Samsung intros its first GPS smartphones

Bucking its past habits, Samsung Mobile today provided details about three new phones that are the first from the company to bring GPS navigation to Samsung's line. All three can use their receiver to provide directions for driving or on foot, and can use assisted GPS help fix a position using data. The i550 (shown) is the baseline for the series but includes features rarely seen together in a bar-shaped phone: in addition to its mapping, the phone connects to the Internet at 3G speeds with HSDPA and a 3-megapixel camera.

The handset runs a version of Symbian Series 60 like Nokia's smartphones but uses a BlackBerry-like trackball for navigating menus across its 2.6-inch LCD instead of a directional pad. It should be available in early 2008 for Europe with UK residents using the phone on the O2 or Vodafone netowrks. A North American release is unknown but also unexpected. A closely-related model, the i560, will bring a smaller 2.4-inch screen but add FM radio with HSDPA and most other features remaining intact. It should be available earlier, shipping in November for the same carriers as the i550.

Those who need a more full-fledged smartphone can opt for the i780, the Korean firm says. Using Windows Mobile instead of Symbian, the device will have just a 2.5-inch screen and a 2-megapixel camera but will add Wi-Fi for local connections and an optical mouse as an option for controlling the hardware in place of a traditional pad. Built-in Google tools as well as IM and VoIP calling are part of the package for the smartphone. It ships to the UK through cell provider Orange in November and is not known to be making its way to North America. Pictures of the i780 and the i560 are currently unavailable.