Samsung Droid Charge Update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread OTA is coming!

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for Verizon’s Samsung Droid Charge has started rolling out. I guess after waiting for this update since the phone was released in April, Droid Charge owners probably don’t mind the extra time  waiting they had to do.

The update has already been applied by some lucky souls. It’s an over-the-air affair, so you’ll be able to perform it even without hooking your phone up to a computer, but keep in mind that, as with all OTA updates, the rollout may be staggered. That means that you may not see the update yet. In that case, don’t panic. Just remember that a few more days (or hours) of waiting are nothing compared to the ordeal you went through over these past months.

Verizon Samsung Charge – Review

We knew HTC’s Thunderbolt wouldn’t be the only 4G LTE smartphone available on Verizon Wireless’ network for long. Less than two months after the Thunderbolt made its debut, the Droid Charge by Samsung joined Verizon Wireless’ lineup of 4G LTE smartphones. This smartphone boasts of a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1GHz application processor, rear-facing 8 megapixel camera, front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, and mobile hotspot functionality.

The Droid Charge definitely has an impressive list of features. Certainly for data-heavy users, the fact that this phone is capable of 4G speeds will be the key spec that makes the Droid Charge stand out among other smartphones in the Verizon Wireless lineup. When you’re in one of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE coverage areas, Verizon Wireless says you can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps from the Droid Charge. Of course, when a 4G connection is unavailable, you’ll still get respectable data speeds on Verizon Wireless’ 3G network.

The Droid Charge runs on Android 2.2. It is currently available through Verizon Wireless for $299.99 with a two-year contract and compatible data plan. Nationwide Talk plans for the phone begin at $39.99 per month. Unlimited 4G LTE data packages start at $29.99 per month. For a limited time, Verizon Wireless is offering the mobile hotspot feature for no additional charge.

Samsung Droid Charge SCH-i520Specifications and Features

Processor and memory	1GHz Hummingbird 2GB built-in, 32GB microSD card preinstalled
Operating System	Android 2.2
Connectivity	LTE 700, CDMA EVDO Rev A Bluetooth Wi-Fi GPS DLNA microUSB microHDMI
Display	4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen
Size and weight	5.11 x 2.66 x 0.46 inches 5.04 ounces
Cameras and multimedia	8 megapixel camera with LED flash front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack
Additional Features	Mobile Hotspot capability Samsung Media Hub
Battery	Usage Time: Up to 660 Minutes Standby Time: Up to 280 Hours
Carrier	Verizon Wireless
In-Box Content	Standard Lithium Ion Battery 1600mAh 32GB microSD card preinstalled Wall/USB charger Product Safety & Warranty Brochure Quick Reference Guide
Price (as of 5/18/2011)	$299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement

 

Verizon Samsung Droid Charge

As of today, Samsung’s Droid Charge is officially out on Verizon Stores.

Samsung’s Droid Charge smartphone, its first phone on Verizon’s LTE network, did hit Verizon stores on Saturday after a brief delay due to Verizon’s brief LTE outage.

Originally due to hit stores on April 29, Verizon shelved the launch of the Droid Charge due to the network downtime.

The Droid Charge runs on Android 2.2 “Froyo” and features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, Adobe Flash support, and mobile hotspotting.

PCMag contributing editor Jamie Lendino praised the Charge’s camera and camcorder but noted some drawbacks you should definitely consider before heading to your nearest Verizon store, or Verizon.com, tomorrow. See PCMag’s review of the Samsung Droid Charge and the slideshow below for more details.

As of today, the phone costs $299.99 with a two-year Verizon contract, which must include a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package.

Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 per month, while unlimited 4G LTE data packages start at $29.99 per month. Customers will also receive a free trial of mobile hotspotting.

With the launch of the Droid Charge, Verizon customers now have two 4G Android smartphones to choose from: the HTC Thunderbolt ($249.99), our current Editors’ Choice, or the Droid Charge. The two cell phones are pretty similar, but not identical; the HTC Thunderbolt has a slight edge.

The Droid Charge is one of 10 4G LTE devices Verizon announced at CES in January.

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