U.S. Cellular to offer Samsung Mesmerize, a Galaxy S phone

General

If you’re rocking a contract on CDMA carrier U.S. Cellular, listen up. The company has just announced that they will be offering the Samsung Mesmerize; a full-touchscreen Android smartphone that carriers that Galaxy S moniker. Like all Galaxy S phones, the device will sport a Super AMOLED display (4-inch), 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, 5 megapixel camera, SWYPE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, and micro-SD card slot. The device will ship with Android 2.1 but will be upgraded to Android 2.2 “later this year.” The device will retail for $199 after an $80 mail-in rebate and will go on sale October 27. The full press release is after the break.

U.S. CELLULAR ANNOUNCES ITS LATEST ANDROID-POWERED SMARTPHONE, THE SAMSUNG MESMERIZE

Will be available in stores and at uscellular.com on October 27

CHICAGO (October 6, 2010) – Just days following the announcement of U.S. Cellular’s series of industry-first, customer-focused initiatives called The Belief Project, the carrier confirmed the Oct. 27 arrival of its next Android-powered device, the Samsung Mesmerize (SCH-i500). The Mesmerize is part of Samsung’s line of Galaxy STM smartphones and is the third of five smartphones the carrier is launching this year that run on the Android platform. U.S. Cellular will roll out the LG Apex in November and the LG Optimus in December.

U.S. Cellular’s growing catalog of Android-powered phones is a key part of its strategy to deliver cutting-edge devices while elevating the customer experience. The Belief Project was developed to fix the frustrations wireless customers have with their carriers, one project at a time, with innovations like “One and Done” contracts, a robust rewards program, simplified national rate plans and the industry’s only phone replacement program.

“Customers told us they want access to the newest phones and the Samsung Mesmerize is an impressive Android-powered device for people who want to stay connected to work, entertainment and the people who matter most to them,” said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. “Our new Belief Plans are value-packed for customers who talk, text and need frequent access to data, and all of our phones are backed by our nationwide 3G network.”

U.S. Cellular’s new simplified National Single Line and Family Belief Plans offer affordable bundles of voice, text and data. Customers who choose a Samsung Mesmerize can opt for the Premium Plus Belief Plan, which includes unlimited voice and text with 5GB of data, along with U.S. Cellular’s industry-leading Overage Cap and Phone Replacement programs.

About the Samsung Mesmerize
The Mesmerize features a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED™ touchscreen, making it easier to play games and watch movies in bright environments. Its 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird Application processor speeds up downloads and uploads, and produces high-quality 3D graphics and multimedia content. Samsung’s All Share application allows customers to send video, audio and pictures from their Mesmerize to other DLNA-enabled devices, like TVs and computers.

The Mesmerize operates on the Android 2.1 platform with access to the 80,000 applications available on the Android Market. It includes popular Google Mobile Services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Talk and YouTube, and is pre-loaded with popular U.S. Cellular applications Your Navigator Deluxe, Tone Room Deluxe, My Contacts Backup and CityID. Customers can upgrade their software later this year to access Samsung’s Media Hub and migrate to the Android 2.2 platform, nicknamed “Froyo.”

The Mesmerize comes with a virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, allowing customers to input text quickly by sliding their finger over the keyboard in one continuous motion. It also features six-axis motion sensing for responsive gaming, Samsung’s Social Hub, a 5 megapixel camera/camcorder that records video in HD, MP3 player and 3.5 mm headphone jack, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and expandable memory up to 32GB.

The Samsung Mesmerize will retail for $199 after an $80 mail-in rebate and will be available Oct. 27 at U.S. Cellular locations and at uscellular.com.

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51 Comments
  • lurch

    That is awesome!

  • u

    us cellular or verizon. it sems bgr is really a verizon fan blog.

    • superchunk

      Funny because I see news from every flavor every day.

  • PAPINYC

    Nice to see other parts of the country getting decent Android phones.

    • KK

      Yeah, because Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T aren’t available everywhere.

      • WB

        Yeah but Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T aren’t always the way to go. Just because they are available everywhere doesn’t make them good.

  • Mgl323

    2.1? really ? Why not 2.2? Some one tell these carriers that they need to ship with the latest OS version. This is going to hurt Android in the long run.

