Samsung i560 not arriving in the UK... sob.

[slitchfield]

Vodafone have confirmed, following initial reports that the Samsung i560 would be taken up for the UK as a Vodafone exclusive, that they "won’t be ranging this device. This device was tested with our new Sat Nav software and we
weren’t happy with its performance." This was the only one of Samsung's new S60 smartphones that we had a hope of seeing in the UK, although the i450 and i550 are available in Germany and Italy.

Read on in the full article.

[krisse]

Is there not even a chance Samsung might sell it directly to retailers as a sim-free device?

What a stupid reason not to sell a phone!At least you can buy i450 and i550w through internet stores like plemix.

[junchao8]

Since when does voda ship s60 with their own map app? surely they mean google map? or has samsung got some of their nav app?

For @@@'s sake, this is a music phone, GPS is a bonus. This S60 handset features 369 mhz CPU according to AAS's data table, though according to some benchmark apps, it has 295 mhz ARM 11 CPU, same reading as that of N95 8GB, either of the CPU is snappy enough for nokia's map2go, I see no reason why its slow. Plus the free ram is higher than n81 when booted up, if voda takes n81 and 6120 c, i can think of no reason for them not to take this one, except that it will confuse their existing line up...

Anyhow, already got n95 8gb, no need for upgrade in the future, I shouldn't really care...

[bartmanekul]

Its very odd. They obviously approved the 6110 navigator, which had awful routing.

Is the GPS chip in it (Id have thought its the same as nokias use) just not up to it, or are they on about software?

[Rafe]

The map service referred to is Vodafone own brand deal with Telemap (charged at £5 per month). I assume for whatever reason Vodafone didn't feel the i560 was up to snuff in terms of its GPS.

We hopefully going to review / look at some of the other Samsung S60 phone shortly.

[krisse]

I still don't get why this prevents ANY kind of distribution. Does Samsung only sell phones through network operators now?

[Rafe]

It doesn't prevent it, but that doesn't mean it will happen.

You actually have to work quite hard to get SIM free handsets when they fall outside of the operator portfolios. Nokia and Sony Ericsson are something of an exception to this.

Generally you'll be able to get stuff online, but not in retail. However even with online if there are no plans to distribute the handset in the UK then generally online distributors only get it if they are willing to import it.

So what, Nokia handsets are better.

(I know that comment reaks of fanboyism but it's actually true)

Sounds like rubbish to me. I just bought mine from Vodafone Spain, where it was on the catalogue in Feb and March.

Vendors like Samsung and LGE have previously pulled devices if they cannot get a commiment to volume from a major European network operator. I would guess launching in the UK would cost more that they could recoup through limited distribution via non-operator sales channels. As always, this is a volume game...