Samsung announces ATIV S Windows Phone 8 device, looks like a Galaxy S III
The Samsung Galaxy S III is a fantastic device and appears to be doing well on all major carriers in the US. Today, Samsung revealed the ATIV S Windows Phone 8 device (Windows Phone Team Blog) that looks like a Galaxy S III running the latest Windows Phone OS. It has a very similar form factor to the GSIII, which is to say it looks like a great Windows Phone device.
CNET post on the announcement
The ATIV S (how do you say that word anyway?) includes a raised Windows button in the bottom center, similar to the hardware button on the GSIII and I am a fan of that for easy unlocking and return to the home screen. Specifications for the upcoming Samsung ATIV S include:
- 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display made from Gorilla Glass 2
- 1.5 GHz dual core processor
- 1GB RAM
- 16GB or 32GB integrated memory with a microSD card slot
- 8 megapixel camera
- 1.9 megapixel front facing camera
- 2300 mAh battery
CNET's report states that it will launch with HSPA+ 42 Mbps support, which means it is likely coming to T-Mobile first. As a T-Mobile customer looking for the latest and greatest Windows Phone, I would gladly trade in my GSIII for an ATIV S.
If you used Windows Phone 7, you will know that specs don't mean a whole lot since the OS flies even on older hardware. However, it is nice to see Samsung launching a device with current hardware. We don't have any details on NFC, pricing, or availability, and there are not yet any photos or videos of the new OS in action. I know I can't wait to try out Windows Phone 8 and look forward to seeing where this device launches.