Samsung launches Armani touchscreen smartphone
updated 11:25 am EDT, Fri October 9, 2009
Samsung's Armani touch runs Windows Mobile
Samsung on Friday revealed that its flagship Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone will be part of its Armani-themed fashion line. The device has a bronze-trimmed theme meant to appeal both to executives and other more style conscious users, but it's also one of the company's more functionally advanced devices. It centers on a 3.5-inch AMOLED display more vibrant than LCDs and has a sliding QWERTY design that, like the HTC Touch Pro2 or Nokia N97, tilts the screen at an angle for a more natural viewpoint when typing.
Wi-Fi hasn't been mentioned, though 3G is presumed and will come alongside GPS. Only 8GB of storage is built into the phone itself, but a microSDHC slot will give it room for significantly more. Samsung adds that it won't rely on Microsoft's OS alone and is using the same in-house TouchWiz variant as found on the upcoming Omnia II.
Specific availability hasn't been mentioned, but in Europe the Armani touchscreen model will cost about 700 Euros ($1,031), most likely unsubsidized, when it goes on sale. The Armani phones released to date haven't supported North American 3G bands and haven't been sold through normal channels in the US.
