14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia and HTC are the first mobile phone makers in the world to have announced the release of a Windows Phone-powered LTE-capable smartphones, but they are not the last, that’s for sure.
South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics is also gearing up for the release of a device to pack these capabilities.
The handset was previously rumored to arrive on shelves under the codename of Mandel, while featuring model number SGH-i667.
The mobile phone was expected to be officially introduced during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but the only Windows Phone device to be launched there was the Lumia 900.
Featuring support for LTE connectivity, the handset has just made an appearance at the FCC, which suggests that it might soon become official.
The FCC documents also confirm that the new mobile phone will arrive on shelves with support for AT&T’s LTE network in the United States, and that it will also include dual-band AT&T HSPA+ capabilities, complemented by the usual WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options.
This first LTE-capable Windows Phone device from Samsung should be a larger flavor of the Focus S.
Beyond that, there are no details on its features and capabilities. Specific info on when the upcoming mobile phone might become available for purchase lacks as well.
However, we could expect Samsung to try and push it to shelves as soon as possible.
The South Korean maker has been long trying to become the leading handset vendor in the world, and has been fighting Nokia and other phone designers in the various areas of the market, including Windows Phone and LTE.
This means that it might consider launching the phone as soon as possible, to offer a rival for Nokia’s new Lumia 900 and for the HTC TITAN II device, which should arrive on shelves at AT&T in the coming weeks.