Verizon Wireless is beefing up its Android stock with the pending launch of a Samsung Galaxy S phone. Dubbed Fascinate, the smartphone will launch on Verizon’s network this week.
The Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate runs the Android 2.1 operating system with support for Google mobile services, including Gmail, YouTube and the Android market. The phone boasts a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird application processor and a four-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display.
“Fascinate has better hardware performance than HTC and Motorola, particularly in terms of graphics — and it’s screen is incredibly bright and colorful,” said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis. “It slots somewhere between the 3.7-inch screen on the Droid Incredible and the 4.3-inch screen on the Droid X. Samsung has a four-inch screen. Some consumers may find that a happy medium.”
Will Samsung Fascinate?
Fascinate is no iPhone killer, but it may turn the heads of some Verizon Wireless customers, especially those who have been frustrated with smartphone shortages this summer. With Samsung’s Galaxy S phones making headlines, the Fascinate could become a quick favorite at Verizon — especially if Samsung can keep it in stock.
Greengart, for one, is expecting Samsung to do better job with supply chain issues than some of its competitors. That, he said, is because Samsung makes many of its own components. The ability to manufacture displays and other components in house has become a key differentiator in a hot smartphone market.
“Given the scarcity of some of these smartphone components, particularly the displays, we are definitely seeing that simply having the product available for sale has become an actual differentiator,” Greengart said. “So if HTC can’t get the Droid Incredible in stock and if Motorola can’t keep the Droid X in stock, then Samsung may be able to steal sales simply by having a product on the…