Samsung Omnia 2 coming August 23?

No iPhone 3GS for Verizon, but the Omnia 2 is due to hit stores shortly.

(Credit: Samsung)

Since we posted a First Take of Samsung's Omnia 2 back in June, a lot of readers have been asking when Verizon would actually begin selling it. Well, according to the good folks over at the Boy Genius Report (who have a "trusted mole" at Best Buy Mobile), the much-anticipated iPhone pretender will be launching August 23, along with several other phones from different carriers.

Here's the complete list that leaked:

• Omnia 2 (Verizon)
• Global AirCard G2 (Verizon)
• Samsung Rogue (Verizon)
• LG Chocolate Touch (Verizon)
• Samsung u450 Intensity (Verizon)
• Samsung Gravity 2 (T-Mobile)
• Samsung Solstice (AT&T)
• LG Xenon (AT&T)
• BlackBerry Tour (new shipment--Sprint)

With no iPhone 3GS on the horizon for Verizon any time soon, the Omnia 2 is high on a lot of Verizon customers' phone upgrade lists. Expect full coverage, including a review around the phone's launch date.

More:

Omnia 2 complete specs
Omnia 2 clears FCC

(Source: Gizmodo via Boy Genius Report)

[kingrah1]

any pricing for the omnia 2? i just got a new phone last month but if this one is worth it i will do early upgrade

[EvanSei]

thank you for not calling this phone an iPhone contender because it's not. I don't know about you but I am sick and tired of hearing about how every touch screen phone will be a major contender against the iPhone, for example the blackberry storm which I haven't heard anything about for months now, the lg env touch and every other iPhone wannabe out there.

[slapppy]

Not a contender. More like an iPhone copy/knockoff.

[play7]

Good Point! Since Apple did not invent the touch phone to start with. Only shows how people just dont know about the who really invented touch screen. Who really cares about the Iphone, atleast this cellphone has possiblity to even better then the iphone. This looks like a real Cellphone and not what apple has turned its prducts in to a toy like device. Its a joke......These days when i see a Iphine I see a toy and not a adult device.

[jeffballin]

You're just mad because your Iphone has a tiny screen. Oh and the Omnia 2 is also HD. Suck it. Why don't you buy an app that makes you less if a whiny *****.

[BrianW62]

wonder why we can't get the omnia pro here in the states, the second looks fine, but it needs a real keyboard to make it on top.. come on verizon get it together

[brynn08]

just another phone for verizon to cripple....and fyi APPLE fans this is article isnt about the iphone...therefore leave this site/article asap....thanks ~~~~

[ultraaman]

By hardware spec alone, Omnia 2 beats iPhone in everyway - more powerful, more memory, better camera, better battery, lighter, bigger screen, etc. What sets iPhone apart is the op sys and the app store. However I can live with WinMO 6.1 for a few months until 6.5 comes out, plus for those that really want it there is an iPhone emulator download so that pretty much wipes that advantage. And while the iPhone app store has about twice the available apps that are out there for WinMO, there's a lot of crap on there too. Then there's the final seller - the Omnia is on a network that, ya know, actually works.

How WELL the phone functions is to be seen of course but my hopes are high.

[absolutshame]

Slappy, You must be one of those types who buy whatever's commercially hot despite it's lack of actual worth. I currently own an Omnia and would never consider trading it in for an I-Phone. When a cell phone's big accomplishment/upgrade is copy and paste that should tell you how far behind Apple really is. I prefer a true smartphone without limitations which is why I purchased the Omnia last year. Finally the Omnia2 will be released and it should not be labeled an I-Phone duplicate/contender or pretender. This phone is much more then the I-Phone. Memory,speed,camera/video,4G capable,bigger screen..and oh yeah the ability to modify to Android if I choose to do so. As far the the app store Windows Mobile does not need one, look around the internet and you will find thousands of Winmo apps..free of charge. So go back and stand in line for the next upgrade (lol..what's the next upgrade..the ability to send MMS) like the rest of the I-Phone groupies while I purchase the best phone out.

[Neumenon]

Just for the record David there are millions upon millions of people NOT waiting for an Iphone.

Is the staff at CNet retarded or something?

I'm really tired of seeing Cnet drop IPhone into just about every frackin article.

It is ridiculous.

Please stop.

Thanks

[brandonh33]

Well said ultra man. Dont get me wrong the i phone is a great device and it is obviously very successful, but its not for everyone. The Omnia 2 has better specs all around and is on a far superior network. The ui has been almost completely redone by Samsung and is very touch friendly but does still suffer from 6.1's sluggishness. It will be a sigh of relief when 6.5 comes out and will hopefully fix most of what we hate about window mobile. The i phone OS is far superior in a multimedia aspect but due to the fact you can customize windows, if done properly 6.5 wont fall too short.

