Samsung SCH- i600 Smartphone Release Date???

[GoodmanR]

Phonescoop says July 2003 for Verizon Wireless. Anyone have any idea whats going on with this?

[Q]

This same question has been driving me crazy for at least a month now. I've been holding out for this phone because it best suits my business and personal needs.

Unfortunately, I don't have a definitive answer on a release date - lest we forget we're dealing w/ Verizon. Although this is not entirely helpful and provides little solace, I did speak with a manager at a Verizon store in the Philly region today to inquire about this same issue and he stated that he doesn't have any in his store, but expected them w/in the next two months or so (huge help.....). His rationale was based upon his understanding that Verizon wants to stagger the release dates of the newly arriving phones (i.e. VX6000 and V60p) and services (i.e. PTT). Like I said....little help, if at all.

While I had his ear, I asked about the Audiovox 8600, the SE 606, and Motorola C333 and was given a slightly more evasive responses, like "I couldn't tell ya..."

Wish I had more info, but then again, it probably wouldn't be any better than the rest of the rumors, hearsay, and guessing that consume this forum...

[GoodmanR]

thanks q,

it would make sense for them to stagger the release of them...if they came out on time.

i would love to the the audiovox 8600 as well, its so small that it could make carrying a pda more managable...but i want to wait for the i600. at least he confirmed that is was coming out. no one would even do that for me.

[fasteddie]

When I was at Fry's here in Austin a few days ago, they already had a space cleared for the Samsung i600 in the Sprint section, and a price tag on the empty shelf...$569 . When I asked, they said they would have it in a couple of weeks.

[GoodmanR]

i thought the i600 was going to be verizon only, and sprint would have the i500 on the palm platform.

[budney]

I have been hearing rumors that the i600 would come out for both Sprint & Verizon, but who knows. I just hope it dose come out for Sprint. I know the i500 is going to be out in a few weeks. The i600 was suppost to have the new PPC software, which I have heard won't be out untill September. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

[dlipetz]

Originally posted by: budneyI have been hearing rumors that the i600 would come out for both Sprint & Verizon, but who knows. I just hope it dose come out for Sprint. I know the i500 is going to be out in a few weeks. The i600 was suppost to have the new PPC software, which I have heard won't be out untill September. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

The i600 runs the Microsoft Smartphone 2002 software, not PPC (Pocket PC) nor PPCPE (Pocket PC Phone Edition). Microsoft just changed their branding scheme with the the release of Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PCs. There is no date set for the release of Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphones, though the thought is late this year.

While it's not unreasonable to think they will delay the release of the i600 until Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphones is released, I don't think they will. Other carriers are releasing phone with Microsoft Smartphone 2002 software, so not sure that Verizon/Samsung will wait. Now Sprint may wait, as they have with the i700. Rather than releasing it with PPCPE 2002 software (as Verizon has), they are holding off until the can provide Windows Mobile 2003 on the units.

[budney]

dlipetz - Thank you for the correction with on the Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphones OS. When I was talking about the delay, it was with Sprint & not Verizon. I do think Sprint will delay the i700 as the i500 may be comming out in a couple of weeks. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]