One such deal is being offered by Vodafone through Phones4U. This deal requires a £25 a month plan with £39 due up front. For that price, you will get 100 calling minutes, 500 text messages and 500MB of mobile data allowance. Granted, this might not be the best phone for those who are heavy on the texting and calling end, but the data allowance is comparable and is even a plus considering it’s offered through Vodafone.

Better yet the phone is unlocked so it will be first in line for any Android updates that are pushed out by Samsung, something locked devices are not able to boast.

That’s not the only deal out there for the Samsung Galaxy S II, though. Why not check out the Samsung Galaxy S II contracts over at Best Mobile Contracts, where you can compare this deal with many others to find the best deal for you.

The pricing seems pretty normal for a new high-end smartphone that packs in everything you might ever need and looks good to boot. An unlocked, SIM-free unit will cost the potential users 550 pounds, or $870, while the version bound by a 24 months contract will only be 35 pounds per month. The choice is pretty clear: if you want this phone but don’t have the money, go for the contract version, but if you already have a contract with another network company, it may prove difficult and more expensive to do that.

The new Nexus S certainly looks great, with the curved housing and the new Android 2.3 Gingerbread pre-installed, but a lot of people think it’s not worth paying the price when a brand new, unlocked Samsung Galaxy S, which shares the same platform and hardware with the Nexus S, costs only 415 pounds, and has support for HD video filming and an external micro SD card slot (though the lack of the former in the Nexus is probably only a matter of software). Furthermore, it might actually be cheaper to export the phone from the US when it comes out there at 550 US dollars (which is only 345 pounds).

Still, with all the issues, the Nexus S is definitely a phone worth paying attention to, and if you want to have the latest and greatest software, it’s the only choice besides the older Nexus One, as Google markets it as a “fully open” device with no locks or limits (unlike HTC, Motorola, Samsung and other brands, which lock the boot loader and do not allow the users to customize their own ROM).

Seat of power

At the very heart of the system beats a powerful and efficient ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor which powers up the phone’s operating system, the popular Android v2.1 (Éclair) OS. The OS and the processor works in tandem with the phone’s beefed-up user interface, the TouchWiz 3.0.

This combination creates an overall synergistic effect which enables the Samsung Galaxy S to handle even the most challenging application or function with amazing ease.

Raft of excellent features

The i9000 comes in both 8 GB and 16 GB models which are upgradeable up to 32 GB via a MicroSD expansion card slot.

Multimedia functionality is provided by a versatile media player which can play audio files in MP3, WAV, eAAC+, AC3 and FLAC formats as well as video files in MP4, DivX, WMV, H.264 and H.263 formats with amazing clarity and presence. A 3.5 mm audio jack for earphones is provided as well for private listening.

The Samsung Galaxy S comes with a large 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen which displays a stunning 16 million colours at 480 x 800 pixels resolution. Other display features include an accelerometer, multi-touch input, proximity sensor and touch-sensitive controls

Multi-mode digital camera

The Samsung Galaxy S is equipped with a built-in 5 megapixel digital camera which is capable as well of recording videos at 30 frames per second. It can display vivid images at 2592 x 1944 pixels resolution and is capable of taking pictures in panoramic mode, stop motion and cartoon mode. A secondary VGA camera is provided to support video chat.

This impressive little handset’s best feature is its 4 inch touch screen display. Not only is the new capacitive touch screen display responsive and fast, it is also using the new super AMOLED screen technology that was first shown off with the Samsung Wave smart phone, and with the larger screen of the Galaxy S, the visual superiority of the new hardware truly shows (the Wave only had a 3.3 inch screen, and it was already impressive to look at).

Of course, Samsung fans will not be surprised to know that this handset also uses the TouchWiz user interface and it also makes use of several Samsung made features such as the Social Hub, the ThinkFree document editor and the Smart Life digital organizer.

Hardware wise, the Android smart phone is able to compete with the other new handsets like the HTC Desire and the Nexus One. The i9000 Galaxy S comes with a 4 inch capacitive super AMOLED touch screen, a 5 mega pixel camera (with 720p video recording, with HD video playback), a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 8 to 16 GB or internal storage, DivX and XviD video playback support and of course, the 2.1 Android Éclair operating system.

It has also been confirmed that the Galaxy S is getting certified for DivX, making it the first HD capable smart phone compatible with the popular video format.

The new device is the third phone from the Korean manufacturer that makes use of the new super AMOLED technology. The first phone to have the touch screen display is the Samsung Wave smart phone which also utilizes the new Bada mobile platform. The other device with the high end screen is a yet to be named Windows Phone 7 device that is still in the works.

