Samsung's P520 first clear iPhone copy?

updated 02:20 pm EDT, Tue July 24, 2007

 

Samsung P520


Samsung will be releasing a series of new phones in Europe -- one of which will bear more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone, according to the preview site for a French event. The P520 (shown) is dominated almost exclusively by a 2.6-inch touchscreen that will share the same design as the Ultra Smart F700 or its smaller cousin the F520 and includes a distinctly black front with chrome trim similar to the Apple device; the home button is replaced with call and answer buttons. The smaller dimensions will make it thinner at 8.9mm (0.35 inches).

Some features will also be similar but advanced compared to the iPhone, according to Samsung's details. The P520 should support EDGE and Wi-Fi but will add unlicensed mobile access for carriers that want to support seamless bridging between cellular and VoIP calls; the camera will depend on Samsung's most recent 3-megapixel sensor. Built-in storage is only measured at 50MB but is backed by a microSD slot for at least 2GB of extra media and contacts.

The release date and price for the phone are unknown, though a fall launch is probable. Its use of tri-band, 900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz GSM, however, suggests that the device will only be available to carriers in Europe and may extend to Asia.

At least two other, more traditional phones will accompany the P520, Samsung adds. The P260 and L600 switch to simpler 2-megapixel cameras and a keypad interface; either also plays MP3 songs and MP4 videos stored on microSD, including through wireless headphones over Bluetooth. The P260 follows convention with a black shape and physical buttons but adds Wi-Fi access, while the L600 is aimed at fashion-conscious women with a purple shell and touch-sensitive buttons. Either should release near the timeframe for the P520 and are also meant first for Europe.

P520





P260 (left) and L600 (right)


By Electronista Staff

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Previous Comments

  1. eldarkus

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2004

    0

    advanced...

    "Some features will also be similar but advanced compared to the iPhone"

    why do I think advanced translates to harder to use interface?


  1. wonderllama

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2007

    0

    I'll tell you why...

    You're in touch with reality. Perhaps you've owned a non-Apple cell phone before. One of the reasons that Apple devices tend to be so appealing is that the hardware and software are designed to integrate seamlessly.


  1. Deal

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Apr 2001

    0

    How this will play out

    By the time ANYBODY gets an iPhone competitor to market (and I use the term competitor loosely), Apple will have the next iPhone out and it will surpass the iPhone and far surpass anything else.

    Where Apple spends $$$ on R&D, others save a few bucks by copying, but where they spend all their money going to manufacture, by the time they come to market—everybody wants the next Apple product and they see their investment go down the drain.

    Their stock goes down, their product is a flop and company management either pulls the plug or they continue on the money pit because they rob their customers via another product. An example of this is Microsoft riding the dead horse called Zune from money they extort form consumers by selling overpriced operating system and office suite.

    Way to go Apple! Keep it up. Can't wait to see the next iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, etc...


  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    -1

    URGENT ADVICE NEEDED..

    juss wanna no wenz the P-520 xpected to launch in India..?? and wats the xpectd price-band gonna be ??


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