South African carriers hint at getting the Samsung Galaxy S III in July

South African carriers have spilled the beans on the expected launch date for the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III flagship handset on their networks, and the consensus seems to be some time in early Q3.

It all started with MTN's spokesperson saying that the carrier will offer the Galaxy S III in lieu of the Galaxy Nexus, but didn't divulge the expected launch timeframe.

Virgin Mobile chimed in, though, saying that it hopes to have the Samsung Galaxy S III on the shelves some time in Q3, after all the testing has been done, while Cell C straight out confirmed it will probably be already carrying Samsung's finest in July. "No pricing is available yet but it is likely to come in where the SGS2 was priced at launch,” Virgin Mobile spokesperson Jonathan Newman said.

If these summertime hints indicate the global rollout plans, that seems like quite a wait for probably the most anticipated Android handset this year. Hopefully it also means that the summer will see its US rollout too, as Samsung is said to try and narrow the months-long launch gap between US and the rest of the world this year. If the next iPhone is unveiled again in the fall, as recent rumors suggest, and Samsung needs more time to iron out the kinks in its own cloud service, then a summer launch actually makes pretty good sense for the SGSIII.

Now the big mystery, besides the spec sheet, is when will Samsung announce the handset - closer to launch might be a good bet this year, so late spring is shaping up to be probable timing for a grand unveiling event. Hopefully we'll have more leaks to keep us entertained until then, otherwise the wait will do irreparable damage to our nervous systems.

source: Mybroadband via AllAboutPhones.nl

12 Comments

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posted on 22 Feb 2012, 03:45 2

1. android_hitman (unregistered)

if it's made from that cheap plastic that Samsung uses... than it's a no no for me...

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 04:11 9

2. ilia1986 (unregistered)

Dude, you are aware that regardless of what it's made from - you will only see it's external form for like 5 minutes - before you put it in a protective case which you choose anyway, are you?

That's why the looks of smartphones don't really matter. It's the specs, screen, size and weight.

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 14:00

9. the_s2 (Posts: 239; Member since: 22 Nov 2011)

Thumb up this one? or thumb down? confused.

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 04:28 13

3. andro. (Posts: 1999; Member since: 16 Sep 2011)

The same plastic thats light weight,proved extremely durable and thin so adding a personalised case doesnt increase the chunkyness of the phone by much?

Weve all seen a certain glass phone breaking from something almost a easy as putting it down on a table

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 05:18 3

4. DKMDROID (Posts: 103; Member since: 09 Aug 2011)

had to comment just cos well......I'm from south Africa :)

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 05:22 2

5. SlimSoulja86 (Posts: 660; Member since: 03 Nov 2011)

Lol, Me too, im in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, but home is Cape Town

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 08:13 3

6. victo410 (Posts: 16; Member since: 20 Jan 2012)

I do not care if it is made of hard paper and glue That will be my next baby.

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 09:27

7. willardcw4 (Posts: 169; Member since: 01 Oct 2011)

Have a feeling the SGS3 will come out in the US around the same time as the SGS2 did, around September. Summer launch of the international version(s) makes sense since it would only be ~2-3 months difference instead of a ~6 month difference.

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 11:37

8. gallitoking (Posts: 4721; Member since: 17 May 2011)

that is a slap in the face to al the Shamsung worshippers. as the will get their phone around October when half of the world would be tired of the Galaxy 3.

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 15:58

11. oujisan (Posts: 2; Member since: 22 Feb 2012)

toanswer you on that... no people are still buying Samsung S2 we sold all our stock in one week in my store alone its a high in demand phone ever since it came out...

That and i try and convice ppl to take it instead of a Iphone :P

posted on 22 Feb 2012, 15:57

10. oujisan (Posts: 2; Member since: 22 Feb 2012)

South African here.. I work at Vodacom Shop Tygervalley and I do now and then ask the Samsung Reps when.. they do see June/July release but that could be US releases so we might expect it September which is a calculated guess on my part considering we are little behind to the world with ICASA needs to test the phones with the networks etc etc.

Otherwise I just wish Samsung would release its official spec sheets my own upgrade is in September I might cnsider the S3 just becuse of the success of the S2 So there is high expectations but im more hoping on a Galaxy Note 2 as the Note is more my type of device. unless Vodacom has a S3 with a Tab 11 deal (like the S2 and Tab 10.1 deals)