T-Mobile Samsung Behold II Arrives November 18th For $230
T-Mobile have announced a launch date for the Samsung Behold II, the company's latest Android smartphone. As of November 18th, those in the market for a 3.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 5-megapixel autofocus camera with flash, WiFi, 3G and Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top of Android 1.5 will be able to pick up the Behold II for $229.99 with a new, two-year service agreement.
That UI, incidentally, is based around Samsung's "Cube", a six-sided flipping and rotating box that offers shortcuts to music, photos, video, internet, YouTube and Amazon MP3. We're a little disappointed that Samsung didn't bite the bullet and go for Android 2.0 – the Motorola DROID over on Verizon is still the only shipping Android 2.0 device in the US right now – but it's entirely likely that they still need time to tweak their UI into compatibility.
Elsewhere there's Exchange support, GPS and Bluetooth 2.1, together with a microSD card slot and visual voicemail. Frankly we're not convinced there's enough here to keep us away from other Android devices, but those with a penchant for the latest from Samsung, a love of AMOLED displays and an addiction to cubes might find the Behold II appealing.
Press Release:
T-Mobile USA Launches the Samsung Behold II on November 18Multimedia Powerhouse Joins Broad Selection of Android-Powered Smartphones for T-Mobile Customers
BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — Nov. 13, 2009 — T-Mobile USA, Inc., the wireless leader in offering the broadest selection of Android™-powered smartphones in the United States, today announced that the Samsung Behold® II will be available beginning Nov. 18. The full touch-screen Behold II is a multimedia powerhouse with fast Web and data supported by Wi-Fi® and T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network.
Available exclusively from T-Mobile USA, the Behold II is the first phone from T-Mobile to feature a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen for crisper colors and wider viewing angles, which is paired with a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, zoom, flash, five shooting modes and video capabilities. Samsung's intuitive cube menu also provides quick access to six top multimedia features: music, photos, videos, the Web, YouTube™ and Amazon MP3 for music downloads.
"With its first-rate multimedia capabilities front and center, the Samsung Behold II adds an exclamation point to T-Mobile's already impressive Android lineup for the holidays," said Wendy Piñero-DePencier, vice president, brand and calendar marketing, T-Mobile USA. "The combination of 3G speeds, its high-resolution touch-screen, and access to loads of entertainment features is sure to make the Behold II into a holiday hit."
The Android-powered phone is equipped with Samsung's innovative TouchWiz™ user interface for easy customization through movable widgets and one-touch access to commonly used features and applications. The Behold II offers three different home screens to organize multiple workspaces with favorite widgets and application shortcuts.
"The Behold II raises the bar to the next level to create a rich, customizable set of different user experiences," said Omar Khan, senior vice president of strategy and product management for Samsung Mobile. "Combined with Samsung's advanced AMOLED display technology, innovative TouchWiz user interface and the Android platform, users can create and enjoy a mobile experience unique to their needs."
The Behold II features built-in Google™ mobile services, including Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™, YouTube and Google Talk™, as well as thousands of applications and games available for download from Android Market™. The Wi-Fi-enabled Behold II also supports personal e-mail and corporate e-mail with Exchange ActiveSync, as well as instant messaging, and text, picture and video messaging. Additional features include assisted GPS, Bluetooth® 2.1, visual voicemail that allows for easier access and response to voice mail, support for up to 16GB of external memory, and includes a 2GB microSD memory card.
With support for T-Mobile's rapidly expanding 3G network, Behold II customers can take advantage of a reliable wireless connection and fast download speeds when browsing the Web or downloading applications from Android Market. T-Mobile's 3G network is currently available in 240 cities across the country. By the end of 2009, T-Mobile USA expects its 3G network to be available to reach approximately two-thirds of the U.S. population.
The Samsung Behold II will be available nationwide at T-Mobile retail stores, select authorized dealers and online at http://www.T-Mobile.com beginning Nov. 18, 2009.