[pwrtch]

The August 23rd is NOT going to happen. There has not been a single, official peep from anyone at Verizon and it makes no sense that a retailer would release a phone before a network. Sorry to be a debbie-downer, but let's be realistic here.

It is pretty sad when a supposedly trusted and respectable news source like this regurgitates rumors as facts. Yeah yeah, you put quotes around "trusted mole." Regardless, this circus of raising and crushing consumer hopes with a new release date every two to three weeks is getting very exhausting.

[brandonh33]

I also think the release date is improbable, but it could happen. I find it unlikely that verizon would release one of their biggest phones on a sunday because they usually target the more press heavy days of the week. If this date is true I would guess this is when Best Buy actually gets the phone shipped to its stores, which would point to an official release date from verizon the week before. That is aweful soon though and the closer we get without any announcement, the more i doubt this is real.

[absolutshame]

Just so you guys who are so doubtful can relax some Verizon does not push their smartphones or even advertise them. I had to buy my Omnia last year in October from the business dept. because the residential division is the last to get the phone. The Omnia had a launch date of December last year yet I was able to buy the phone in October. However don't rush into calling the business dept. for the phone, I did this last week to no avail. Also keep in mind last year in order for me to get the Omnia so early I had to pay 329.00 while everyone who was patient paid 250.00 in December.

[seto1994]

so the chocolate touch is coming august 23rd, too?!

[grossefatigue]

It is not a world phone and I cannot understand why a high end model such as this one is not.

[haus6565]

Because Verizon is not a World carrier. The Omnia is Verizon only in the US. But I wouldn't trade mine for anything. Easily customizable, apps are everywhere, the good folks at MoDaCo have taken WinMo to a whole nother level. With WinMo 6.5 coming out, IPhones can only hope to keep up. Copy and Paste, Seriously, how much easier does get? Oh and I don't have to pay for services from Microsoft, can Apple say that?

[ajakez]

David, how nice of you to try to shoot this phone down before it arrives at the shore. Most of us out here
know that CNET is biased when it come to an American product like the Iphone. You've just shown your non-objective manner of implementing CNET's requirements. You should be a little more creative, though.

Don't confuse modern cell phones with modern mobile technologies in then and the tribute that they pay to the Iphone with them trying to pretend. The Iphone is an outdated cell phone, and I don't think that these foreign cell phones manufacturers want to follow Apple self-imposed marketing straight jacket. Being objective is as obvious as being biased. Try it.

[play7]

WOW look at how people taken this off the subject matter...........................As for Apple......well i dont look at the Iphone as a serious any more. Its just a toy to me..........

[Sportsmaniac1322]

Well, it's August 23 and I don't see any news of the Omnia 2. Does that mean this report is definitely false?

[skatingrocker17]

I just got back from the Verizon store and the Chocolate Touch and Omnia 2 are NOT out yet, they aren't at Best Buy either or verizonwireless.com.

[G8torz]

Obviously the report is false. If I make up some bogus spreadsheet with the new release date, can I get it posted to the internet? I have Excel 2007.

[rinto3]

Obviously you have no clue. Where exactly does the screencap or the original report indicate a "release date". The in-store date is just a reference to inventory stocking periods. Best buy's are receiving the product on Aug 23, not "releasing" the product. FFS half the phones on that list don't even have SKU's.

Cnet is the one who screwed up by reporting a launch date. Now just calm down and go eat some twizzlers, your toys are coming soon.

[G8torz]

Hostile contributers here! Just joking. With all the hype around this screenshot of some stupid spreadsheet, it is funny. Are so many people haning on to this so closely? I am sure that when Verizon is ready to release this thing, it will be painfully evident. I think they have a fairly substantial advertising budget.

[DJArt81]

Unfortunately the so called reliable inside source was not so reliable this time. The Omnia 2 did not launch today, and theres no press release from VZW on when the handset will be available.

[hockdrew]

Unfortunately you are right, but It should be out soon, recently got an email from Samsung with the title "The Omnia II is Coming Soon, We'll Keep You Posted" If you go on their website you can find a page about it (no real info) but it allows you to sign up for updates.

[skatingrocker17]

Come on Verizon, I want a GOOD phone, not a phone with all the crappy Verizon software on it. I have the Dare and I'm just WAITING to replace it.