exchange, Apple .Mac Mail, AOL Mail, Google Gmail and most ISP mail services
• Free Yahoo! Mail “push” IMAP email service
• Storage: Internal Flash 4GB or 8GB
• Wireless data: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
• Battery: Up to 5 hoursTalk / Video / Browsing, up to 16 hours Audio playback
• Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches (115 x 61 x 11.6mm)
• Weight: 4.8 ounces (135 grams)
• Price $499 (4GB), $599 (8GB)
• Release dates: US in June 2007, Europe in late 2007, and Asia in 2008
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Neo” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Ihnatko: Hands-on with Apple’s iPhone (which runs Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard) – January 18, 2007
Apple’s Phil Schiller gives CBS News hands-on tour of iPhone – January 12, 2007
David Pogue: hands on preview of Apple’s iPhone, ‘gorgeous and so packed with possibilities’ – January 11, 2007
PC Magazine hands-on test of Apple iPhone: multi-touch UI ‘takes the breath away’ – January 11, 2007
Mossberg’s initial take on Apple iPhone: ‘radical and gorgeous’ with ‘brilliant new user interface’ – January 11, 2007
ZDNet: Hands on with Apple’s iPhone: ‘elegant, ravishing, simple, sleek; impeccable & intuitive UI’ – January 11, 2007
Hands-on with Apple’s iPhone – January 10, 2007
Apple debuts iPhone: touchscreen mobile phone + widescreen iPod + Internet communicator – January 09, 2007
The problem with all Samsung phones:
– Weak RF for phone calls.
– Weak speakers.
– Poor software that is not intuitive; poor compatibility and interoperability with computer hardware and databases.
– Software designs, graphics and icons with an Aisan influence that don’t always appeal to business professionals or Anglos.
– Sexy and elegant “me too” hardware designs that usually aren’t original, but instead are knock-offs of popular products first offered by other cellular manufacturers. I own the Samsung A900 Bluetooth/Music Player phone (a.k.a “Blade”) that is a knock-off of the Motorola RAZR. Like all Samsung products, it’s so-so as a phone, but worse as a music player and calendar/contacts manager. I only purchased it because it was one of Sprint’s first Bluetooth phones and have never used the Music Player because the file transfer capabilities are brain dead.
– Software is Samsung’s Achilles heal…
Steve has given us an approximate deadline for the delivery of the iPhone but Samsung has none. Nor do they have a price. Seems to me that they’re probably a lot further from delivering than Apple is. Apple has a carrier and a full working prototype. Many people have held it in their hands and played with it. How many people can say that for this announced product?
I suspect that, as quite often happens, Apple will deliver early. Since the carriers are already determined for the USA and Canada, we can probably expect that the handsets are out there being tested right now. As soon as they pass all the tests the carriers run we will be very close to launch. I expect that the hardware form is already locked down for first release. Since it is a complete computer, modifications can mostly be done via software upgrades.
I fully expect the iPhone to debut in North America in May or early June. And I’ve already got half the money put aside.
I walked away from the Paris Apple Expo where Steve releaswed the beta of OS X with CD (or DVD) and installed it that day in 2000. I expect to get the first rev of the iPhone. Can’t resist.
Samsung phone for people who dont want bad ATT service. Apple make very bad move, limit iPhone to ATT. Sam at Samsung not so stupid, we make phones for everybody. We win big. Apple win big. Nokia and Moto go bye bye.
Sho Long Wang
Sam Sung
I’ll still buy the iPhone even if the Samsung is $199 unlocked. Everyone knows that every other phone sucks except the iPhone – just as all PCs are junk, because thats what Mac fanboys say!!!!
So what if iPhone is double or triple the price of every other iPhone. Apple doesn’t sell junk… WOOOOO HOOOOO Steve, WOOOOO HOOOOOO
The common problems with MOST Samsung phones:
– Weak RF for phone calls.
– Weak speakerphone with poor sound quality.
– Occasional oddball placement of connecting ports that may be convenient for engineers, but inconvenient for customers.
– Poor software that is not intuitive; poor compatibility and interoperability with computer hardware, databases and file transfers.
– Software designs, graphics and icons with an Aisan influence that don’t always appeal to business professionals or Anglos.
– Sexy and elegant “me too” hardware designs that usually aren’t original, but instead are knock-offs of popular products first offered by other cellular manufacturers. I own the Samsung A900 Bluetooth/Music Player phone (a.k.a “Blade”) that is a knock-off of the Motorola RAZR. Like all Samsung products, it’s so-so as a phone, but worse as a music player and calendar/contacts manager. I only purchased it because it was one of Sprint’s first Bluetooth phones. I have never used the Music Player because the file and music transfer capabilities are brain dead… And who in their right mind would buy songs from the Sprint Music Store?
– Software is Samsung’s Achilles heal…
What is up with everyone complaining about the lack of a physical keyboard on the iPhone? I have never seen someone type out multiple paragraph emails on their phone. Have you noticed how short the emails are that people send you from their phones? The size of them just doesn’t make it worth while to type long emails. Since the iPhone has an iPod dock connector, I’m sure that third-party vendors will have portable keyboard with dock connectors for those they have to write a novel on the phone.
The screen is much smaller than the iPhones screen. It is slight larger than the 5G iPod’s screen.
If Verizon becomes an carrier for this Samsung and the price is less the iPhone, then I may just stay with Verizon and pass on the iPhone.
The slide out keyboard is cool…. the over all physical package looks cooler… its like the iPhone that we all hoped for.
Apple is gonna have to step it up to compete – better camera, better network, & 3G hopefully.
Hmmm, I was amazed at the FUD thrown up here.
