Samsung readying 2 new touchscreen phones for 2008?
updated 11:10 am EST, Mon December 24, 2007
Samsung F490 and P720 Leak
Samsung is gearing up for at least two new touchscreen phones early next year, a visitor to a Ukraine press event has noted. The F490 should be a silver version of the Croix that strips out the physical keyboard entirely, relying instead on a virtual keyboard for all its input. It should still preserve the unusually tall 240x432 screen, 5-megapixel camera, and HSDPA access, though whether it will support North American networks at 3G speeds is unknown. The F490 recently appeared in an FCC filing and suggests at least basic support in the US.
The Korean firm also plans an upgrade to its P520 Armani phone, according to guests at the event. The P720 will be tailored for Asian and Eastern European travelers with dual SIM card slots, letting visitors to one area maintain a link to service back home while receiving local service on a separate card. The 2.6-inch touchscreen, 3-megapixel camera, and predominantly Europe-focused data access should carry over from the P520.
Release dates for either are unknown but are expected to be confirmed soon. [via Unwired View]
