Samsung slider for ATT seen as Galaxy S II variant

Samsung's vaguely hinted at QWERTY slider for AT&T has now been identified as the Galaxy S II Attain. A new leak Tuesday showed it using the Galaxy S II's SGH-i927 model number. BGR also spotted it getting benchmark performance consistent with the dual-core, 1.2GHz Exynos chip of the stock Galaxy S II.

The AT&T change, beyond the keyboard, would replaced the deliberately iPhone-like home button with Android's standard four-button navigation. On the back, the eight-megapixel camera would remain intact but would be rotated from its centered design to a more conventional corner layout. Samsung's front camera is still in place, and the phone would ship with Android 2.3.4 from the start for official Google Talk video chat.

Given heavy modification, it's likely the phone will ship under its Attain name and repeat Samsung's strategy from last year of letting each US carrier get its own, customized version of the phone. Sprint last year was the one to add a keyboard in the Epic 4G and, this year, will ship the Galaxy S II Within as a touch-only phone, but with its own cosmetic touches.

Samsung has already confirmed that the Galaxy S II will reach the US in August, although whether this involves actual shipping or just announcements has been left in the air.

By Electronista Staff