Samsung's M8000 WiBro phone out on the town

Normally we're not all about the softcore shots of foreign phones straight up with no chaser -- why taunt ourselves like that? -- but we kind of couldn't resist the urge with the M8000. After all, it is the first consumer device we've heard of with either WiBro or WiMax, and once we came to find out it's also got DMB support, TV-out, integrated VoIP, a stubbier, smaller antenna, and that long-awaited camera module not found in the i730, well, we couldn't contain the urge. Yes, we know this phone will never, ever make it to the US, but forgive us, but you know how we are.

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[Tom Jones @ Dec 23rd 2005 10:49AM]

THAT IS ONE KICK @$$ FONE DAMN

[pnod @ Dec 23rd 2005 11:13AM]

Hi folks,

You said "Yes, we know this phone will never, ever make it to the US" but don't forget one litle thing you are read all over the world by all kind of people and it's good to know that someoen cares about gadgets from all over the world

From Portugal, Paulo

[Grumble @ Dec 23rd 2005 11:26AM]

Anyone else find this phone and its brother the i730 to be useless in terms of keyboard use? The keys are not soft and it feels unbalanced when its slid open.

[mike @ Dec 23rd 2005 11:38AM]

that is my DREAM phone.....slider with QWERTY.....US phones SUCK

[b00da @ Dec 23rd 2005 12:20PM]

"WiBro"? Sounds like something Kramer and Mr. Costanza dreamed up when the Manziere tanked.

[luthiensdad @ Dec 23rd 2005 12:43PM]

Note especially the dual cameras, a 1.3mp one for stills on back and a 300k one on front for videoconferencing.

[shawvid @ Dec 23rd 2005 1:19PM]

Regarding phones not being released in the U.S. I know we miss out on the best stuff. Why is that? I mean, I'm sure U.S. providers don't say to themselves, "no we're not going to carry this because it's just too good". I suppose it has something to do with standards (WiBro not offered in U.S?), but we could sure use an i730+ with a camera and integrated VOIP. Actually I guess that's the catch too, right. Providers don't want to offer VOIP, right?



I just want to get folks' opinions on this.

[Mike Munroe @ Dec 23rd 2005 2:20PM]

There are several reasons that phones like this don't make it out to the US. One major factor is cost, Americans are cheap and don't want to pay money for there phone. But in the Asian markets families will spend hundreds of dollars on phones a year, especially on phone that offer broadband connections for their long mass-transit commutes to and from work or school.



Another major reason is that US providers don't gamble on technologies. WiBro is still in the process of having its standard ratified.

[Josh @ Dec 23rd 2005 2:20PM]

Thats just wrong to taunt us with this right before christmas.

[Java Junky @ Dec 23rd 2005 3:52PM]

So, in all honesty, what keeps these groovy phones from making it to the

American market? Is the Korean cell phone network that different from ours?

(I'm sure this is an obvious yes, but just in case: what's the dealio?)



With such a huge amount of cell phone technology out there being missed by

America, why isn't there an up-n-comer provider out there that supports

these types of phones making a name (and network) for themselves?



Maybe the real question to ask is: who's responsible for this ban/hold

up/moratorium on coolness? Stingy phone manufacturers? US Government

regulations? Surely, not a lack of American consumer enthusiasm!!! Cause I

know there's about three cell phones on any given Engadget page that I want

to buy at any given time.



Java Junky

[Chris @ Dec 24th 2005 8:40AM]

Sprint/Nextell signed a deal with KT Wibro.Wibro is being launched in many countries in 2006 including the Olympics--Worldcup---You will see Wibro in the US within 1 year

[Mr. Kim @ Dec 25th 2005 5:51PM]

Wibro is a mobile broadband, which means you will be able to use internet while you are in a moving car up to 60 miles/hour.

You will be able to use the service in spring of 2006

in major cities in Korea.

[Steven @ Jan 6th 2006 12:33PM]

This phone operates on the IEEE 802.16e protocol, the NEWLY FCC RATIFIED standard for WiMAX (called WiBRO other places) standard. This explains the 2400Kbs data rate, as the 802.16e is limited in channel bandwidth to roughly that rate, while 802.16d offers up to 72Mbs/sec for the "fixed" version. We are deploying a network now that will allow these phone users to do anything allowable in that bandwith which brings to mind... VoIP, internet, AND TV, most likely with automatic transition from VoIP to GPRS for cellular communication.