AT&T Samsung Focus S and Flash launching November 6

By Tom Warren, on 28th Oct 11 6:24 pm with 75 Comments

AT&T is planning to launch its Samsung Focus S and Flash Windows Phones on November 6.

The company announced the date on its Facebook page on Friday. The date lines up with a recent press and media invite that Microsoft distributed earlier this week. The Samsung Focus S will be priced at $199.99 whilst the Samsung Focus Flash is just $49.99. Both devices require a 2-year contract and $15 min. data plan.

Samsung Focus S

Samsung Focus S

Samsung’s next-generation focus includes a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1.4GHz processor, 4G network support and a 1.3MP front facing camera. The rear of the device is equipped with an 8MP camera.

1.4GHz MSM8255 CPU
1.3MP Front facing camera
8MP Rear camera
4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen
“4G” aka HSDPA+

Rear of Samsung Focus S

Samsung Focus Flash

Samsung Focus Flash

AT&T’s final Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango” device is aimed at the lower price point market. The Focus Flash will include a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen running a 1.4GHz processor. The device will also include a 5MP rear camera and front facing camera.

1.4GHz CPU
5MP rear camera
front facing camera
3.7″ Super AMOLED display
“4G” HSDPA+

Rear of Samsung Focus Flash

Thanks to WinRumors reader James for the news tip
Image Credits: Microsoft Corporation

http://twitter.com/Nelus08 Jay

Wish they would hurry and get the Focus S to UK shores. With Nokia and HTC creating WP buzz at the moment having Samsung showing their phones off too would be brilliant timing
- http://www.winrumors.com Tom W
  
  I doubt the Focus S will be available in the UK sadly.
- http://twitter.com/Nelus08 Jay
  
  Ah well then im glad i went for the Titan.
- Anonymous
  
  Why would Samsung avoid such a huge market as the UK? They love their mobiles here and while it may not be released here on the same date I cannot imagine Samsung skipping the UK with this phone, more to the point Microsoft would surely push for this to be released in the UK.
- http://twitter.com/hchooley Matt Baldwin
  
  We’ll trade you Samsung for Nokia.
- http://twitter.com/Nelus08 Jay
  
  The Focus S for the Nokia Lumia 710?
- Anonymous
  
  no no no, Lumia 800 or no deal.
- http://twitter.com/jbarinas Juan Barinas
  
  Yes!
- Anonymous
  
  I would trade you a focus S for a Nokia 800.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VBJ4XGUEOMGGDFA6KXLV26OLUU Roberto Cruz

What is the storage space of these units?
- Mobile user
  
  I dont think that is listed. Here is the Features and specifications page on Samsung. They don;t list that
  http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I937OKAATT-specs
- How Much Longer WP7?
  
  Focus S is supposed to be avail in 16gb and 32gb. I wonder if both will be avail at launch?? I really hope so!
- http://www.gamerelatedblog.com/ StriderNo9
  
  Doubt it, if there was an option AT&T would list it.
Sam

Better than nokia in everything except design !
- http://twitter.com/jbarinas Juan Barinas
  
  I would have to agree here. I’m sure Samsung can design a beautiful phone that’s just as thin and light.
- Mina
  
  I do agree X 1000! Why put your brand-name on the front? On the face of someone who has already bought the device? Put it on the backplate for other people to see! When will they learn? Same with operator branding.
- Larry
  
  Seriously you think people really care about branding of Windows phones??
  
  When it comes to branding its an Apple logo and then a sea of big plastic phones. There is no way Windows phone can be associated with a brand since MS does not make hardware. Nokia was their long shot and so far its a big disappointment IMHO. I would take this Focus S over a Nokia 800 with out a doubt. When you have HTC, Samsung, LG, Nokia and others all in the mix its hard for branding to be established like Apple.The OS makes the difference when it comes to plastic phones.
- Anonymous
  
  They did – it’s called the Galaxy Nexus. But it’s only for Android because Microsoft hasn’t released the specs for Windows Phone 8.
- Anonymous
  
  that’s the hard part. Nokia makes entry level phone look and feel like a charm, Samsung and others make top of line look and feel cheap. Spec is not advantage, everybody can pile chips on. I don’t know how techically hard to add 32G RAM than 16G. I would say if Nokia 800 spreads its parts to 4.3″ it can be just as thin.
- http://meercat9.com/ Billy Moffat
  
  Assuming they have the time. Nokia admitted that they had to rush the phone and leave out some stuff like the front-facing camera. They also didn’t seem to release the rumoured “Ace” phone which would have competed with this new Samsung Device.
  
