FCC Approves the Samsung SGH-i750

[Raphael Salgado]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/18/samsungs-i750-surfaces-on-fccs-site/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/18/...s-on-fccs-site/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"It's been a long time coming, but Samsung's i750 smartphone that we saw back in March last year has finally made its way to the US -- well, at least to the FCC website. It's very similar to Samsung's own i730 except that it replaces the QWERTY keyboard with a numeric keypad, the EV-DO with EDGE, the 1.3 megapixel camera with a 2 megapixel one, and the SD slot with TransFlash. So we guess that is mixing it up quite a bit, but the form factor has remained the same, Bluetooth and WiFi are still here, and unfortunately so is the OS -- Windows Mobile 2003 SE is still alive on this phone which doesn't even have a ship date yet."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/7.jpg" /><br /><br />According to the specs, the SGH-i750 lacks the 850MHz band, which won't be good for Cingular customers in some rural areas. But the biggest turnoff to many users is the lack of Windows Mobile 5.0 out of the box. With all the new devices and companies backing the new operating system, you have to wonder what the motivation is (or lack of) in producing devices with the older platform. At least the HTC Hermes won't feel so lonely being the only device using microSD (previously known as TransFlash). Given the continuing flood of new devices, would you buy this one, or will the SGH-i750 be DOA?

[PiatekHS]

We want AKU 2 for WM5, never mind WM 2003 SE and not even available to buy... Not a chance.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

Is that a typo, or does that sign say 192 MB RAM?

[DaleReeck]

I haven't seen a new PDA that's excited me since the JasJar. In fact, the JasJar has been the only interesting new design IMO over the last couple of years.

[MarcTGFG]

People shouldnt dismiss this device so readily.

It might have WM 2003 SE only,

BUT

it has TV-out functionality

the best integrated camera (at the same level as SE 750 and Nokia N90)

it has enough ROM to be upgradable to WM5

Samsung enhanced the devoce to offer Bluetooths stereo

Samsung enhanced the device by offering special key to use the device onehandedly

it is very small

it can scan business cards

it has very good design (IMO)

above mentioned features according to the review at mobile review.

[jeasher]

People shouldnt dismiss this device so readily.

It might have WM 2003 SE only,

BUT

it has TV-out functionality

the best integrated camera (at the same level as SE 750 and Nokia N90)

it has enough ROM to be upgradable to WM5

Samsung enhanced the devoce to offer Bluetooths stereo

Samsung enhanced the device by offering special key to use the device onehandedly

it is very small

it can scan business cards

it has very good design (IMO)

above mentioned features according to the review at mobile review.
It...is DOA. What's the point of this device? What does it offer that can't be found elsewhere on a half dozen other (superior) devices? Oh yeah, WM2003.

[mpaque]

And no 850 mhz? This is going to effect Cingular AND T-Mobile customers in the U.S. T-Mobile has quite a bit of 850 mhz roaming, at least in Michigan.

[rbrome]

According to the specs, the SGH-i750 lacks the 850MHz band, which won't be good for Cingular customers in some rural areas.[/quote]

Actually, try whole states and even some major cities. I would never recommend a phone without 850 to any Cingular customer.

It affects T-Mobile, too. While T-Mobile's own network is all 1900, they have very extensive 850 roaming agreements now. T-Mobile now requires 850 on all new phones they offer. It affects coverage in many, many rural areas.

[MarcTGFG]

It...is DOA. What's the point of this device? What does it offer that can't be found elsewhere on a half dozen other (superior) devices? Oh yeah, WM2003.

Again:

The major pojnts of WM5 are

1. onehanded usability which Samsung does achieve with all internal applications

2. stereo bueltooth which Samsung provides with this device

3. push E-Mail which is not provided with this device

4. persistent storage which is not provided with this device

So, this device incorporates two of the advantages of WM5 without being a WM5 device.

On the other hand it lacks one of the major diadvantages of WM5, which is its inherent slowness of any file operation due to the use of ROM instead of RAM, for installing applications.

I would therefore call this device beteer on three of five counts!

And there is nor othe Phone Edition device which has TV-out functionality.


What for you ask? How about attaching one of the Orange video glasses announced a couple of months ago for the Samsung D600. Imagine viewing videos at full resolution as if you were looking at a big screen. Thats cool.

I also hold out hope, that Samsung will actually update this device to WM5. The fours keys above the d-pad are already perfectly aligned to be used for the two softkeys and the start menu and ok.

It also has 128 MB ROM, enough for the update.

Dont trash this device.

And for you north americans: 850 MHZ is irrelevant in Europe. So this device might simply not be targeted to you.

[Raphael Salgado]

It may have to be a T-Mobile (or non-Cingular) device if branded, since Cingular would be very unlikely to sell any device without 850MHz support. And, while that may be fine for 900MHz and Europeans, too, it's the fact that the FCC approved it made it interesting fodder for Americans.

Remember, just because it can be upgradable to Windows Mobile 5 does not mean it will be. I talked to the Microsoft Windows Mobile development team a while back and they confirmed that the minimum configuration of 64MB ROM/64MB RAM (which was on the HTC Magician) was perfectly capable of handling a Windows Mobile 5 upgrade - whether or not the manufacturer and/or wireless carrier wanted to is solely up to their discretion.

On a personal note, I will never trust a Samsung device, either. I've had two totally unrelated Samsung products, both of which suffered a lack of support, even as soon as it was out of the box. Talk about feeling duped at the time of purchase!

[MarcTGFG]

Remember, just because it can be upgradable to Windows Mobile 5 does not mean it will be. I talked to the Microsoft Windows Mobile development team a while back and they confirmed that the minimum configuration of 64MB ROM/64MB RAM (which was on the HTC Magician) was perfectly capable of handling a Windows Mobile 5 upgrade - whether or not the manufacturer and/or wireless carrier wanted to is solely up to their discretion.

True, 64 MB ROM might technically be enough, but how much ROM do you think will be left for actual use and installing applications? Not much.

On a personal note, I will never trust a Samsung device, either. I've had two totally unrelated Samsung products, both of which suffered a lack of support, even as soon as it was out of the box. Talk about feeling duped at the time of purchase!

I am also skeptical regarding a possible upgrade. Samsung is also a company which is increasingly leading the vaporware brigade, witgh all their announced Symbian and WM phones never reaching the ,market or only in limited quantity as if to say "see, we can!".

I forgot to mention another plus of the device. It has th infrared located at the top (as it should be with any device) and seems to support Consumer Infrared (CIR) and a pretty long transmission distance according to the mobile review review. And it has a good and user adjustable remote control software bundled.