Samsung's 4-inch Windows Phone 7 handset gets named: Cetus (SGH-i917)

You'd probably assume that Samsung would have a difficult time overshadowing the Galaxy S right now, but all it really takes is a salacious Bluetooth SIG entry that leaves only the most important parts to the imagination. We've known for some time now that Sammy would be one of Microsoft's closest Windows Phone 7 launch partners, and we've even taken the time to toy with a prototype earlier in the year. But a new Bluetooth certification is now all-but-confirming a name: Cetus. The SGH-i917 is apt to be North America's first WP7 device from Samsung, a 4-inch smartphone with an 800 x 480 AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera, a VGA front-facing camera, an FM radio tuner, inbuilt GPS, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, USB 2.0 and of course, Bluetooth. As for pricing, availability and form factor? "Not yet."

[Kiron Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:56AM]

Prob just a galaxy s with windows phone 7. That front facing camera though is enough to make me buy it if it comes to Tmobile.

[beckhams777 Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:00AM]

@Kiron

OMG... soo I hope I can dual boot WP7 & Froyo on my Galaxy S !!

[treats Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:08AM]

Not Super AMOLED? I would assume a typo? I will never by a normal AMOLED again with Super and STFT from Sony out. Jan 2010 is over.

[Canucker Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:13AM]

@treats
Not enough screens for current production so it'll be stuck with AMOLED (which isn't that bad).

Cetus? How about the Samsung NotQuiteThereYet?

[Ruben Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:13AM]

@Kiron: Really curious about the processor this will get.

Snapdragon, as expected, or Samsung's own Hummingbird (definitely preferable).

[htowngator Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:19AM]

@Ruben I imagine it'll be Hummingbird. Snapdragon is "old news" now.

[VasiS Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:29AM]

@htowngator Only Snapdragon is approved for WP7 as part of Chasis Spec. So, no other processors.

[The Dark Knight Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:30AM]

@Kiron
The Epic has a front facing camera. Plus, this DOESN'T have a Super AMOLED screen! I'll take the Epic over this. I of course, still am interested in WP7 to see how good of an OS it will be compared to Android, iOS, Blackberry OS 6, WebOS, and the old WinMo. If it's anything like WinMo then that equals fail. If it's closer to Android+iOS+WebOS= win of the century.

[DefPoet Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:31AM]

@VasiS
That is false. Snapdragon is only the launch requirement. Anything above 1ghz is allowed after the initial launch window.

[jakem Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:31AM]

@VasiS That's not true.

[revoltracers Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:44AM]

@Kiron I've had a front-facing camera on my phone for years (all Korean 3G phones have it) and I've never used it. EVER.

[Kireet Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:10PM]

@The Dark Knight Come on Bruce you had to have seen the OS already...it's nothing like WinMo at all (not too much like iOS or Android either, for that matter). Win of the Century? A tad premature, but I can agree.

[Kloc Posted Jul 30th 2010 1:10PM]

@htowngator Snapdragon is old news? You do know they have a 1.3Ghz, a 1.5Ghz and a dual core processor coming out under the snapdragon chipset right?

[htowngator Posted Jul 30th 2010 2:26PM]

@Kloc The snapdragon that's currently available, not the upcoming iterations. I imagine they will likely be sticking with Hummingbird for a while.

[Meekermoloko Posted Jul 30th 2010 3:11PM]

@Kiron

I'm fairly certain that it will come to AT&T.

The model number SGH-i917 has the "i" before the number. AT&T usually has an i or an A in front of the number, whereas T-Mobile has a T in front of their numbers for Samsung phones. I think the G in SGH stands for GSM too, so it shouldn't be for Sprint or Verizon.

Not for certain on that, but about 98% sure.

[Fdo35 Posted Jul 30th 2010 5:04PM]

@Kiron

If you're right, I'm going to be seriously considering a Samsung phone!

[silverton64 Posted Jul 30th 2010 5:10PM]

@revoltracers who cares if you never use it, obviously it's pretty important if lots of people say they want it. I'd use it a lot, and it's a deciding factor in my purchase, as well as many others. You probably haven't used yours either because there hasn't been anyone to use it with. (Front cam)

[Godnah Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:56AM]

Samsung + Fetus = Cetus

[Dinochicken Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:06AM]

@Godnah

I was sure that said Cletus. As in Appalachia born, down for some cousin lovin', bloodhound ownin', dueling banjo playin' Cletus.

