We've reviewed what the Android spies have discovered about the Samsung Fascinate that supposedly will be released as soon as this week. The details are fascinating.
Update 09/07/10 - Verizon has officially announced details of the Samsung Fascinate that will go on sale online tomorrow at the Verizon website and in stores on 09/09/10.
How do we know the Samsung Fascinate will be coming soon from Verizon when Verizon has not even announced when it will be available?
Verizon has learned from its previous mistakes when they released other super-powered Android smartphones. The Droid Incredible (now on sale for Labor Day Weekend) and Motorola Droid X were announced ahead of time, promoted with a huge marketing blitz, and then sold-out. Buyers waited for up to a few weeks for their Droid orders.
For the next Droid, the Droid 2, Verizon announced the sale date only a few days before and did not heavily promote it. Verizon also offered a pre-sale a day online at the Verizon website before the Droid 2 was available at stores.
We think that Verizon will continue in their Droid 2 style, announce the release sale date of Samsung Fascinate the Galaxy S, 4 inch Super AMOLED touchscreen smartphone this coming week. We know the Fascinate will be available soon because commercials are appearing on YouTube for it. Prime Time in No Time on Yahoo! is now sponsored by the "Samsung Fascinate, Galaxy S phone exclusively at Verizon." The MTV Music Video Awards (airing on September 12th) are also officially sponsored by "Samsung Fascinate a Galaxy S phone."
Best Buy retailers began taking pre-orders for the Samsung Fascinate last week. Leaked information from Verizon reveals that the Samsung Fascinate will be priced at $199 with a contract and rebate. Spies have posted Verizon screen shots with the release date on Thursday, September 9 when it will go on sale in Verizon stores. Verizon typically releases major phones on a Wednesday or Thursday.
The Samsung Fascinate has a 4 inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, 2 GB of internal storage and will come with a 16 GB microSD memory card that can be replaced with a 32 GB microSD card. The 5.0-megapixel camera with auto-focus and an LED
flash will support HD (720p) video recording and playback. Powered by a 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, running Android 2.1, it works with, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a 3.5 mm headset jack.
Verizon is expected to layer an added bonus to the price: their famous, buy one 3G smartphone, get one free offer.
Because of the display shortage, we have no way of knowing if the Samsung Fascinate will be another sell-out like the other the Verizon Android smartphones were earlier this year. When a phone is very popular, your best bet is to pre-order online at the Verizon website in the wee hours of the morning, before the frenzy starts. Be sure to refresh your browser, if you have checked it previously.
Along
with free shipping, Verizon provides an added bonus for ordering online with the Wireless and Mobile News coupon-link you get Instant Phone Rebate Only Available with Online Purchases.
Other Specs and Features of the Samsung Fascinate (SCH-I500)
- Amazon Kindle App.
- Backup Assistant.
- BlockBuster Mobile App.
- DLNA
Onboard Memory -512 MB Flash/384MB RAM with 2GB of Internal Memory. - Speaker phone.
Skype Mobile.
Speech to text feature. - ThinkFree Office.
V CAST Media Manager with desktop client capable. - Usage Time is up to 420 minutes.
Weight 4.16 oz.
Accessories Available from Verizon
Extended Life 2200mAh Battery
Labor Day Samsung Captivate Cheap Deals and Discounts
Review of other Galaxy S Phones:
Samsung Epic 4G (Sprint) Review.
Review Samsung Captivate "Galaxy S" (AT&T.)