Samsung Omnia makes official Verizon appearance

by Darren Murph posted Nov 21st 2008 at 10:25AM

Not that we've any reason to be shocked here, but Samsung's Omnia is indeed coming to Verizon Wireless. 'Course, most everyone with any remote affiliation to Big Red is frenzied over that other phone today, but those with a soft spot for Windows Mobile 6.1 may want to give this one a bit of attention. You know the highlight specs by now -- a 5-megapixel camera / camcorder, full HTML browser and an expansive touchscreen -- but the nitty-gritty details are still being withheld. As of now, the link on Samsung's website tunnels straight to an error page, forcing us to be content with the knowledge that somehow, someday, this phone is destined for a life on VZW's shelves. Enlarged screengrab is after the jump.

Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, Windows Mobile, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: i910, official, omnia, samsung, sch-i910, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, windows mobile, windows mobile 6.1, WindowsMobile, WindowsMobile6.1, winmo, winmo 6.1, Winmo6.1

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

gareth @ Nov 21st 2008 10:45AM

The skin Samsung developed is pretty sweet; Its a beautiful phone. My experience has always said- have a capacitive touch screen OR a resistive touchscreen with stylus. This phone has Resistive with NO stylus- weird. And, from what Ive read, its a bit hard to type on.

Either way I'm glad Verizon is getting some decent if not interesting phones.

Neutral

Absolutely Fubar @ Nov 21st 2008 11:35AM

agreed. it's about time to see vzw hardware improve.

if it interests anyone there is a video on samsung's uk site for the i-900. assuming those features and stats will be identical or at least similar (with the addition of the cdma radio) then this looks like a beauty

http://www.samsung.com/uk/experience/mobile/omnia/?pid=uk_mobilelanding_kv_omnia

now we play the waiting game.....

Neutral

Chaspmays @ Nov 21st 2008 12:34PM

That's all you guys on VZW ever do - play the waiting game...move to Sprint already if you want any hope of a decent phone selection and phones that are not crippled!

Neutral

Julius Brown @ Nov 21st 2008 2:12PM

Now what about the price?
The specs looks like a winner from samsungs site. If verizon does not change the specs like they did with the HTC TP, then this is the one for me (for now). I hope the touch screen keypad is accurate enough.
.

Highly Ranked

Ari @ Nov 21st 2008 1:03PM

If Sprint keeps losing customers soon you'll be left with just your phone.

Neutral

Chaspmays @ Nov 21st 2008 1:41PM

True, but at least it'll be one that was manufactured this year and isn't crippled!

Neutral

Joel @ Nov 21st 2008 2:32PM

I'm waiting for this to come to retail outlets so I and my wife and try it out. If it turns out to be too expensive or a piece of crap than we're switching to AT&T and getting an Touch Pro

Neutral

cocoviper @ Nov 21st 2008 6:18PM

If the Omnia doesn't work out why would you switch to ATT for the Touch Pro? I'd go Sprint for the Touch Pro for the superior data network.

Neutral

Joel @ Nov 21st 2008 6:36PM

I was going to do that, but a friend warned me against it. Apparently coverage is awful and Consumer Reports confirms this. Sprint is significantly worse than Verzon, T-Mobile and AT&T. I guess I could always try them out and if coverage sucks return the phone, but there's also the question of whether they'll survive as a business. But would that affect anything? Maybe that would be a good topic on Engadget. What would happen if your carrier filed for bankrupty?

Neutral

Galen20K @ Nov 21st 2008 3:59PM

Beautiful - D

Neutral

cocoviper @ Nov 22nd 2008 1:20PM

@Joel

I would honestly take them up on their 30 day trial period as most cell users know that coverage varies from city to city. I do know Sprint just tied Verizon for 1st in network quality in the southwest (http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/wireless-call-quality-ratings-(volume-2)/southwest) so their coverage might not be as bad as ATT would have you believe. I know in the recent 3Q earnings call their CEO said:

"an independent third party study of the second and third quarter showed that our iDEN network had the fewest dropped calls of any national carrier. Our CDMA network is the largest and most reliable 3G network in the industry"

So given that their plans are far cheaper and the Touch Pro is already available (and not crippled) I'd give it a shot.

Neutral

rOnIn @ Nov 23rd 2008 11:18AM

How about 3G? I keep reading conflicting reports but will the Omnia has 3G support? If it does and also have WiFi I am defintely cancelling my Storm order and picking this beauty up .... Switching carrier especially ATT is not an option. For years I carried 2 phones, my personal one on Verizon and my work phone on ATT. During the day I'd get so frustrated by dropped calls and low signal coverage that I would use my personal phone for business calls and stuff .... Beats the purpose doesn't it?

Neutral

GB @ Nov 24th 2008 9:40PM

I ordered my Omnia from Verizon this morning. I have a tracking number and its supposed to arrive Wednesday.

Neutral

Kirk J Nason @ Nov 25th 2008 6:48PM

Funny you have a great Verizon ad for the phone on the right side of the screen that takes you to http://omnia.samsungmobile.com/

Has tons of details