Samsung Captivate is AT&T's version of the Galaxy S, launching 'in the coming months'
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 17th 2010 12:01PM
posted June 17th 2010 12:01PM
AT&T AND SAMSUNG MOBILE ANNOUNCE UPCOMING AVAILABILITY OF THE SAMSUNG CAPTIVATE™, A GALAXY S™ SMARTPHONE
New breed of smartphone powered by the Android™ 2.1 platform features 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen, 1GHz application processor and innovative entertainment and social networking features
DALLAS, June 17, 2010 - AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.**, today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Captivate™, a Galaxy S™ smartphone. The Android™ 2.1-powered Samsung Captivate will bring users a fully integrated entertainment, messaging and social networking experience packaged in an alluring, streamlined design surrounding a stunning 4-inch display.
The Captivate's powerful set of Web-based features is maximized with the addition of AT&T's High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 Mbps technology, which provides a considerable speed boost to the nation's fastest 3G network when paired with expanded backhaul. Speed plus AT&T's dedicated focus to mobilize everything – including video content, social networking, music and messaging – is reflected in Captivate's strong feature set.
The Captivate represents a new breed of smartphones powered by the open and innovative Android platform, with full support of Google Mobile Services including Android MarketÔ, Google SearchÔ, Google MapsÔ, GmailÔ, YouTubeÔ, Google TalkÔ and more. Users can also access the Android Market™ and customize their experience with more than 60,000 exciting and useful applications. The Captivate also features Samsung's Super AMOLED display screen technology, a 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird Application Processor and Samsung Social Hub, a feature that integrates the user's social networking services, messages, personal and business email, calendars and contacts.
"Add up Captivate's amazing screen, huge amounts of onboard storage, a super-fast processor, all fueled by the nation's fastest 3G network and a nationwide Wi-Fi network and you get a smartphone we know our customers will crave," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.
"With the launch of the Captivate, AT&T customers will experience a groundbreaking handset with world class features that are unique to Samsung's Galaxy S class of devices, including Samsung's Super AMOLED screen technology and 1GHz Hummingbird Application Processor," said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile. "The Captivate represents a new breed of smartphone that will truly change and enrich the way consumers interact with their device on an everyday basis."
Leading Hardware Features
The Captivate provides a premium viewing experience on its large, brilliant 4-inch display powered by Samsung's Super AMOLED touch screen technology. Super AMOLED technology yields thinner displays, delivering one of the thinnest, most responsive full-featured smartphones in the industry. Samsung's innovative display technology makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life like never before, even in bright light and outdoor environments.
In addition, the Samsung Captivate is designed with a six-axis sensor that combines the smartphone's accelerometer and gyroscope to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down or panning the phone to the left or right. The Captivate's user interface also supports a series of advanced touch screen gestures capabilities including multi-touch pinch, long tap and zoom and vertical and horizontal swiping. This series of versatile gestures provide easier and quicker access to many applications including location-based services, Web browsing and digital photos.
Powering the Captivate is a 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird Application Processor, which produces amazing 3-D graphics, faster upload and download times and full richness of HD-like multimedia content. The Captivate is also outfitted with 3D sound capabilities, giving the user surround-sound stereo quality, when listening on hard-wired headphones.
Features for All Users
The Captivate keeps users connected with Samsung's Social Hub, which is built around Messaging and Contacts, both of which initiate the sending and receiving of information, whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar™, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization. The familiar text messaging experience is enhanced with group messaging and "reply all" functionality for up to 10 contacts, a threaded conversations format, a consolidated inbox, and enhanced multi-media display.
In addition, AT&T customers who choose Captivate can take advantage of AT&T Address Book. A Web-based service, AT&T Address Book syncs contacts to an online address book so customers can access and manage their mobile contacts from their handset – or their PC. Also available to users at no additional charge is access to AT&T's entire national Wi-Fi network -- any Captivate with the Wi-Fi turned on will automatically connect when in range.
Not just for social networking and messaging, the Captivate truly brings your home and office computer to the palm of your hand with support for push email and integrated calendar services, including Google™ and Yahoo for consumers and small businesses and ActiveSync for enterprise users. Messaging is simple and easy with the Captivate's virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, which allows users to input text faster and in a more intuitive way with one continuous finger motion across the screen keyboard.
True Mobile Entertainment
In addition, the Captivate features best-in-class entertainment features, including future access to Samsung Media Hub, a full library of video and literary content powered by some of the biggest names in entertainment. Samsung Mobile looks forward to sharing additional information about Media Hub in the near future and the Captivate will feature a pre-loaded app that can take users to download Media Hub in the future. The Captivate features Samsung's All Share application, which enables inter-device connectivity through DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) technology, allowing users to send user-generated video content wirelessly to other DLNA-enabled devices, such as TV's, monitors and laptops, allowing for a rich, interactive entertainment experience.