  Also, if you’re referring to 32GB or 16GB RAM, then I’m guessing you mean a desktop? In phones it’s near impossible to change the hardware after it’s made. If you mean storage, then the Lumia doesn’t even have a MicroSD (therefore not expandable at all).Hardware specs do matter, and in my opinion more than look and feel of the body/shell. But that’s just personal preference. There is without doubt a market for both.
- Anonymous
  
  nope they look the same as every smartphone nothing special in the design unlike nokia which is different and unique any way as long as you are windows phone 7 buy what you like
Anonymous

if the focus s is cheap off contract i might pick one up. now that we (U.S.) wont get Nokias best, might as well get the nex best thing.
- How Much Longer WP7?
  
  focus s IS better than Nokia’s best. their product doesn’t even have a front-facing camera. it has sexyness, but that’s all.
- Anonymous
  
  Sexiness goes a long way in marketing a products. Hopeful the ACE will have the features we all want.
- JoeD
  
  I’ve never heard of anyone who has actually used the front-facing camera of their phone. That’s not a problem for 97% of the population, so it’s easy to understand why Nokia dropped it in the first models.
- Anonymous
  
  In my opinion, it’s one of those things where you don’t really need it most of the time, but then wish you had it when you do. I’ve had it use it in an emergency twice on my iPhone. Anyway, it’ll compete better with one, since many average consumers can fall into Apple’s marketing hype with Facetime, for example.
- Gabriel
  
  Sorry guy, I’m a focus user; I don’t agree with you on that. You’re just saying this because they didn’t release a US version. I’m sure when they do, it will have the needed features. I like my Samsung but I prefer Nokia’s overall look , feel, and build quality on the Lumina can’t be matched. I’m struggling on whether I should get the focus S or wait for Nokia.
- http://twitter.com/jbarinas Juan Barinas
  
  Don’t sleep on the TITAN
- Anonymous
  
  The titan does look great, but honestly, my Atrix at 4″ is about the right size, i like a smaller phone.
Tim

November 6th is a Sunday. Isn’t that a really weird launch date?
- http://twitter.com/jbarinas Juan Barinas
  
  Many people don’t work, can go buy a new Windows Phone at the mall…show up to work on Monday with a spankin’ new device. This could be their logic.
- Anonymous
  
  haha thats funy
- Godfather Rob
  
  HD7s was released on a Sunday
Anonymous

Super AMOLED Plus “sceen” ?
DTOM

Is it 1.5GHz processor running at 1.4Ghz, a 1.4GHz processor or a 1.5GHz processor the spec info is confusing.
- Anonymous
  
  It’s the Qualcomm 8255 SnapDragon @1GHz with Adreno 205 GPU.
- Gabriel
  
  Ughhh….No!
- Anonymous
  
  Ughhh…Yes! It’s overclocked to 1.4/ 1.5 GHz.
Anonymous

Still holding out hope of some nice bundle deals for the Focus S. I want a spare xbox or at least some free games!
PimpMasterSlick

HTC Titan rules all the way !
Anonymous

I might just get this instead of waiting for Nokia in 2012. The HTC Titan is too big.
- Guest
  
  Did u already forget you were getting the 4S?
- Anonymous
  
  I can’t make sense of it all anymore. Too many phones, too much in my head! Besides, why are you stalking me on this site?
- Guest
  
  Lying will do that.
- Anonymous
  
  Stop stalking me.
- Alique Williams
  
  You reply to every article lol. You’re pretty hard to ignore.
- http://twitter.com/laserfloyd Lewis McCrary
  
  I actually look forward to your comments more than anyone elses. True story.
Malik

The phone doesn’t have a 1.5Ghz processor. It has a 1.4Ghz processor as per Samsung’s own website…

Even then, the phone is looking great!!
Anonymous

I like the fact that there are more Windows Phones being announced. It seems like every week there is a new one announced.

There will be many to choose from when its my time to upgrade again.
http://www.gamerelatedblog.com/ StriderNo9

With that price I doubt it will have 1GB of RAM like rumored and even 32GBs of storage is doubtful.
Bob_jones

Yeah but right now the ACE s vaporware…

I NEED 32GB so whomever bring it to market first wins for me.
Anonymous

The focus S is awesome i want WP7 to succedd but they should make a version for UK and internationally
Gzproger

So android makers install mango on their previous version of hardware? No wonder wp7 phones are always 6-12months behind android phones…but wait…Nokia(!) doesn’t make androids, but it also released windows phones with out-of-date hardware spec. It that the OS restricting hardwares?!
- Dee
  
  Not all of us need latest hardware; not today, not tomorrow and not in 6 or even 12 months.
  
  I have Samsung Gio (android 2.3, 3.2″ screen, 800 MHz CPU) and I am *so* fine with it. I paid $150 for that thing a few weeks ago, no contract. Yeah, 3.2″ screen and 800 MHz CPU, yet I have no problems AT ALL.. so happy with that purchase actually. It’s my first smartphone (not counting Blackberry my company provides).
  
  99% of the time I use apps like email/calendar (Gmail+Exchange), maps, web browser, news/weather, messaging/twitter/fb and a few utility apps (stopwatch, calculator, etc, etc). All of those run really well on that little Samsung.
  