Yep Cletus sounds just about right for a Windows 7 phone as long as Steve Ballmer is still in charge.

[Canucker Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:19AM]

@Dinochicken
Ouch. The bastard child of a solicitous affair between Samsung and Microsoft (we know who paid whom). Good job Google is into open relationships.

[YanivC Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:24AM]

@Godnah lmao good one.

[bravokiloromeo Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:28AM]

@Godnah
The important thing will be how well Microsoft and Samsung care for this child.

[Godnah Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:33AM]

@Godnah They aborted the Kin, after all...Choose Life Microsoft!

[cowpiebingo Posted Jul 30th 2010 2:43PM]

@Godnah Hey, come on now, no unborn baby jokes please. It's offensive. And a little premature.

[Firehazel Posted Jul 30th 2010 2:58PM]

@Dinochicken CLETUS! What I told you 'bout trollin'?

[Samurai Jack Posted Jul 30th 2010 5:15PM]

@Firehazel It's CETUS! But he's still a slack-jawed yokel.

[jagowar Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:57AM]

Hope it has cmda radios so it can come to sprint.....

[jagowar Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:58AM]

@jagowar *correction... cdma

[nitrous9200 Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:01AM]

@jagowar Samsung model starting with SGH = GSM.

[longcat Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:22AM]

@jagowar If it's 3G, it's using cdma one way or another. Both WCDMA(UMTS) and cdma2000 use the cdma channel access method.

[metafor Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:03PM]

@longcat I believe he means a "CDMA2000 modem". Either that or "radio frequencies used by Sprint".

[collindow Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:56PM]

@jagowar
Prease to be Sprinting, rittle WP7 phone!

[AndyJ Posted Jul 30th 2010 2:34PM]

@jagowar All previous SGH-ixxx phones were AT&T bound. I assume this one will be also.

[proppat Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:58AM]

I can't wait to start instat messaing in my Inter Explorer browser!

[Kirtay Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:13AM]

@proppat
And it comes with HTML! How ~convenient~!

[KBatFLORIDA Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:58AM]

Wow...sounds awesome...would be nice if its Super AMOLED too, not just AMOLED.

I think the Galaxy S is the best overall smartphone right now so I am really looking to see what Samsung does in comparison to HTC and also Dell, based on that leak we all saw.

[YanivC Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:28AM]

@KBatFLORIDA
I agree. Ive got the Galaxy S and its simply amazing. The new term should now be Galaxy Killer. The phone simply rocks.
I had the HD2 and while the screen was truly magnificent, thats not enough to make a phone great. Its about the apps baby. Im truly hoping Redmond hits the nail on the head with WP7, but I wont trade my Galaxy for anything less. Now... gimme a dual core or hummingbird at 1.5 and 1 GB of RAM..... and you've got a deserter on your hands :)

[ravissimo Posted Jul 30th 2010 10:59AM]

No Super AMOLED

[ravissimo Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:00AM]

@ravissimo wtf, I wrote "No Super AMOLED love for WP7?"

[Lord Vader Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:21AM]

@ravissimo My lightsaber slipped, accidentally cut off half of your comment

[edoles Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:32AM]

@Lord Vader

Your force is weakening...

[TCrimson05 Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:16PM]

@Lord Vader

Goood, let the hate flow through you...

[ravissimo Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:18PM]

@Lord Vader Damn yous Vaaaadeeeeer! Damn yous all to hell!

[DoctarPeppar Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:00AM]

No super AMOLED?
Sucks.
I'll take the Galaxy S, thanks.

[KBatFLORIDA Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:27AM]

@DoctarPeppar It sucks that you decided its not Super AMOLED when this information is not yet known.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:35AM]

@KBatFLORIDA
Of course the specs could be wrong, but also no 720p video is kind of lame as well. It's August in 2010, not 2008\2009. Using old technology on new handsets is not coo.

[ewur Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:00AM]

I wonder if it will be as buggy as the captivate I just had to return..

[ajac09 Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:02AM]

I have a feeling this is the sprint windows phone 7 wimax phone... front facing camera is a give away on that bet its more like the epic without super AMOLED probobly no super AMOLED due to all the supply issues with it

[Sicarius123 Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:02AM]

Makes me think of the Simpsons and Cletus the slack jawed yokel.

[Fingal Posted Jul 30th 2010 11:11AM]

@Sicarius123
Some folk'll never eat a goat but then again some folk'll - like Cletus the slack-jawed yokel!