Samsung goes Android with I7500

When Samsung launches the I7500 smartphone in June, it will be the first major cell phone maker besides HTC to use Google’s Android operating system.

The smartphone features a 3.2-inch touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera, 8 GB of internal memory and support for HSPA and Wi-Fi. All the usual perks of the Android operating system apply, such as a Web browser, Gmail, YouTube access, a calendar and the Android Market.

So far, Samsung has only announced the I7500 for European markets, but hasn’t specified a price or list of countries. We’ve at least heard that O2 will support the phone in Germany. CNet also suggests that support in America could come from T-Mobile, but that’s unconfirmed at this point.

In the North American market, Samsung is also pushing the Impression, a smartphone with an AMOLED display and QWERTY keyboard running on a proprietary operating system. The company’s Tocco Ultra, marketed in Europe as a capable movie player, also uses a first-party OS.

If I had to guess wildly, I’d say Samsung wants to move towards established third-party operating systems so it doesn’t miss out on the app craze. The recent sale of Apple’s billionth App Store program proves how valued a service an app store can be for smartphone owners. The Android Market is the next best thing outside of prioprietary storefronts from Apple and RIM’s Blackberry. I wouldn’t be surprised if Samsung markets Apps as a selling point when the I7500 becomes available.