Samsung has gotten the jump on the new Windows phone 8 operating system despite the fact that it has not yet been released to the world market. Their ATIV S phone, unveiled August 2012, is poised to become the first smartphone to run the new Windows OS for mobile devices. There is no word yet on when it will launch in the US but as Windows 8 itself will not be released until late October 2012, it is sure to be after that date.
Profile of the ATIV S
The ATIV S is a fairly typical smartphone in many aspects aside from the new OS. It features a 4.8-inch screen with an HD Super AMOLED display and is a mere third of an inch thick, fitting well into the new brand of smartphones that are larger but thinner than their predecessors. The rounded edges to the case offer a smart, polished appearance and make the phone comfortable to hold.
Samsung has been keen to praise the battery life of the new ATIV S, stating that it will be capable of powering the screen for an entire day after being completely charged. The phone sports a 1.5Ghz processor and 1GB of on-board RAM to offer fast performance during a busy day of phone use. Users can take pictures with the 8MP rear-facing camera and chat face-to-face with others using the forward-facing 1.9MP camera. The rear-facing camera is equipped with an LED flash.
The phone will come with the option of 16 or 32GB of internal storage. It also has a slot for a microSD card to expand the on-board storage even more. Bluetooth support makes the ATIV S compatible with many other systems and allows users with Bluetooth-enabled vehicles to chat safely and hands-free on their drives. It has an assisted GPS that will help users find their route, as well.
New Features and Connectivity
The ATIV S is set to take advantage of the new features available on Windows Phone 8, including the Near Field Communication or NFC system which allows nearby users to transmit files and payments. HSPA+42 networks like T-Mobile will be accessible on the ATIV S. There has yet to be any announcement about the phone’s LTE capabilities.
No Upgrades for Windows 7.5 Phones
Windows 8 for computers will be capable of running on almost all machines that can run Windows Vista, which are two operating systems back. However, the same is not true for Windows Phone 8 and its predecessor, Windows Mobile 7.5. Because of new hardware requirements, Microsoft announced that no Windows Mobile 7.5 phones will be upgradable and new handsets will have to be purchased by those who wish to gain access to the new OS.
Samsung’s Competition
Major competition for Samsung’s phone will be the Nokia Lumia, also debuting with Windows phone 8 as their operating system. The announcement has not yet been made but Nokia is believed to be planning the debut of at least two Lumia models to coincide with the release of Windows Phone 8. Nokia is on shakier financial footing than Samsung however, and may or may not prove to be a successful competitor.
Right now, information about the new Samsung Windows Phone 8 handset is minimal. However, it appears to be based on Samsung’s Galaxy III, which runs an Android operating system. Because the OS is critical to the phone functionality, it is impossible to make a good prediction about the future of the ATIV S without further information.
Mathew Peters is a freelance developer and writer, who has also completed undergraduate business school.
