Samsung Galaxy S3 Release Date: Sprint Gets Phone July 1, AT&T Stores Face Further Delays

Last week, three AT&T stores in Manhattan independently told us that the Galaxy S3 would hit stores on June 28, but supply problems have led to further delays and the company is now unable to give an exact date for its release. 

Customers are  growing frustrated as AT&T initially advertised that the phone would be released on June 21. 

Most AT&T customers who pre-ordered the 16GB version of the phone early, have received the phone, but many pre-ordered handsets are not expected to ship until the end of the month. 

Other Carriers

Sprint

A Sprint spokesperson has confirmed to Engadget that 16GB models of the pre-ordered phone were delivered on time on June 21, but a shortage in supplies means the 32GB pre-ordered model will be shipped next week. 

Sprint has announced on its community website that the 16GB version of the phone will be available in Stores starting July 1. The 32GB version of the phone will initially only be available in Web Sales, Sprint Business Sales and Telesales. 

Customers who have not received their phones have flocked to the Sprint community forums to vent their frustrations. 

Why would you delay all 32Gb deliveries because you don't have enough inventories to fulfill all of them? Start by sending out those who pre-ordered first, says user SteveGiff1973. 

Verizon

The carrier's release date was originally set for July 10, but after receiving such high demand it has pushed back the launch, but has not revealed a specific dat. The phone is expected to start shipping on July 11. 

T-Mobile

T-Mobile has not specified an in-store release date, but says it is also experiencing an order backlog. It has pushed back the release date of the phone to June 29 for markets outside major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco. Otherwise the phone can be ordered through their Website.

The S3 heralds a 4.8-inch screen, Qualcomm S4 processor, voice control and face recognition. The new Super AMOLED display is 22 percent larger than its predecessor, bringing the phone into the Galaxy Note's phone/tablet hybrid category.

Samsung launched a face recognition feature on its latest phone in an effort to the make the smartphone experience more natural. The phone uses its front camera to identify the user's eye movement and ensures it never goes dark or switches off, while the user is looking at the phone.

Samsung has also improved its voice control feature with a sophisticated, Siri-like, voice recognition system dubbed S voice. The service allows users to make verbal demands to control their phone.  Texts and emails can be dictated and photographs can be taken through voice commands using the feature.

The S3 also includes an NFC chip, which enables content sharing -- including video -- through tapping two phones together. The chip can also be used to make mobile payments.

The new Pop up Play feature on the phone enables multitasking, allowing users to open a video in a window on screen, and then use other apps with the rest of the screen.

Specs

Screen size: 4.8 inch

Processor: Qualcomm S4 processor  

Memory size: Up to 32 GB (+64 GB with card)

Operating system: Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Camera: Eight megapixel            

Weight: 133 grams

Dimensions: Height - 136mm                

 Width -     70mm                  

Depth -    8.5mm

Battery: 2100mAh