Samsung Omnia II gets banded for US 3G, but it's not for the US

Remember how Verizon is getting the Omnia II? Yeah, well, don't get too excited, because this isn't it. A version of Samsung's latest full-touch WinMo superphone just garnered FCC approval, and more excitingly, it packs WCDMA bands II and V -- exactly the bands we use in North America -- but you might notice that there's a surprising dearth of English on the product's certification label. Well, see, it turns out that South America uses those bands, too -- and the "L" in this version's model number of i8000L probably stands for Latin America, if we had to guess. That's not to say savvy North Americans couldn't import this and get some juicy 3G on AT&T or Rogers, but at least in AT&T's case, we still don't have any particular reason to believe that this'll land over there. Certainly wouldn't hurt their case, though, would it?

[Via Cell Phone Signal]

[CeluGeek Posted Jul 24th 2009 11:31AM]

Also keep in mind that while the non-touchscreen version of Windows Mobile is multilingual, the touchscreen version of the OS isn't. If this Omnia II is headed to Latin America, you better start learning Spanish or Portuguese if you want to import one of these bad boys for use in AT&T.

[POZ Posted Jul 24th 2009 1:05PM]

I love how you say "remember how bla bla bla?... well this isnt it"...

that's awesome, man. haha

[h8tr Posted Jul 24th 2009 1:15PM]

Why would a non US phone need FCC approval? I don't get it.....

[tande04 Posted Jul 24th 2009 1:23PM]

Because some one might still use one here.

It happens all the time. Phones that are never going to see the light of day here get approved.

[CeluGeek Posted Jul 24th 2009 1:50PM]

@nateoslo21: Maybe this phone will be carried by Claro of Puerto Rico. All phones that are to be sold in Puerto Rico have to be approved by the FCC, even if they are sold by carriers who don't offer service in the US mainland. Plus like tande said, in order for retailers to import and sell such phones in the US, they have to be approved by the FCC.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 24th 2009 5:13PM]

yes is AmericaLatina, remenber the samsung Omnia i900L is 850/1900

[RayanMX Posted Aug 3rd 2009 2:57PM]

I'd love to see this badass smartphone on Mexico's Telcel... And sure hope it turns out to be better than the Omnia i900L in terms of battery performance... * SIGH *