Samsung has officially announced an oddly-styled Android smartphone. Called the Samsung Gem, it bears a cheeky diamond-shaped home button and a similarly-framed camera lens cutout.
Aimed at the entry-level market (according to the Samsung page), the handset is the same one previously leaked as coming to Verizon Wireless in the US. It ships with a rather disappointing Android 2.1, although the decent-sounding specs should more than make up for it.
Details include a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480 x 272 resolution), a 3.2 megapixel camera module, Bluetooth 2.1, 124 MB of onboard storage and microSD card expansion (up to 16GB). Action is managed by an 800Mhz processor (billed as "the fastest" on the entry-level category), which should let you work through Android 2.1 without any hitch. Based on the specs list on the Samsung page, the device won't be getting WiFi, 3G nor GPS.
Phone dimensions are 4.48 x 2.18 x 0.48 inches, with a weight of 3.85 ounces. As for apps, you'll get the usual Google fare, along with both Swype and Social Hub on board.
No word on pricing or release date for the Samsung Gem SCH-i100. Expect it soon, though, either for free or at sub-$50 on a two-year contract.
[Samsung]
