That rumored launch date of November 14th for the Samsung i770 “Saga” was spot on. Right on time, the Saga made its debut on Verizon’s website and is now available for sale online and via telesales / B2B. You will have to wait until December 1st to walk into a store and pick one up. The Saga will set you back $199 after a $70 MIR and a 2-year contract, $269 after a $70 MIR and a 1-year contract or $389 with no contract and no rebate. Remember the Samsung i770 is the first of Verizon’s handsets to require a mandatory $29.99 data plan. All in all, the Saga is a pretty solid handset that might be an attractive upgrade for current Motorola Q users and others who prefer a front-facing physical keyboard. Saga owners wont have to leave their flip phone loving friends behind when they jetset to Europe as Verizon also launched the Samsung Renown, a world phone in clam shell form. Like the Saga, the Renown has both CDMA and quad-band GSM, a 2MP camera and multiple messaging options. The Renown comes in just below the Saga, with a price tag of $179.99 after a $50 MIR and a 2-year contract. Unlike the Saga which is available now, the Renown will not be available until November 19 via B2B, telesales and online. It also won’t land in the stores until December 1. Hit the jump for the full set of specs for both handsets.
Read (Press Release)
Read (Samsung Saga product page)
The Samsung Saga will feature the following specs:
- CDMA 1x EV–DO Rev. A 800/1900 mHz+ Quad Band 850/900/1800/1900 mHz
- 2.55″ Display: 320×320 pixel; 64K color TFT
- 256MB RAM/128MB ROM
- Full QWERTY Keyboard with Virtual QWERTY and additional virtual input options
- 2.0 megapixel camera w/NightShot mode, digital zoom and video capture
- Bluetooth® Wireless Technology (v2.0) including stereo (A2DP)
- WiFi Capable (802.11 g/b)
- Optical Mouse Navigation button
- microSD memory support (up to 16GB)
- Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
- Microsoft® Office Word Mobile, Excel® Mobile, and PowerPoint® Mobile; Adobe® Reader® LE PDF viewer
- Opera Mobile™ and Internet Explorer® Mobile
- Dimensions: 4.88″ (H) x 2.44″ (W) x 0.53″ (D)
- Processor: MSM7500
- Standard Battery – 1300 mAh – Usage Up to 300 minutes OR Standby Up to 325 hours
The Samsung Renown will feature the following specs:
- Global Mode – including Quad Band GSM capability
- Multiple messaging options (text messaging only for use abroad)
- 2.0 megapixel camera with NightShot
- Media Center-capable – downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services, etc
- Visual Voice Mail
- Built-in stereo Bluetooth wireless technology – supports profiles: mono and stereo headset, hands free (car kits), serial port, object push (vCard only), file transfer, basic print and phonebook access
- Organizer – Alarm Clock, World Clock, Calendar, Calculator with Converter, Stop Watch, Notepad
- microSD expansion memory up to 8 GB (card purchased separately)
- Dimensions: 1.95” x 3.87” x .69”
- Display: Main LCD: 240 x 320 pixel, 262K color TFT, Outside LCD: 96 x 96 pixel, 262K color TFT
