Samsung To Display Headset, AT&T Messaging Phones

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 3/22/2010

LAS VEGAS — Samsung will come to the CTIA convention with two new handsets for AT&T and a convertible mono-to-stereo Bluetooth headset.

The Modus Bluetooth headset consists of an on-ear headset that can be used for hands-free conversations, but a pair of wired stereo ear buds can be plugged into it for stereo music listening. The Bluetooth 2.1+EDT headset features multipoint technology.

The two handsets are among a quartet of AT&T quick-messaging handsets — two each from Samsung and Pantech — that will provide new messaging, contact- management, and video- and photosharing features and services to users of low-priced quick-messaging phones, the carrier said.

The first phone to come with the features and services is the Samsung Strive HSDPA-equipped 3G phone with slide-down QWERTY keyboard at $19.99 during a limited-time promotion. It’s due in AT&T stores March 21 along with a Samsung fulltouchscreen quadband GSM Sunburst at $39.99. The Sunburst will offer the new services at a later unannounced date, as will two Pantech phones, the Link bar-style QWERTYkeyboard phone and the Pursuit with touchscreen and vertical sliding keyboard. The Link is due “in the coming weeks,” and the Pursuit is due in the summer.

New enhanced messaging services enabled by the four new handsets include group messaging, reply-all capability for up to 10 contacts, threaded conversations, and a consolidated in-box. The phones will also access a free online address book that automatically syncs with a handset when a new contact is entered on the handset. Users can also access their contact list from a PC and use a PC to import contacts from web-based email accounts.

The new AT&T Mobile Share service will let users, for a fee, store up to 250MB of pictures and videos online for viewing on their handset or a PC. The fee is $10/month for 50 transfers, or 35 cents per transfer.

None of the four models, a spokesperson told TWICE, features Qualcomm’s Brew MP operating system, designed to bring smartphone functionality to low-priced phones.