The Captivate is packed full of features that enhance users' daily life, including a 5.0-megapixel camera/ camcorder with auto-focus and HD video recording (720p)***, MP3 player, 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and expandable memory for photos, videos and music, up to 16 GB. This combined with an on-board 16 GB of storage allows for up to 32 GB of capacity for music and video.
The Captivate also includes AT&T Navigator, which offers voice-guided and visual turn-by-turn GPS driving directions with automatic reroute, full-color maps, and real-time traffic alerts and AT&T Family Map, which gives families the ability to track a child's location from a PC or cell phone and request location updates at any time.
Additional key specifications of the Captivate include Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), full HTML browser with tap & hold zoom), Bluetooth® 3.0 technology. The Captivate also includes tri-band 3G connectivity and quad-band GSM technology, which allows AT&T customers to make calls in more than 220 countries and download data in more than 195.
The Samsung Captivate is scheduled for release in the coming months at AT&T retail locations nationwide or at http://www.att.com/wireless. For more information or to register for notification when available visit www.att.com/captivate . For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.
sexy
@ComeShot
The only thing that will kill this phone is if ATT locks down the ability to install software outside of the Android marketplace which I think is total BS.
The phone wars are making me want to stay away from the news and just get the "best one" from user reviews (pending my own judgment)by the end of this year. Every phone maker seems to be dishing out "better" phones so fast like it's the end of the world.
@ComeShot
Wow really nice, I like it better than the original Galaxy S design for sure
@Plazmic Flame
My understanding is that AT&T's "locking down" of handsets only requires that apps be signed for the marketplace. Any independent or DIY developer can sign apps for the marketplace for free even if the app isn't delivered via the marketplace, so it's not that big of a barrier.
@ComeShot - HSPA+? UP.down? Where is it? I need 21GIGAWATTS man
@ComeShot They should get rid of that hideous UI and make it stock android.
Funny how nobody complains about the iPhone not allowing any apps from outside the AppStore.
If it's not allowed on an Android phone, that phone is called "crippled" and a "brick" etc.
So does that mean the iPhone is a "brick"?
I know the answer for myself: Yes, it is. Android is a thousand times better in every aspect than iOS.
But I'm asking you, cause it's kinda silly how everyone starts crying when an Android phone is "crippled" the same way the iPhone has been for years and will always be.
@maati
Yes, the iPhone is a f*cking brick.
If you like playing in Steve's sandbox, then good for you. I don't.
@Spiny Norman
You don't like it, so it's a "brick"? When did your opinion become definitive reality? I don't remember getting the memo on that one.
@maati Yep. iphone is a brick.
It's not like the iphone ever had a non-hacked ability to sideload. Android handsets typically do, hence "crippled"
@Plazmic Flame
I don't know about that, Samsung has been known to disappoint before on several occasions.
@maati On the iPhone, you aren't missing anything because no apps are distrbuted outside the app store. I justed installed an app via sideloading not even an hour ago on my Droid.
@maati "Android is a thousand times better in every aspect than iOS."
Wake me up when Google makes an interface that's good enough to stop every phone manufacturer out there from trying to cover it up.
An Android device is crippled when one can't install non-Marketplace apps because openness is one of Android's signature features. The iOS is extremely intuitive and smoother than anything else out there, but it's limited to the App Store. Android is rougher around the edges but open to the world. An Android device that's neutered in the way that AT&T neuters their phones is the worst of both worlds.
@maati
I dunno about you, but I heard endless bitching about not being able to sideload apps when the iphone was first released too, perhaps more so simply because they did not even provide an SDK at the time.
Anyway, a lot of us that don't care about the iphone hate the fact that AT&T is trying to turn its android phones into "iphones with a different OS". The whole point of android is that you aren't locked into a heavily restricted and protective environment, and we like it that way.
@Plazmic Flame
It may "kill" this phone for you and your geeky friends. But not for the 99.9% of customers that ATT is actually expecting to buy this device. Most of the folks who ATT is targeting have no clue what you're even talking about, nor will they ever care.
@Spiny Norman Mr. Steve gives us ice cream!
@ComeShot
Just need flash and 2.2 update by the time of release.
@Rollins "The iOS is extremely intuitive and smoother than anything else out there" NO webOS definitely gets that title, and companies dont cover up android because they think its ugly, they do it to create a unique experience for the devices they are selling... have you used standard 2.1? its very well done and looks no worse than the iOS iNterface
@ComeShot
Looks FAR SEXIER than the original Samsung Galaxy S...
Love it!!!!
@ComeShot
Finally a ANDROID PHONE WORTH GETTING!!! from ATT now i wont have to settle for the IPHAIL 4!!!
@maati
The reason why people bitch about ATT locking down Android phones is because the platform itself is meant to be OPEN. If ATT wants to start locking down devices, why don't they do that with Blackberry devices and say you can't install apps outside of the Blackberry App World??
