Samsung i900 Omnia, Dijual Perdana di Asia Tenggara

Saat sedang hangat-hangatnya masyarakat menanti peluncuran Apple iPhone 3G, Samsung mencoba mencuri momentum. Keluarlah i900 Omnia. Spesifikasi bahkan jauh lebih tinggi dari iPhone yang gosipnya hanya akan muncul dengan 3G, Omnia bisa 3.5G. Tapi apakah bisa menjadi "iPhone killer"? Itu cerita lain...

Uniknya, Samsung akan meluncurkan produk ini di Communicasia Singapore minggu depan dan akan langsung dijual perdana di wilayah Asia Tenggara, wilayah yang hingga kini belum tersentuh penjualan iPhone resmi (yang ada adalah iPhone cracked version). Samsung membidik ke wilayah pasar terlemah dari iPhone, boleh juga... Di Eropa baru akan muncul Juli, dan di USA (sarangnya iPhone dengan pasar terkuat) justru belum ada kabar kapan akan diluncurkannya.

Update 1 September 2008: Harganya ternyata gila-gilaan... Samsung memsukkan ke kategori premium luxury goods, payah... Rp 7,5 juta.

The i900 is a quad-band phone that will operate on both W-CDMA and GSM, and will support 7.2 Mbps HSDPA data speeds. It also comes equipped with a five-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and a choice of either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage.

Yang selalu jadi kendala terbesar dari calon pesaing iPhone atau produk Apple lainnya adalah kecanggihan software. Terlalu sulit menghadapi kejeniusan Steve Jobs dalam menciptakan software canggih yang tetap bisa sangat "membumi" dan mudah digunakan dan diatas segalanya memang diperlukan (tanpa fitur-fitur aneh tapi mubazir).

Mau beli? Tapi harganya belum ada kabar hingga kini. Prediksi saya akan berada di angka USD 500-600. Ini tradisi Samsung, meluncur dengan harga selangit, tapi kemudian setelah tidak laku akan turun drastis...

Yang masih misteri juga adalah OS yg dipakai. Kalau saya jadi Samsung, pakai Windows Mobile saja, jadi langsung menghadapkan Microsoft dengan Apple. Jadi akan bisa memanfaatkan tekanan promosi Microsoft juga. Kalau Symbian, rasanya kecil kemungkinan, paling jelek Samsung muncul dengan OS buatan sendiri yang sangat sederhana, berharap pasar menyerap dengan mengesampingkan OS/software. Kalau dilihat dari foto-foto bocoran diatas, tampaknya OS adalah buatan Samsung sendiri... Kalau demikian saya jamin akan mustahil melawan kehebatan software Apple.

Update:
Jika anda ingin melihat video peluncuran/launching produk ini, silahkan lihat videonya di YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xZFsyYJus. Dan ya... confirmed, seperti dugaan saya saat rumor muncul diawal dulu, OS nya menggunakan Microsoft Windows Mobile. Launching day di CommunicAsia Singapore 17-20 Juni 2008. Prediksi saya mengenai harga juga benar, versi "stand alone" 8 GB adalah USD 600-650, jika yang 16 GB tambah USD 60. Versi berlangganan dengan operator tampaknya bisa hingga USD 300 (tidak bisa saya verifikasi kebenarannya).

Berikut perbandingan antara Samsung Omnia dan HTC Touch Diamond yang saling berhadapan langsung...



Berikut press release dari Samsung:

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced the launch of Samsung OMNIA (model name: SGH-i900). It brings together high performance business content, top of the range style and a fun, dynamic multi-media experience, to ensure consumers are always connected both at home and at work. OMNIA, meaning ‘everything’ in Latin and ‘wish’ in Arabic, goes beyond the current top-of-the-line features available in today’s mobile phones. The OMNIA will be available to the market from June 2008.

