Samsung to launch WP 8 Ativ S in India next month

Samsung plans to launch Ativ S, its first Windows Phone 8 smartphone, in India next month.
A spokesperson of Samsung India said to The Mobile Indian, "Samsung will launch Ativ S in India in December."

Two major online retailers in the country - Ezoneonline and Infibeam - have already listed Samsung Ativ S as coming soon on their portals.

The phone features a 4.8 inch HD Super Amoled display and houses a 1.5 GHz dual core mobile processor coupled with 1 GB RAM. This Windows Phone 8 smartphone also features a Near Field Communication chip and as well as a memory expansion slot.

The Samsung Ativ S features a brushed aluminium chassis. The display has been manufactured using Corning Gorilla Glass 2 technology for greater strength and a slimmer screen.

By default, the Ativ S will have Samsung ChatOn instant messaging built in along with other Samsung Hubs (music and media). Some default apps will include Photo Editor, Mini Diary and an app called Now for daily briefing.

At the back lies an 8 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash. This camera is capable of recording 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second, which it does quite easily. On the front lies a 1.9 megapixel camera with the ability to perform video calls and chat. Samsung also claims that Ativ S can easily playback 1080p HD videos.

Samsung will offer a distinct sharing feature called Family Store, along with NFC, Bluetooth and WiFi with Tap+Send. The Ativ S also features Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi with WiFi Direct and WiFi Channel Bonding, as well as an accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, geomagnetic sensor, proximity sensor and Near Field Communication support.

For location-based services, Samsung has implemented GPS with A-GPS and also Glonass network support for more accurate position locking on maps. By default, this smartphone will be offered in 16 GB or 32 GB versions and there is a micro SD card slot to accommodate up to a 32 GB card. Weighing just 125 grams, Samsung Ativ S has a 2300 mAh Li-ion battery.

Ativ S is comparable in features with Galaxy SIII and therefore its price is expected to be in the same league.