Preview of the Samsung Captivate

Smartphones are growing increasingly more powerful as competition between rivals such as Android, BlackBerry, and Apple heat up. AT&T has been famous, or infamous for being the only seller in the U.S. for the much sought after iPhone. However, Android OS phones are starting to gain popularity among mainstream, hip and young phones buyers. According to cnet.com, Android based phones make up 9% (2010) of the smartphone market, which makes it a prime competitor to the 28% market share, iPhone. AT&T's Samsung Captivate, an Android OS smartphone, is AT&T's answer to the growing competition of Android OS phones, but will it hold up to the competition?

What is the Captivate?

The Captivate by Samsung is an Android 2.1 OS smartphone that features the latest in high-end technology that makes Android OS phones so appealing. As AT&T and Apple lose smartphone market share to Android based competition, the Captivate is great iPhone alternative on the AT&T market. The phone features a slim stylish design that looks similar to the BlackBerry Storm2 on the Verizon network, but with a cleaner appearance. The Samsung Captivate was announced June 17 as an exclusive AT&T phone, but the release date has yet to leak.

What Makes the Captivate Special?

The 4" Super AMOLED 4" touchscreen display is designed for mobile games, video and easy on screen navigation. The six-axis motion sensor with 3D graphics engine promises an intense gaming experience that may rival games such as Call of Duty: Zombies on the iPhone, which is graphically rich for a mobile device. Although the Captivates' 5MP digital camera and the lack of a front facing camera for video chatting is disappointing, the 16GB of memory (expandable to 32GB) and impressive processor make up for the few disappointments.

Highlighted Features

The 1 GHz Cortex A8 Samsung application processor and the Android 2.1 OS is excellent for a mobile device. This type of processor is similar to the 1 GHz Snapdragon processor on the DROID Incredible, a powerful Android OS phone from Verizon. The 3D graphics engine and surround-sound audio look promising as far as mobile entertainment and gaming are concerned. With the Android market expanding, the high-end graphics and excellent sound quality will undoubtedly make the Captivate a mobile entertainment powerhouse.

When is the Release Date for the Captivate?

The Samsung Captivate was announced June 17 as an exclusive AT&T phone, but the release date has yet to leak.

Why AT&T is a Good Choice for the Captivate

AT&T recently just announced a change in the way that data usage is billed. Data rates now start as low as $15 per month and go up to $25. However, the maximum data allowed per month for $25 is only 2 GB unless grandfathered in under the existing $30/unlimited plan. With lower data rates, the Captivate will most likely appeal to a mass market of consumers that are looking for a lower monthly bill. The Captivate is also a great choice for AT&T because of the lack of high-end Android OS phones from AT&T.

Bottom Line

The Samsung Captivate has a slim design, powerful mobile processor, plenty of onboard memory and many high-end features. The Captivate appears to be a great competitor for the iPhone 4 for AT&T customers that want an alternative to the expensive iPhone.

Sources:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/samsung-captivate-is-atandts-version-of-the-galaxy-s-launching/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20006889-37.html

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/samsung-captivate.jsp