There is an above average chance that Verizon’s Samsung 4G LTE device will end up with DROID branding on it, making this our next family member.  We’re just wondering if that is a good thing or not?  We all know how Sammie did with the Froyo update to their Galaxy S line of phones (Fascinate still doesn’t have it by the way), so it’s only fair for many of us to be skeptical of anything else they release.  And with this phone more than likely running Android 2.2 out of the box, you know people will be crying for Gingerbread from day 1.  It’ll be rockin’ a beautiful 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen, HDMI-out, front-rear cameras, and no Bing, but will that be enough to get you excited?  Are you interested in a DROID-branded Samsung device?

Here is our hands-on with the device.  And how it compares to the other 4G LTE phones.

Monday Poll: Does a DROID-branded Samsung Phone Interest You? is a post from: Droid Life

Costco is informing its employees that they are planning to launch the Samsung 4G Droid Stealth around 4/7 and that a pre-sale will start for the device on 3/24 (this Thursday).  Couple of things to note here.  This device will definitely be DROID branded at launch, which is a little odd and something I’ve been trying to wrap my head around for a couple of weeks now.  One of my most trusted sources hit me up with this news and is the reason I kept saying there would be a “surprise attached” to it, so this is exactly the public confirmation that I was hoping to see.  We can now start talking about it!

The second note though, is about the name.  All signs on my end still point to this not being called the Stealth at launch.  Wish I could share what I’ve been told is the official name, but sometimes in this business you don’t get to go public with every bit of insider info.

Looks like a CTIA announcement from Verizon should be here any minute. Stay tuned!  

Via:  Android Central

Cheers Chris!

Verizon’s Samsung 4G LTE Device Launching April 7? Will be DROID Branded. is a post from: Droid Life

The crew over at Techno Buffalo was fortunate enough to have a friend send in some new pictures of Verizon’s Samsung 4G LTE (SCH-i510) device that we were all introduced to at CES.  The device appears to be the guy’s everyday phone and was definitely up and running on Big Red’s LTE network.  He mentioned that battery life (1500 mAh) was not an issue at all and was easily getting 8-10 hours per day out of it which is exactly what we wanted to hear.  The phone will definitely be loaded up with TouchWiz when it’s released (targeted for mid-April), but you won’t see much of it in the pictures below since he has LauncherPro installed.

So there you go…no battery issues on a 4G LTE phone! (We’re lookin’ at you HTC.)  Oh, he also mentioned the name “Stealth” again which seems to pop up every time this phone is around.  As far as I know, that name is just a code name.  I’m sort of expecting there to be a surprise when this phone is finally unveiled.

Pics after the jump!  

Via: Techno Buffalo

Verizon’s Samsung 4G LTE Device Caught in the Wild, Battery is Not an Issue is a post from: Droid Life

The nameless Samsung SCH-i510 wandered its way through the FCC this week sporting CDMA and LTE radios and leaving us hoping for a sooner-than-later release.  While it might have been our least favorite of Verizon’s 4 LTE devices at CES, we realize we were looking at an unfinished product and are dying to see what they’ve done since then.

The word “Stealth” is floating around as a possible name, but to my knowledge, that is just the codename and there might be a surprise attached to this when it finally launches.  Other than that, you’ll find a 1GHz single-core processor, HDMI-out, 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen, and physical home keys.  No idea when it could see the lining of your pocket, but we’re pretty sure it’ll be just after the Thunderbolt and before the BIONIC.

And check out our hands-on with the device here.      

Via:  FCC, Phandroid

Samsung SCH-i510 Appears at FCC, How Soon Will We See it? is a post from: Droid Life

The Samsung 4G LTE device that we got our hands on at CES made a major appearance in Verizon’s Info Center just a few minutes ago and is apparently still nameless with only a model number of SCH-i510.  It received its “MAP designation” which stands for Minimum Advertised Price and is usually a good sign that the device launch isn’t all that far off.  We aren’t sure exactly what that price will be, but if it follows the Thunderbolt model at all, we should expect it somewhere around the $249 mark on a 2-year contract and hopefully no where near that $749 number.  

