Samsung SCH-i730 Approved by FCC

[Andrew]

Samsung has already publicly shown its upcoming SCH-i730 device with a slide-out keyboard, but today the FCC posted documents showing test results for this device.  The FCC reports reveal Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and CDMA EV-DO high speed data will all be in the bag of tricks for this upcoming Pocket PC Phone.  It's design is very reminiscent of the recently released Audiovox 6601 that also has a slide-out keyboard.

In fact, this device is amazingly similar in its look and design to the Audiovox 6601, it appears Samsung will offer up a version with and without camera.  The camera version will include a 1.3 Megapixel camera.  The Audiovox 6600 also offers a camera inclusive Pocket PC, although it is only VGA resolution, while the Audiovox 6601 comes sans the camera.  The Samsung i730 will have a big legup on the Audiovox 6600 device in that it will have built-in Wi-Fi though; a feature that consumers seem to love but manufacturers often like to leave out.

There's no release date announced for this device, that all depends of course on which carriers decide to adopt the device.  Sprint PCS has branded the Audiovox 6601 as the Sprint PPC-6601 so it would be surprising if they decide to feature competing devices in their lineup anytime soon, as it would likely confuse consumers.  Since this is a CDMA device, that means T-Mobile and AT&T/Cingular are out of the picture for carrying this on their network as they are GSM based.  So Verizon maybe...or will Sprint feature it anyway?  It will just be a wait and see game, and unfortunately the waiting game in the U.S. for new Pocket PC phone devices is usually far too long and hardware becomes obsolete and old news by the time it hits the street.  Witness the Motorola MPx which still hasn't seen the light of day and was revealed and announced over a year ago.

Audiovox Pocket PC 6600 SmartPhone is  a competitor of the upcoming Samsung i730 Pocket PC Phone  (view larger image)

Link to FCC docs for the Samsung i730 Pocket PC:

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearchResult.cfm?RequestTimeout=500

[Brian]

Sounds pretty hot, but I can't be the only person that can't get over the size of these devices. A square screen might be what these phones need, something more along the lines of the Treo 650.

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[UFG]

I guess I don't mind the size as much, but the thing I really can't get over is the unprotected screen. Someone PLEASE make an Sony Clie NX-style PDA phone!

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[Antoine Wright]

Wanna know something weird, I think that I have seen one of these in person on the Metro (DC). When I saw it I wondered what phone model it was. Seems interesting, but WInMobile Phones have not really broken any mold. They need a model that does nearly everything right, like the Treo650, so that there would at least be some kind of battle to help us consumers out.

I do hope this comes out soon though. I get weary of companies announcing models for them to not come out for a year and still be too high in price.

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[Brian]

The trick is always the carriers...they've single handedly killed many a smartphone with great potential.

Editor in Chief
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www.SPOTstop.com