Samsung U470: an X830 for Verizon?

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 9th 2007 at 6:23PM

We've gotta hand it to Verizon here; The Network's still got a bit of a reputation as a stodgy, old-school carrier that eschews style for reliability, but they've been working their rumps off the past couple years trying to shake that image with devices like the US-exclusive version of the Chocolate and the unusual VX9400. Still, though, we would've never expected a US carrier to pick up a variant of Samsung's wild X830, an ultra-narrow, swiveling music phone that isn't the easiest device in the world to use, but sure looks cool. phoneArena is reporting that the pictured device is the Samsung U470, a handset obviously in the X830's lineage, with a Verizon release planned for 2008. Features are said to include a camera, 220 x 128 display, A2DP, microSD slot, and if we had to guess, some rather healthy quantity of internal Flash. Mercifully, Samsung has opted for a traditional three-wide numeric keypad here instead of the tricky two-wide type used on the original, so we're pretty stoked that this one could be surprisingly usable despite its diminutive dimensions. Stay tuned!

Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, 1xRTT, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: rumor, samsung, sch-u470, sgh-x830, u470, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw, x830

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Neutral

The D Train @ Sep 9th 2007 7:06PM

I can't imagine this selling too well, especially if it is something that is coming out next year. We're supposed to be releasing the 10000 and the 8800 by the end of this year, and this is far inferior to those phones.

Neutral

thudson @ Sep 10th 2007 11:24AM

I don't understand why you would be comparing this phone to the 10000 or the 8800. The LG 10000 is obviously a messaging phone and the BlackBerry 8800 is a smartphone. These phones aren't even in the same league to be compared.

--Travis Hudson, MWW Group on behalf of Samsung

Neutral

thudson @ Sep 10th 2007 11:35AM

Edit: Actually it seems you are referring to the LG VX8800, not the Blackberry, but my same point still stands. Not even in the same category to be compared.

Neutral

vishal @ Sep 9th 2007 7:39PM

looks awful

Neutral

vishal @ Sep 9th 2007 7:41PM

testing

Highly Ranked

derX @ Sep 9th 2007 9:30PM

I must say, VZW is going from controlling *coughs*UI*coughs*, old-fashioned parent to hip cousin, as far as phones are concerned. This is a step in the positive direction. Now, if only they could release these phones before obolescence.....

Neutral

Iain @ Sep 9th 2007 9:48PM

That looks rather a lot like the F210 (which was announced in June): http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_f210-2014.php

It has a 128x220 display, a MicroSD slot, 1GB internal memory, A2DP and an identical keypad to the one pictured above.

Neutral

The D Train @ Sep 9th 2007 10:34PM

Regardless of what it looks similar to, its still horribly disgusting looking and a step in the wrong direction for samsung IMO. Right now as far as VZW's lineup is concerned, our samsung offerings are pretty dismal, the U740 has the worst keypad I've ever seen on a qwerty style and the only one worth a damn, the a990 never kicked off. I'm sure a few people will buy this but with the chocolates popularity, I can't imagine it being picked over the 8800.

Neutral

Shlomtzion! @ Sep 10th 2007 7:14AM

Hmmmm..... How many more Shapes can we get till someone over there will grow a brain and realize that we have started looking on the inside and those 1.3-2MP MSM6500 chipset and move on to those qwerty qsc6085 etc?!

how about a bluetooth obex profile ?! - verizon wireless is without any doubt the best carrier in the Cell world... and they only lack in one field ....

It's like microsoft and the opencode issue...

someone will allways be better then u if u wont share...

Neutral

gareth @ Sep 10th 2007 10:29AM

Ugh, Verizon is really pissing me off. Considering they have such huge network and they cost about 20% more per month than other carriers, you would think they would have some nice phones, but their only reuttal to the Iphone is the CHOCOLATE? not this crap? This is yet another phone that no one will buy.

Ticks me off, Other carriers are innovating with endless types of phones, yet Verizon has the same smartphones as they did 2 years ago, almost ALL its low end phones are clamshell and UGLY as SIN, let alone bulky and thick.

Dont get me wrong, Ive tried most carriers and for the northeast Ive found none more reliable, but I cant help feeling like Zack Morris, carrying around my huge, outdated and near useless handset while other carriers boast innovation and variety.

Neutral

The D Train @ Sep 10th 2007 11:09AM

You must be looking at our products with tunnel vision, the only phone that even comes close to size and shape of a "Zach Morris" Phone is this one in question and maybe, a palm treo or 2. The majority of our phones are a little thicker but when you get into terms of entry level, the size is fairly comfortable for most every device.

Hardly anything the size of the phones back then. We may not be innovative enough for the engadget crowd, but we have 62million customers for a reason, reliability and easy to use entry level devices that anyone can get at a reasonable price. Take a look at Verizonwireless.com some time, you'll realize that you can upgrade your "Zach Morris" sized phone to something more comfortable and stylish.

Neutral

elgee02 @ Sep 10th 2007 1:45PM

"Considering they have such huge network and they cost about 20% more per month than other carriers"

The hell they do! Isn't a 900 anytime plan for $59.99 that's offered on AT&T, Sprint, and VZW still just $59.99? Where are you getting this "20%" BS. VZW actually has more messages in their $5, $10, and $15 text bundles than AT&T... so it actually looks like you are making stuff up.

"Ticks me off, Other carriers are innovating with endless types of phones, yet Verizon has the same smartphones as they did 2 years ago, almost ALL its low end phones are clamshell and UGLY as SIN, let alone bulky and thick."

Yep, this confirms it. You are pulling crap out of thin air here.

Neutral

The D Train @ Sep 10th 2007 11:52AM

Thudsen, How do you figure that the lg 8800 does not compare to this samsung, a Slider *music* phone. The LG 8800, is going to be, *gasp* A slider *music* Phone. Apples to Apples if you ask me. The LG 10000 was a stretch comparing it to this samsung but that was mostly to show how moot this 'innovative' phone is going to be when it comes out next year.

It seems to be that your arguement is the one that does not hold much ground in this discussion, especially considering you thought I was comparing it to a blackberry. Also considering you are "on behalf of Samsung" Your comments are also biased, mine coming from a neutral party. *I may work for VZW but I personally have AT&T as service*

Neutral

thudson @ Sep 10th 2007 12:38PM

D-Train, I'm not going to get into a flaming war with you. It seems that is what you want to happen and I am not going to waste my time.

I was simply stating the fact that the reason you brushed off this phone because it is "far inferior" to the LG phones is not a viable reason to dismiss the phone entirely, especially with the limited information known about the phone.

And yes, I do work for a company that represents Samsung, but that doesn't mean I still cannot make intelligent comments based on facts that pertains to your outrageous claims against Samsung products.

-- Travis Hudson, MWW Group on behalf of Samsung

Neutral

The D Train @ Sep 10th 2007 1:07PM

Not trying to flamebait by any means, but just to reiterate the point I was trying to make, from a representative standpoint as somehow who sells and services the equipment. I can't see this phone selling as many units as it potentially could sell, with its release coming after the LG 8800. A great majority of our users, I won't make up a statistic, as we all know 50% of all statistics are made up on the fly, have a variant of the Chocolate on their accounts.

Of course time will tell, but the display is sub par *So far as can be seen by these specs.* But when its released the sales will be the judge, and may even prove me wrong who knows!

Neutral