They are hypocrites...they lock down Android because if people harness it's power, they won't have to pay ridiculous fees for basic stuff like tethering.... paying for tethering when you already have a data plan is the greatest scam ever ESPECIALLY when tethering will use your pool of data allowance.
@SteveyAyo
Yes, I've used 2.1 on a Nexus One, and it's nowhere near as smooth or intuitive as iOS. It's not terrible, but they have a long way to go.
As far as WebOS goes, it seemed choppy on the Pre Plus that I used compared to my 3GS.
@Spiny Norman
I too, personally don't like rain dancing in the sandbox for Steve to piss on me.
I'm pretty sure this is a placeholder image used by AT&T and not of some new Galaxy S model.
This better still launch on T-Mo or Imma fly of the effing handle!
@ComeShot
Sexy indeed plus 4" SAMOLED = win.
Still it's Samsung though, bleh. This may never get updated.
@Plazmic Flame
The Android marketplace is not like Apple's: it's open; so there is really no reason for any developer not to have his/hers app listed in it and in any case on an open platform like Android ways and means are freely available on line to install whatever you may please on it.
I have had an Hero for about 6 months and now I have had a Desire since about 4 months and I've never been temoted to install anything that was'nt listed on Android market , apart for a few fixes from XDA devs and and some stuff from Nimbu , none of which reqired rooting or haking.
@Plazmic Flame And forget about the free tethering when Android 2.2 comes to the phone.
@Rollins
You're confusing pretty little animations with UI design. Android's UI is much better than that locked down and basic iOS. Now smoothness you have an argument on, that could use a little work, specifically scrolling which can be jerky.
@Shooter McGavin
thats what xda-developers is for!!! go go gadget rooting!
@Rollins Android is intuitive as well. Not sure how you think it isn't.
@maati
What the heck are you talking about? That's been one of the biggest complaints since the app store was created! Hence the jailbreak community....
@month
Noooo wayy, I think the original Galaxy S looked so much better.
@Plazmic Flame Android is about as open as Apple iOS 4 is. Okay? Stop saying it's open.
Want to take a screenshot of your phone? Gotta root. Wanted to wifi tether (pre Froyo), gotta root. Want to overclock? Gotta root AND unlock your bootloader. Want browse files in the system directory? Gotta root. Want to theme stuff? Gotta root.
Jeez. Get over it. And it's not like Android has true multitasking either. S60 and webOS are true multitaskers where you can launch as many apps as you want and CLOSE THEM as you go... not let a stupid OS like Android or iOS decide when it should unload the app....
But with that said all the OSes are very usable at this stage and pseudo multitasking or real multitasking, to the user it's pretty much the same experience.
@GeneralThade
Wouldn't these clueless people already own an iPhone? Why would they consider an Android phone, which most people agree is rougher around the edges?
As others have pointed out, the point of having an Android phone is to have complete control over the software. A crippled Android phone is rather pointless.
@KRod
No, it may look like chocolate ice cream, but it's actually cat sh*t that's been scooped out of the sandbox.
@ComeShot
it's good being first
@Plazmic Flame
they might do that, since Samsung desperately needs to sell smart phones. then, ATT has the leverage over Samsung in this contest
@Rollins I'm sorry but I don't see the beauty in a black background with a bunch of squares and a lockscreen with shitty notifications, AKA iOS. If companies could "cover up" iOS they would in a heart beat. It's very very bland and everyone knows it. I crack up every time I hear how beautiful it is. And what the hell is so intuitive about it? What can it do that Android can't do?
@Plazmic Flame sorry, that's going to be the way AT&T does things in Android going forward.
@ComeShot Yeah, that looks a lot better than the normal Galaxy S.
@tarugokomaraki
interesting point. I guess, phones are evolving so fast, it must mean that the end of technology is near. Well maybe not.
But I think that the future is pretty clear that there is technology very advanced now. SInce, 4G technology is finally available to the masses.
@SomePerson
UI is decent. the features are really nice though.
@ComeShot
yeah it's sexy
@GeneralThade
This kills the phone for me and I'm using a BLACKBERRY right now.
@Spiny Norman
well said *** Applause ****
but people will still buy it. Even Koreans don't know that Z Samsung produce most of the components to the iphone. hi-tech components that need the use of the word called SCIENCE..
@Spiny Norman
ROFL
@Plazmic Flame Gosh, no one is ever happy are they? AT&T finally has a worthwhile Android device coming out and you still complain? The only people that care about sideloading are the type of people on this site. The percentage of AT&T customers that care about this has to be so miniscule that it won't effect revenue streams whatsoever. You know xda is going to find some way around this if you are really hurting for some sideloading. Get over yourself and be happy there is legitimate competition in the smart phone market on Ma Bell
@Plazmic Flame Too late for that... :/