Samsung Lanches Bada-Based Wave AMOLED Smartphone

Mobile phone behemoth Samsung has announced the launch a few hours ago of the first member of a new generation of mobile handsets, based on its own smartphone platform, Bada.

The device, which it calls "life changing" is set to challenge the domination of Apples iPhone in the smartphone market. Samsung Wave or GT-S8500, as it is known, was launched in Barcelona just before the start today of the Mobile World Congress 2010.

The Wave is the first phone to come with Super-AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology which is said to offer better brightness compared to AMOLED only.

It is also less reflective, thinner and less power hungry compared to other display technologies. At 3.3-inch, it is slightly smaller than the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen or the 3.7-inch display of the Nexus One.

But its screen resolution of 800x480 pixels means that it has the highest PPI of all current generation mobile handsets. Samsung has opted for a tempered glass and an anti-fingerprint coating - like the 3GS - to enhance its finish.

Interestingly, like Apple with the iPad, Samsung has designed (and possibly built) the 1GHz (ARM-based) processor that powers it. Wave also supports Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11n protocols, a first on any mobile phones.

Comparatively, the 5-megapixel autofocus camera with flash appears a bit tame. If that wasn't enough, Samsung has thrown in support for Flash, DivX, Xvid, MPEG4 and WMV video, virtual surround sound plus 720p HD recording and playback.

The Wave will be powered by a 1500mAh and won't be available on shelves until April, almost certainly on £35+ monthly contracts.