IPhone. Exists, works (see hands on demo) has a target price, and parts work well together.
New Phone (insert name here).
iPhone Killer,
Shipping date, TBD
Shipping price TBD.
makes phone calls
Has micro sized keyboard
Has big screen for pictures (of what??? )
Has touch screen.
YAWN!!!
When I see it running and can touch it and play with it, then I will worry about if I want it or not.
PS,
IF I am going to type a lot, wouldn’t I want a full sized keyboard to attach to it.
If I want to watch movies/hear music, I need an uncluttered screen and a movie player /music player?????
Apple, well thought out, integrated, and best of all, — It Just Works (and better than you ever thought possible). Sorry about that last part, I got carried away.
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N.
The Samsung phone is copying the iPhone as much as the iPhone copied the LG phone. So, no more arguments about copying.
The total volume of the Samsung phone is very close to the iPhone, so size isn’t much of an issue here.
Unless Samsung expects some outrageous margins, the price should be significantly less than the iPhone.
OS X on the iPhone won’t mean much if there aren’t many useful applications that Apple lets you purchase. Either way, the iPhone won’t have a processor that will make the phone comparable to a Mac in much of a meaningful way, so until we know what applications are out there, the OS comparisons are mostly meaningless as well.
I don’t think many people are going to cry over the Samsung’s inability to automatically switch from portrait to landscape view, especially if the Samsung is significantly cheaper because of it.
Multi-touch versus Samsung’s touch sensitive screen is nice on the iPhone, but not nearly useful enough to create a big advantage.
The keyboard will be big for people that are use to keyboards and are hesitant about changing methods.
Sure, the iPhone still has time to surprise us with more features, but so does the Samsung phone.
Battery life will be very important.
It may very well be able to sync with iTunes. We can’t say for sure at this point. Although, it would have to use a different player on the phone itself, and it wouldn’t be able to play iTS purchases. But that’s not really an issue since typically only 3% of songs on an iPod are purchased from the iTS, and stripping off the FairPlay DRM is easy, right?
The Ultra Smart F700 will offer a very competitive alternative to the iPhone
The iPhone doesn’t offer particularly impressive hardware…what looks good is the software.
So really the only way to compare it with any other phone, including this Samsung one, is to compare using them.
Comparisons on the basis of spec sheets and still photos, positive or negative, are pretty useless.
“In the phone biz you have to keep bringing out something new….can Apple do that? Apple seems to have a turn around of new product every year or longer. In the phone biz it seems like companies bring out new product every month.”
That’s why phones today suck. I’d rather have a great product every year than a sucky one every couple of months.
ps the keypad is clunky. don’t expect to see one on the iphone
The only think I like about it is that it has a keyboard.
It’s kinda like a Sidekick stylized to look like the iPhone.
I’m mainly interested in having more straight-forward synchronizing and compatibility with OS X. I’m sure iPhone integration will be seamless. I’ve not had good experiences with Samsung interfaces so I don’t expect much from them.
> Samsung releases an iPod killer [wannabe]…
Oh, come on! We’ll see many variants to this, the LG, and the iPhone, so drop the paranoia.
For those of us that live in a city where Cingular is simply an abomination, this looks to be our only option. A Samsung iPhone wanna bee.
How depressing.
Regarding MegaPixel numbers, your mileage may vary. The nokia phones rated at 2-3 megapixels take really bad pictures. You would be better off with a stand alone camera to get a decent picture.
Hmm not bad, not bad. I still feel an ‘actual’ keyboard still has it’s place. This is great. It isn’t about Apple taking over the phone market. It’s about opening other phone companies eyes to what can be done. Steve has got them off there arses. Take the iPod. If Apple never made the iPod, there wouldn’t be this huge array of mp3 players that we have today.
Change the world.
brilliant is smarter than ultra smart
‘soooo innovative’ – NOT!
Sorry but qwerty slide-out keyboards have been around for the last 10 years in mobile phones.
I remember having a Nokia Communicator – which looked very similar to that Samsun 8 years ago, as yes, it had a qwerty slide out keyboard.
Samsun, you have been outclassed by Apple.
Back to the drawing board… btw the ripoff of the MacBook keyboard design is a blatant copy.
Im getting an iPhone regardless what crap handsets come out from mobile phone manufacturers.
By the way – this new Samung phone IS TARGETED AT CORPORATE/BUSINESS USERS! – NOT the consumer market, which is the iPhones primary market.
2 totally different markets with different needs and phone requirements (hence the dated slide-out keyboard – aimed at businessmen on the move).
I bet you can’t ‘zoom in’ on websites or create rich emails with the Samsung.
The cell phone industry moves very, very fast and is hyper competitive. Windows mobile 6 will be introduced Monday and tons of other companies will be producing devices that compete in the same space as the iPhone.
Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone is a sexy device, has some great features and is a worthy addition to the mobile landscape but it will likely not reinvent the smartphone market.
As for the Samsung device, I’ve seen a few people comment that Samsungs have poor build quality. Not true; I’ve seen a variety of Samsungs get tossed so hard they have bounced and still continuted to function. However, I agree that their OS and interface often leave a lot to be desired and it will certainly be a concern with the F700.
Just my 0.02c….
Someone said they think the iPhone is dead? Wake up will you? It is obvious you cannot see a breakthrough product before you. I could take your knowledge of electronics and put it in a sewing thimble and still have plenty of room left over.
You hate Apple for no good reason. Look at the massive appeal and success of the iPod and you are looking at a repeat of it from the iPhone. Your only problem is that your buddies didn’t invent the iPhone.
Suck it up.
iPhone is going to be so fucking cool!