AT&T is rapidly ramping up for the launch of the Apple iPhone, but the company realizes that not everyone may be willing to spend upwards of $500 for a sleek phone/Internet appliance/iPod from Apple: there will still be a sizable market of folks who want some 3G mobile and multimedia capacity but could do without the bells and whistles…and high prices.
To that end, AT&T has announced it will be offering Samsung’s clamshell Samsung SGH-A717 and candybar SHG-A727 phones, promising powerful multimedia capabilities in a slim package. The quad-band GSM phones offer Bluetooth 2.0, microSD storage, SMS and MMS messaging, and can tap into AT&T’s MobiTV and MobiRadio streaming media services over the company’s 3G mobile network. The a717 sports a 2 megapixel camera, while the a727 offers a 1.3 megapixel shooter. Both phones will also support AT&T’s Video Share service, due to launch in the next few months, which enables users to add a one-way video stream to an outgoing voice call: if you’re calling a 3G-enabled mobile customer on a Video Share-enabled phone, they’ll hear your voice and see what you’re doing. (Or maybe just get am extreme close-up of your ear.)
“The a717 and a727 are packed with the advanced features our customers demand and are stunning additions to our growing portfolio of 3G devices,” said Carlton Hill, VP of product management for AT&T’s wireless unit, in a release.
The a717 will go on sale June 4, priced at $149.99, while the a727 will “be available soon” at a price of $99.99. Both prices take into account a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year contract activation.
