More Budget Offerings from Samsung

SEOUL, South Korea - Samsung Mobile continues to inundate the handset market with its entry to mid-level offerings. Even in the absence of any official media releases from Samsung, the blogosphere has been effervescent with rumors and leaked images indicating a spew of devices from the Korean manufacturer in the upcoming weeks.

Leading the rumor mill is Samsung Galaxy Lite, a stripped down version of Samsung’s first and only Android-based handset – Samsung Galaxy – released earlier this year. Some of the other Samsung devices doing the rounds in the web today include: Samsung  S3650, Alltell Wireless Glint, T-Mobile Gravity 2 and Sprint InstinctQ.

Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite

Android loyalists of the Phandroid community have spotted a Samsung Galaxy Lite at the Wi-Fi Alliance where the device was apparently sent for Wi-Fi certification. This confirms the presence of Wi-Fi on this Lite version of Galaxy.

While Samsung is widely believed to be sticking with Android for Galaxy Lite, there is no confirmation of the same yet. What features will the Galaxy Lite miss over the Galaxy remains to be seen with most likely suspects being the GPS , AMOLED screen and 5 megapixel camera.

This news is also coincidental to Nokia’s release of the stripped down version of the N97 – the Nokia N97 Mini – scheduled to launched at the Nokia World next week, according to rumours.

Sprint’s Samsung InstinctQ

This QWERTY-yielding device from Samsung was first spotted at the Wi-Fi Alliance where it was due for Wi-Fi certification. Widely rumored to be Samsung’s second Android device, Sprint’s InstinctQ is also the second Android device to feature a full  QWERTY keyboard, which was last seen on the HTC Dream aka T-Mobile G1. Leaked images show a glittering Sprint branded device running on Android with a full QWERTY keyboard.

While Wi-Fi is confirmed from the device’s presence at Wi-Fi Alliance for certification, the bulk of the specs of this device is still unknown. Slated for launch on October 11, the device is widely believed to be in straight competition with HTC Hero also slated for launch on the same day by Sprint.

Samsung S3650 Corby

The Samsung S3650 marks the entry of Samsung into the entry-level market with a touchscreen offering. The device which was first spotted at FCC for approval is now set for European launch at a rumored price of €200. At this price tag, Samsung has packed quadband GSM connectivity, a 2.8″ touchscreen display with QVGA resolution, Bluetooth, FM radio, a 2 megapixel camera, and a microSD memory card slot.

Going by the rumored price tag, this device will be in direct competition with Nokia’s recently announced budget offering – Nokia 5230 – which is priced at €149 (without Comes With Music). Going by the increased third-party application support and maturity of the Symbian S60 fifth-edition platform, Nokia seem to have stolen the thunder from right under Samsung’s nose with its recent announcement.

Alltell Wireless’ Samsung Glint

Recently announced by Samsung, this clamshell entry level device packs a VGA camera with night shot mode, stereo Bluetooth, messaging, a Web browser in a budget device.

While the Korean manufacturer hasn’t revealed the full specifications of this device, the budget offering is expected to feature mediocre features. Pricing and availibilty of the Samsung Glint are not known yet.

T-Mobile’s Samsung Gravity 2

T-Mobile updated its Samsung Gravity (launched in late 2008) to Gravity 2 early this week. The updated version incorporates several improvements over its predecessor including: a thinner design and revamped navigation controls, 3G connectivity, A-GPS with TeleNav, and a 2-megapixel camera. Aside from that, it still rocks a microSD card slot, a music player with MP3 and AAC support, Bluetooth, and e-mail support.

Priced attractively at $29.99 with a two-year service agreement, the Samsung Gravity 2 is  available in two colors: Metallic Pumpkin and Berry Mauve.