  You see, for me it’s not the hardware specs that make me want to try different phone, really. It’s the operating system (WP7) that I like. I am planning on getting that Nokia 710, some time next year (around next xmas), if the price is right, of course, and looks like it will be.
http://twitter.com/jgmis Joshua Greene

Well, looks like I’m getting the Focus S!
http://twitter.com/pdangcil Paul Dangcil

Can’t wait for the Ace… but i’m really itching to buy the Titan. The Samsungs look too cheap for me. I have the original Focus and it’s starting to look unsexy. Although, I do not think I can go with anything less than a Super Amoled!!
He

When r windows phones coming to nz???? I’ve been to the vodafone stores numerous times and they only sell nokia and iPhones and droid devices!!
- http://twitter.com/TechyMexican Mario
  
  they aren’t called droid phones. they are android phones. hate when people call then droid phones. droid phone are only on verizon
http://techin5.com Jubbin Grewal @Techin5.com

If Nokia has announced the 4.3″ Lumia 900, I would have gone with that. But Now it looks like the Samsung Focus S will be my choice of phone. Unfortunately, the 3.7″ screen in the Lumia 800 is going backwards for me as I’m currently on 4″.
Eddie Lee

I really do think WP7 will take a huge chunk from android. Still can’t see it touching iOS… but it’s getting there
Windows_Lover

I am torn between buying this phone and nokia phone…either way, I am going to buy a windows phone.
C Brown

I have been in the US for 1.5 Months and was looking for a new WP7 to replace my Optimus 7. I leave on thefirst of NOV ! I willdefinately bribe an AT & T staff for giving me the secret stash
Mrdeezus

Any new WP7 device that doesn’t have at least 32gb,ffc, and a 4.3″ screen or bigger is a complete failure to me and I would never buy. I might have to switch to ATT again because sprint has no WP7 device on the horizon……
http://twitter.com/ChrisJGarner Christopher Garner

Can’t wait! Please have a 32gb option…
Mrdeezus

the 16gb will be $199 and the 32gb will be $299, thats how they do it.
Anonymous

I’ll wait for the chasis 3 phones. these are nice mango devices but I suspect they will feel long in the tooth in 2012.
Dmanna801

The Focus S is jsut days away from launch and we still don’t know everything about it, is the 32 gig version going to be 299.99? because with a single core cpu that seems kind of steep.. lets face it we are getting retailed out the ying yang for the price of these phones. Reports indicate that they cost about 150.00 to make and I guarentee we would buy them cheaper but the carriers want them expensive to lock you in.
- Dmanna801
  
  However I am still buying it.. I am using a droid eris for god sakes.. I didnt care about getting a high end smartphone until I dropped my zunehd.. Now I reall really want the samsung focus s. + you get like 50 gigs of free cloud storage.
Dmanna801

Well according to some phone techi that works with CNET Microsoft’s WP7 at this time requires similar hardware. Thats why all the phones are essentially the same spec.. besides the screen size and memory and possibly ram. I think there is some validity to this.. I also hear a lot of 1st gen focus users saying the phone is smooth as ice.. so you can only imagine that this faster bigger and better phones will be even better even though they are not over speced like some Android phones.. Android is a very complicated OS and requires a little more processing power to run smoothly. You should see how my Eris chugs along.. with its 500 mhz cpu.. I might as well poor a cup of coffee if I need to open an app.
Dmanna801

I found it odd that its releasing on sunday but I am quite fine with it. In fact its convenient.. I just think its funny that launch is like 2 days away and we still do not have all the specs ironed out. Will it ship with 16 gb or will the 32 be available sunday also? Is there really 1 GB of ram or 512? Are they holding off on marketing because they still want to get rid of older stocked first gen phones? Absolutly no marketing for these phones what so ever for the main stream audience. Microsoft needs to start marketing there stuff better..
Dmanna801

I called every store on the south eastern shore of Massachusettes and I only found 1 store that might be getting it tommorow morning. I might have to wait a few more days.
Anonymous

Just watched a video review of the Focus S and the combination of dim screen and cheap plastic body makes it a ‘no buy’ for me. What I really want is the Galaxy Nexus loaded with Windows Phone OS. Why won’t Samsung do that?
- Anonymous
  
  Because right now Windows Phone 7.5 cannot use the high spec hardwares like Galaxy Nexus (dual-core cpu and high resolution screen), period. You have to wait for Windows Phone 8 (Apollo) to have a Windows Phone running on those hardwares.
Dmanna801

I got the Focus S completely blown away.. but I am coming from Android so I cant compare it to other WP7 phones.. But wow I am in love.
- Anonymous
  
  Please explain what is so awesome about the Focus S. The video review I saw on Youtube just now shows a dim screen, cheap plastic back. In addition they are charging $199 for this under-spec hardware?