Probably in order to compete with Sprint's M320 and M220 (launched in the US yesterday), AT&T has just rolled out its own new Samsung handset, namely the a237.

 

First spotted at the beginning of August, the a237 is an entry-level device that comes in a clamshell form factor (like Sprint's above-mentioned phones). Samsung has designed the new handset in such a way that, when it's not flipped, it has an aerodynamic shape that looks pretty cool.

 

As for the features of a237, these are quite nice for an affordable phone, including: a 2 inch TFT internal display with 65K colors and 128 x 160 pixels, a 1.4 inch external gray scale screen with 96 x 96 pixels, quad-band GSM connectivity with GPRS and EDGE, Bluetooth, a VGA photo camera with self timer, Mobile email, AT&T's MEdia Net, Instant Messaging (Windows Live, AOL, Yahoo) speakerphone, voice recorder, embedded games, calendar, calculator, currency converter and other similar basic features. The clamshell weighs about 3 ounces (85 grams) and, when closed, it measures 3.4 x 1.7 x 0.8 inches (86 x 43 x 20 millimeters).

 

The battery that Samsung has packed in the a237 is an 800 mAh one that, according to AT&T, should keep the phone functional for up to 3 hours in talk-time mode or up to 10 days in stand-by mode.

 

AT&T's new Samsung a237 is available as of now from the blue North American carrier's official website, in three color versions, red, blue and black, all of which are offered by AT&T for the same prices (unlike Sony Ericsson W350's color versions): $19.99 with a 2-year contract agreement – after a mail-in rebate – or $196.99 free of contract. In the phone's package users will (or should) find a leather case, a data cable and a mono Bluetooth headset.