And if this device is somewhat of a mystery to you, then you may want to check out this comparison chart we did for all of Verizon’s 4G LTE devices.  The device is rockin’ a 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen, HDMI-out and 1GHz single-core processor.  During CES, it was our least favorite of the four, but now that we’re revisiting the pictures of it, we’re starting to fall a little in love.  That screen is absolutely gorgeous.

After this Thunderbolt fiasco, anyone willing to wait a couple of extra weeks for this phone?  There is news that will likely come out in the next couple of weeks that may have you seriously considering it.  Wish I could say more…

Cheers ____!

Verizon’s Samsung 4G LTE Device Makes Appearance, Receives MAP Designation is a post from: Droid Life

We’ve received word that helps confirm our assumption that the HTC Thunderbolt will launch in the last week of February, but what we didn’t expect is the idea that it could have a partner.  According to our sources, regional Verizon reps are confirming to their clients that the current schedule is to have both the unnamed Samsung 4G LTE device and the Thunderbolt out at the same time.  Marketing materials are starting to appear with these details and testers with both devices are reporting nothing but good things, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that there are no last minute delays.  Oh, we’ve also heard that the Samsung device will NOT come loaded with Bing, which we’re happy to hear as we were bracing ourselves for the worst.

Cheers ___!

Rumor: Thunderbolt and Samsung 4G LTE Device Will Launch Last Week of February is a post from: Droid Life

At the Verizon 4G LTE event today, the Samsung reps were a little hesitant to actually let us play with their new unnamed device, so we skipped on by it until we hit up their booth.  What did we find?  The Samsung SCH-I510, the same device they were scared to show to the press.  And yes, it still lacks an actual name.

We actually posted what we thought was one of the first pics of this device on Tuesday, so it was nice to have it confirmed today.  It’s definitely the alien-esque device with the Nexus S back hump.  It does sport a 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen though and was as fast as ever with a 1GHz single-core processor.

What wasn’t impressive was the Touchwiz skin splashed all over it.  They went with that same puzzle-piece theme that screams kid’s toy and even went as far as to throw some cartoon like font on it.  This could be a great device, but man, this is the classic example of manufacturers killing devices with their custom skins.

And we have no idea when this will be released.  The on-edge reps at the VZW event seemed to think this device was far from ever seeing a store shelf.

Press release and gallery after the break. 

Verizon wireless and Samsung Mobile Announce Samsung’s First 4G LTE-enabled Smartphone

Features Android 2.2 platform, Super AMOLED™ Plus Display, 1GHz Application Processor and Rear and Front-Facing Cameras

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – From the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone will be available on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.

Powered by an Android 2.2 operating system, the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone is equipped with Google Mobile services, including Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™, YouTube™ and access to more than 100,000 applications on Android Market™.  The Samsung 4G LTE smartphone boasts a brilliant 4.3-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus touch screen display, powerful 1GHz application processor and HTML5 Web browser that uses high-speed 4G LTE connectivity for faster downloads.  Designed with a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera, the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone supports video chat capabilities. Messaging is made simple on the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone with a virtual QWERTY keyboard equipped with Swype™ technology. Additionally, the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone will come preloaded with popular LTE-specific applications.

“The Samsung 4G LTE smartphone is an ideal option for those who look to Samsung Mobile for sleek and innovative devices combined with blazing fast speeds of Android 2.2 on the nation’s most advanced 4G network,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.  “This powerful combination enables our customers to connect face to face with family and friends, while still enjoying premium multimedia and social networking features backed by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.”

The 4G LTE smartphone has access to Samsung’s Media Hub content service available on the 4G LTE network, which offers a robust collection of premium movies and TV episodes from some of the biggest entertainment companies for purchase and rental. Users can stay connected with Samsung’s Social Hub, built around messaging, contacts and calendar sync, which allows users to send and receive information, whether it is e-mail, social network updates or text messages.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

The Samsung 4G LTE smartphone will be on display at CES 2011 in Verizon Wireless’ booth (#35216 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center) and in the Samsung booth (#12006 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center). For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte. For more information about Verizon Wireless at CES, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/verizonwireless. For more information about the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone, visit www.samsung.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

Hands-on with Verizon’s Samsung 4G LTE Device (SCH-I510) is a post from: Droid Life