Samsung ATIV Odyssey could be free on contract from Verizon

Back in the waning days of October, we passed along the word from an insider who said that Big Red would be offering a mysterious Samsung manufactured Windows Phone 8 model for free. We were told that this would not be the Samsung ATIV S, and when the Samsung ATIV Odyssey was introduced at Microsoft's October 29th event, none other than Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the device would be coming to Verizon before the end of the year. While the executive didn't mention it, it could be that the Samsung ATIV Odyssey will be the free phone mentioned by the insider.

Verizon CMO Tami Erwin said today that the carrier will have a Windows Phone 8 model at three important price points, $200, $100 and $0. The HTC 8X is the $200 model (ok, $199.99 to be precise), the Verizon exclusive Nokia Lumia 822 is priced at $99.99 and that would leave an opening for the $0 model. Considering that images of the Samsung ATIV Odyssey leaked on Monday showed a low to mid range smartphone, it looks like the nation's largest carrier might already have a Windows Phone 8 model in mind to be offered free with a signed two-year contract.

source: TheVerge via UnwiredView