We posted about the new Samsung 8GB Smartphone called the SGH-i310. Well I’ve found the official press release on the new phone and you can read it after this post. Here are the major highlights about this crazy smartphone.

As you know, this is the first mobile phone equipped with an 8GB hard drive. With this model, Samsung now has four phones equipped with some sort of drive. There’s the SPH-V5400 which features a 1.5 GB HDD; the SCH-V7900 which comes with a 3GB HDD, the SGH-i300 which also features a 3GB HDD and has a music flare to it and of course, the new i310 with an 8GB HDD.

Don’t forget now – this is a Smartphone and it’s running the Windows Mobile 5.0 OS which is great if you have Microsoft Windows PCs at home or in the office. There’s nothing like syncing your data using Microsoft’s ActiveSync software. I’ve used both the Palm Sync software and the Microsoft ActiveSync system, and I must say that Microsoft’s synchronization software wins hands down.

Features on the i310 include:

• 2 megapixel digital camera with flash
• microSD slot for further storage expansion
• Document Viewer
• TV output
• Video recording
• Bluetooth support including A2DP stereo support
• digital power amp and dual speakers
• Tri-band GSM support, GPRS support, EDGE support
• 2 inch display with a resolution of 240 x 320 and support for 65K colors
• Support for MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, WAV, OGG, MPEG4 files
• Measures 111.9 x 48.5 x 19.8 mm
• Weighs 120 grams

As we mentioned before, the i310 will be introduced in the European market during the second half of this year.

Samsung Unveils the World’s First 8GB Hard Disk Embedded Phone – the i310

SEOUL, South Korea –(Business Wire)– March 6, 2006 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading provider of mobile phones and telecom systems, is reinforcing its technology leadership by unveiling the world’s first 8GB Hard Disk embedded smartphone (model: SGH-i310).

Samsung breaks the storage limit in mobile phones by introducing the world’s first mobile phone equipped with a 8GB hard disk drive (model: SGH-i310). With the large storage of 8GB, SGH-i310 will change the way people manage and use mobile phones.

Samsung is the first to adopt a hard disk drive into mobile phones and has launched three models equipped with a hard disk drive; the world’s first 1.5GB HDD embedded phone (model: SPH-V5400), the world’s first 3GB HDD embedded phone (model: SCH-V7900) and the world’s first 3GB HDD Music smartphone (model: SGH-i300).

The i310 works as a perfect platform for users by combining a phone, a digital camera, and an MP3 player with its immense storage capacity. It enables users to carry around 2,000 songs (4MB/song) wherever they go.

The i310 comes with the latest version of Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphones, which allows users to view files and easily carry their music library with them. Windows Mobile 5.0 enables users to sync playlists, songs, and videos from their personal PCs so that the experience with the i310 is identical to the user’s personal computer. It also offers a USB 2.0 and Plug & Play feature which allows the phone to be utilized as a removable hard disk. Businessmen and students can easily store and transfer files to/from their computers in any format.

The i310 has all the latest features, including a 2 megapixel camera with flash, microSD slot, document viewer and TV output. Users can record video with the 2 megapixel camera in high quality resolution.

It also supports enhanced music function with Bluetooth(R) stereo (A2DP), digital power amp and dual speakers. Users can download music conveniently using an online music store from their personal computer or directly via air.

Kitae Lee, President of Telecommunication Network Business of Samsung Electronics, said, “With the combination of first-class technology and premium design, Samsung has led the industry by offering various features of mobile phones. With great improvements in mobile storage, Samsung will continue to introduce a variety of useful functions for mobile.”

The i310 will be shown to the public at CeBIT from March 9th to March 16th. It will be introduced in the European market during the second half of this year. -0-

SGH-i310 Specifications  Standard     GSM / GPRS (900/1800/1900MHz) + EDGE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OS           Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphone ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Camera       2 Megapixel Camera with Flash ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Display      2.0" 240x320 65K Color TFT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Features     8 GB HDD              Video Recording & Messaging (MPEG4 / H.263)              MP3 / AAC / ACC+ / ACC+(e) / WMA / WAV / OGG              Dual Speaker / Digital Power Amp / External Music Key /               BT Stereo              Bluetooth(R) Technology / USB 2.0 / Voice Recognition              Document Viewer / TV-out / BT Printing ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Memory       8GB HDD embedded, External memory (microSD) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Size         111.9 x 48.5 x 19.8 mm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Weight       120 g ----------------------------------------------------------------------  * Specifications are subject to change without notice. 

About Samsung

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2005 parent company sales of US$56.7 billion and net income of US$7.5 billion. Employing approximately 128,000 people in over 90 offices in 51 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones, and TFT-LCDs.

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