    • Sonya

      Android is hurting itself with its fragmented OS

      • KK

        You don’t know what you’re talking about (you either, Mgl323).

        Stop repeating what other Apple fanboys tell you. Every mobile platform has fragmentation issues. Why can’t I run all apps on my iPhone 3G? Why doesn’t my iPhone 3G have backgrounds despite having iOS 4.0? That’s called fragmentation, folks.

        The real threat to Android is Apple, Microsoft and Oracle. They’re turning Android into a patent minefield and will scare away manufacturers from producing Android phones. THAT is the real long-term threat to Android. Not the lousy development tools that bitchy developers complain about, or the so-called “fragmentation” that Jon Gruber and his millions of iFlock scream about.

      • Sonya

        I would imagine any company in the mobile industry is a threat to Android since Android is a knockoff of every all the major OS’s and phones.

      • Kraig

        Really sonya? Android is a completely different OS. Its nothing like iOS, Web OS or Windows Mobile. In fact, last I checked Android had 85,000 Apps. They are trailing second behind Apple. Android also has a better selection of phones and is now available on every major carrier.

        True some suck, but at least people have a better range of choices. I remember when the iPhone was the only choice. I give it a couple years before Android is number one, especially when 3.0 comes out. Also, the iPad is suffering the same issues as the iPhone. I dont hate Apple, but their whole delusion of they make perfect products just doesnt hold up, especially with the iPhone 4 issues.

      • Scott

        @KK

        I understand exactly what you mean about the iPhone 3G. I own one. But I believe those two above are talking about a different fragmentation.

        See, when a new iPhone is released, it has the latest software on it. Is this not a brand new Android phone? Why is it running software that’s 6 months old? That’s the fragmentation they’re talking about!

      • KK

        Well, granted, there is something to that. But development times on these phones are long. Plus, they have to go through carrier certification.

        Still, it’s a non-issue. I’m not a big app guy, but I have yet to see any mission-critical app not be compatible with newer versions of Android.

        Plus, I hear Android 2.2 borked Exchange support on the Droid X.

      • jdubb

        KK is right on. Stop downranking stupid fanboys.

      • Pete

        Sonya, go back to the kitchen and finish the dishes. You have no idea what you talking about.

  • spdr-mn

    Is that not the Fascinate?

    • superchunk

      All the Galaxy S phones look pretty much the same and they are all amazing Android phones.

  • http://bgr McLovin

    Looks like a Fascinate to me…. and I have mine sitting right here.

  • Dave

    it looks like the fascinate to me. it is a a cdma phone too.

  • no2yes2

    It basically is the fascinate but with google instead of bing

    • http://www.twitter.com/mattstkc MattSTKC

      All Galaxy S phones (besides the Epic w/keyboard) are exactly the same with different carrier bloatware and the Fascinate is locked to Bing like a child to it’s blanket

      • Shawn

        No Android is locked the anything if you know what your doing.

      • TypicalVZWRMDBAG

        well except anything from Motorola on Verizon circa 2010… but hey lets not let reality get in the way

      • Brad

        You are forgetting the different wireless radio technology. Also, the amount of internal storage varies (512MB in the Epic, 2GB for Fascinate, 16GB for Captivate and Vibrant). I wonder how much internal memory the Mesmerize will have? Probably 2GB, same as the Fascinate, since it’s the exact same model number.

      • superchunk

        I have 16gb on my Fascinate due to free SD card and I get a flash on my camera which the GSM/AT&T version does not.

        I’d bet this phone has the flash and free SD card too. Don’t really see the big difference in internal flash and SD card beyond that I now have 18 total gb.

        btw, Android 2.2 lets you install and run stuff from the card so, not even that is hampered.

  • http://www.twitter.com/mattstkc MattSTKC

    they listent to too much system of a down at Samsung. What’s next, the Hypnotize?

    • Nick

      Lmao. I’m reading all these comments, and currently listening to System of a Down. How Ironic. Ahhhh that made my night.

  • trollface.jpg

    Is this the Verizon-like version with a camera flash?

    • superchunk

      I would bet it is as its also CDMA.

  • Brad

    Oh boy, this is the EXACT same model as Verizon’s version (SCH-i500). Can you say super-fast port to the Fascinate to de-Verizonize it?

    • superchunk

      ohhh good call.

