Samsung preps budget 3G phone for AT&T
updated 03:50 pm EDT, Thu May 10, 2007
Samsung A617 at FCC
Samsung is nearing the release of what could be its lowest-cost 3G phone ever for AT&T, an FCC filing shows. The A617 will be a simple clamshell design but will have the extra advantage of a dual-band HSDPA radio, tapping it into AT&T's faster 3G Internet access in the US as well as UMTS in Europe. More mainstream Internet access is available through EDGE and calling is worldwide with a quad-band GSM radio. A mention of 2.4GHz in the filing also points to Bluetooth for headsets and PC sync.
Most other specifications, including the sensor depth of the external camera and its internal storage, are unknown as part of the filing. Nevertheless, clues in the phone's name point to it being AT&T branded versus the Cingular-labeled C417 prequel on sale today. Pricing is likely to be at or slightly above the $10 mark set by its predecessor with a two-year service plan.