Bringing a PC environment to Mobile

The new Samsung OMNIA allows users to switch seamlessly between Microsoft Outlook email and productivity applications that replicate the look and feel of their PC - with a stroke of their finger.

Based on the most up to date Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system, Samsung OMNIA gives users a mobile extension to their PC experience, with access to MS Office documents such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word. Users can also send and receive email and manage their appointments in Outlook while on the go. The Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system means users can download additional programs as they would on their PC and customize it for their individual needs. For ease of navigation an optical mouse similar to those on laptop computers offers improved usability and one-handed control.

Vivid, lively multimedia experience

Samsung OMNIA delivers the ultimate in digital entertainment thanks to a wide 3.2-inch WQVGA LCD screen for viewing videos and slide shows in high-resolution and advanced audio capabilities. MultiCodec support for DivX, Xvid and other video formats eliminates the hassle of file format conversions. Users also have the assurance of a long-life detachable battery for extended playback.

Samsung OMNIA also comes with a five-megapixel CMOS camera with the latest value-added features, which include auto-focus (AF), face and smile detection and auto-panorama shot.

The handset’s generous internal memory (available in 8GB or 16 GB capacity options and extendable slot for additions) ensures ample storage space for digital assets.

Rounding out the fully comprehensive feature set, Samsung OMNIA also offers GPS, including navigation and geo-tagging capabilities, so users can get their bearings wherever work or life takes them.

The One and Only mobile with everything in touch

Samsung’s patented TouchWiz user interface makes entering data and text simple. With unique widgets, users can customise and personalise the way they use their phone. The Samsung OMNIA's high resolution touch-sensitive screen uses intuitive tap, sweep, drag and drop operations as well as an on-screen qwerty keyboard. It also facilitates easy and convenient calling and texting with a dedicated dome key for controlling communications.

Samsung’s pursuit for design perfection

The Samsung OMNIA presents Samsung’s leadership in design. With maxi-phone capabilities, it boasts a slender, chic form, so users can step out in style. It features an ultra-slim 12.5-mm profile and a platinum-look finish that fits snugly in the palm of the user’s hand. The elegant hairline patterns on the back of the phone bring the perfection in style.

Geesung Choi, President of Samsung Telecommunication Business, said: “I am very excited to introduce Samsung OMNIA, a mobile device that truly delivers the best possible features for today’s busy, connected consumer. Samsung OMNIA demonstrates our vision for the Samsung mobile business, which is to provide premium phones for users who desire functionality, style, usability and entertainment in one innovative device. The OMNIA mobile range will help users to be at the forefront of work and play and at the same time, to stay connected anytime, anywhere.”

The Samsung OMNIA will be unveiled at CommunicAsia, Singapore from June 17 to 20 and commercially launched in the Southeast Asian market starting from the same week. The phone will be available in the European market from July.

Update 2 Sepetember 2008:
Berikut spec lengkap dari Bhinneka.com:
Processor 624MHz Marvell PXA312 processor
Memory ROM 256 MB, RAM 128 MB, 8 GB/16 GB internal memory
Navigation Button QWERTY Keyboard with Access buttons
Input Method Touch Screen with Handwriting recognition and Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Battery Li-Ion 1440 mAh, Stand-by Up to 500 h, Talk time Up to 5.5 h
AC Adapter Yes
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, Built-in GPS navigation, USB
Wireless LAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
Integrated Bluetooth Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Integrated GSM/GPRS GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / HSDPA 3.5G 7.2 Mbps
Display 240 x 400 pixels, 3.2 inches, 65K colors
Multimedia 5 MP, 2592õ1944 pixels, autofocus, image stabiliser, video, flash; secondary videocall camera
Expansion Slots microSD (TransFlash)
Operating System Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
Other Software Pocket Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF viewer), Java MIDP 2.0, Callia Player, Callia Reader, Opera Mobile 8.65
Dimensions 112 x 56.9 x 12.5 mm
Weight 122 g
Warranty 1-year Limited Warranty by Authorized Distributor