14 DAY TRIAL // The mobile division of Samsung India launched yet another affordable phone for the Indian market, the Samsung Guru200 (or Samsung Guru 200), a device that comes after the Guru100, which was released at the end of February. The new Guru200 is a bit more advanced in features than the first one and it also has a more attractive design (although it comes in the same classic candybar form factor). Speaking of design, the Guru200 seems to be the Indian version of Samsung Spex, a handset that has been available in the US for more than one month, via both Cricket and MetroPCS.
Spex resemblance aside, Samsung Guru200 packs a range of entry-level features that are enough for users who want a phone only to make and receive calls or send / receive text messages. The candybar offers a 128 x 128 pixel CSTN display with 65K colors, dual-band GSM connectivity (900 and 1800 MHz), FM radio with recorder, Java MIDP 2.0, embedded games, pre-installed Bollywood ringtones, mobile tracker, MMS and SMS capabilities, predictive Hinglish text input, speakerphone, handsfree and so on.
Weighing only 80 grams and measuring 104 x 44.5 x 16 millimeters, the new Samsung includes a 1000 mAh battery capable of providing up to 9 hours in talk-time mode and up to 450 hours in stand-by mode.
Mr. Sunil Dutt, Country Head, Samsung Telecommunications India, said in a press release issued a few days ago: "Our Guru 200 offers a strong value proposition to consumers at the entry level mobile phone segment. True to our 'Next is What' Campaign, this phone offers FM recording as the 'Next' key feature in its latest Guru series of handsets."
Samsung Guru200 has a retail price of 2,999 INR (meaning a bit over $70), but for the moment it's not clear where exactly it can be bought from.