  • bob

    buy it.. you’ll love it

    • bob

      now why couldn’t the idiots at Sprint figure out to release this for people who dont want a keyboard?

      • superchunk

        Yeah, the spring galaxy s phone seems like the bastard step child of the bunch. Nice phone, but meh on the kb when you have such a nice screen. But that’s just my preference for a more streamlined phone.

      • no2yes2man2

        Bob, ya the sprint version looks like a pretty low quality phone compared to the other galaxy s phones samsung has. Glad I don’t have them as a carrier.

      • Kraig

        Wow dude, really? The Epic is by far the best out of all the Galaxy S phones.

        First, it will be the first to get 2.2 update, it has sixaxis just as the Captivate does, SWYPE right out of the box and the 1Ghz Hummingbird can be overclocked to 1.4 wo killing it. I dare you to try that on the Fascinate or any of the other Galaxy S phones beside the Epic. Guarantee you it will kill the processor. All great phones, dont get me wrong, but the Epic is called the Epic for a reason. It truly is awesome. By far outshines the Evo.

  • Killah Kyle

    Samsung is really aiming to take over the world now aren’t they?

  • anton

    When It comes to Indonesia??

  • no2yes2man2

    I cannot wait to personally get this phone. Can’t wait to get rid of this touch pro 2 and get this on the 27th, been eligible for a new phone for a year now just been waiting for the right one, this is it.

  • iamajim

    I bet it doesn’t have Bing-lol

    • Kraig

      Actually it does. It defaults to Google, but you can set Bing as the default browser. Confirmed from 3 different US Celluar and Samsung sources.

  • Blackberry Bold

    that looks like Verizon Fascinate…

  • Kraig

    All I have to say its about time. Ive been wanting a decent Android, had the Acclaim, trust me stay far away from that phone. I was going to get the Desire but decided to wait for this one. Im just glad that US Cellular is finally getting a decent Android lineup, cant wait for 2.2.

    Quick question to anyone who can answer. Ive heard rumors that the Galaxy S Tablet may be going to US Celluar, and info on this would be much appreciated.

    • Kraig

      My bad, US Cellular.:)

    • Nick

      I’m doing the exact same thing. I hear from numerous people that the Samsung Acclaim is a dreadful phone, so I thought about trying the HTC Desire. But then I heard about this beast and decided to wait. I’ve also heard they have another Android on the way made by LG. I don’t know if I should wait for it or go with the Samsung Mesmerize.

  • Nick

    I’m probably just going to get the Mesmerize because it’s a System of a Down Album. Oh yeah. High 5

  • Kraig

    Nick, I would go with the Mesmerize.

    The reason? It has a 1Ghz Hummingbird Processor compared to the LG Apex’s 800 Mhz Qualcomm. The Mesmerize will have the 2.2 update, the LG Apex will not. Also, the Mesmerize has TouchWiz 3.0 UI, which is alot easier and smoother and more responsive. Not to dock LG or anything, but the Mesmerize will be the BEST phone on US Cellular.

  • Nick

    I’m thinking about getting this phone, but I can’t make up my mind because, I have been wanting the HTC Desire but this phone looks like it is more interesting. What one would be the better phone??!!

  • Kraig

    Nick, dude trust me wait for the Mesmerize. I work in the industry and I can tell you, get that Samsung. I have compared both phones side by side.

    For one thing, the Hummingbird processor is faster than the Snapdragon on the Desire. Both are 1 Ghz pocessors, but the Hummingbird can be overclocked safely and it is by default faster. Another, the AMOLED is an organic light emitting diode. Basically youd be getting better, crisper high-def picture without sacrificing battery life. Plus it will be the first on US Cellulars network to get 2.2 before the Desire or the Acclaim. Im telling you man, wait for the Mesmerize, it is and amazing device. Its mesmerizing.

  • Bagit

    Got the Desire and am returning it for the Mesmerize. It does not have a slide out keypad as the press release stated it did, only touchscreen. But the screen is great looking, a little larger so the keyboard in landscape is easier to see & use.The phone part of the software is much cleaner and full featured vs the Desire. I have a Nexus and love it and waited for the Desire for my girlfriend. Comparing all 3 the Mesmerize is a nicer phone. Nice work Samsung.

  • Kraig

    Actually Bagit, the only android phone on US Cellular with a slide out keyboard is the Samsung Acclaim.

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