Back to the Galaxy S, this smart phone follows the basic aesthetic style of the original Galaxy series. The display is a large 4 inch capacitive touch screen and it will be running on a 1GHz CPU. The phone is also confirmed to be equipped with a 5 mega pixel snapper.

Aside from having good hardware, the phone also has a few extra features; the TouchWiz user interface is back and the Wave’s Social Hub application will also be installed in the phone. New to this phone are the Smart Life and ThinkFree applications. No exact release date has been given, but we can expect to see this phone on store shelves later this year.

Find out more about the new Android smart phone from Korean manufacturer Samsung at Tech Radar.

In terms of appearance the Monte Bar features black casing and fairly bright orange-gold sections along each side of the device which provides a nice flash of colour, making the phone stand out. In the hand the casing feels smooth and is very comfortable with its lightweight design allowing to pack everything into a mere 77.3 grams. The Monte Bar’s dimensions also support this analysis, with measurements of 111.8mm long, 46.9mmwide and 13.3 mm deep. As a result it is not only svelte and lightweight in the hand and easy to carry but also fits comfortably into any pocket for ease of transportation.

The Bar also comes equipped with a 2-inch colour screen with a screen resolution of 240×320 pixels. One of the joys of this colourful display is the icons necessary for app selection display on the main menu which aids the user in making their feature selections. There is also a select key and a menu key, making the overall handset experience extremely user-friendly. The keypad itself is well-appointed in a nice ark shape, and the individual keys themselves and well-spaced allowing comfortable and easy typing.

With regards to entertainment and features, the Monte Bar fully supports both downloadable and Java games, great for those with a gaming addiction. The phone’s camera is a mere 2 megapixels however which, despite being a little low on the resolution stakes, does comes with the added advantage of being able to instantly share your captured photos with your friends via the MMS facility or store on your device for transfer later. The user may also choose to record videos at speeds of up to fifteen frames per second via the device’s two-megapixel camera.

The Monte Bar supports a range of video playback files to allow it to play and not just record media, however, including MPEG4, H263 and H264. The user can also play music in a range of file formats as well including WMA, MP3 and eAAC+. The built-in FM radio also supports a radio data system and radio recording.

The Monte Bar’s communication is good, and allows multimedia messaging via the popular MMS system through which the user can share a range of photos and video clips with other users that utilise the same service. MMS-sent messages can include texts with sound and also a photo or video clip, allowing an all-around fun method of communication between friends and family. The text facility also includes a predictive function, allowing the words the user types in a text to be stored and predicted the next time the user inputs the same word. Whilst this can be irritating on some formats it works well for most general users and allows for rapid text input.

Connectivity wise the device supports Bluetooth, allowing the user to connect to other such compatible devices wirelessly as long as the two devices being connected are within ten metres of each other. GPRS and EDGE are also supported, allowing for the rapid transfer of data between devices. The Monte Bar also boasts 40 MB of integral memory and further storage capacity is possible by means of a memory card connection though a MircoSD memory card slot. For those who like to get online while out and about the integral Internet browser can be accessed through the phone’s main menu, and the Internet icon is easy to find on the main screen. Usefully, the device’s fully-charged battery will afford the user a whopping 8.3 hours of talk time, helping ensure connectivity if you expect to spend long hours on the phone on a regular basis.

Having a built in solar panel also means that the Blue Earth will never run out of battery when you are out, and if it does you simply face it towards the sky to recharge. The phone is made from a lot of recycled household plastic, which helps by stopping factories having to produce new plastic from scratch, which gives off poisonous chemicals into the environment. It also saves you a bit of money as the plastic is not so expensive recycled.

The phone features a 3.2 megapixel camera, great for taking photographs whilst out and about at times when you are without your digital camera. Everything about the phone is Eco friendly, even the box that the phone arrives in can be recycled and made into a photo frame or a pen holder, meaning that nothing is going to waste. The Blue Earth is due for release in Sweden this month, with the rest of Europe and Asia following shortly after.

Besides the obvious environmental benefits of this phone it also is a very nice handset.  As far as specs and features, it has a touchscreen display that is 3.0 inches and 240 x 320 pixels. It is also able record video. The handset comes standard with a 3.15 megapixel camera.

Individuals will be able to download and listen to their favorite MP3s with the phone’s built-in music player.  Users are also able to listen to local stations via the phone’s FM radio.  It is possible to message ones family and friends with the handset. The phone’s GPS system comes standard as does support.

Overall, the Samsung Blue Earth is a really nice phone even aside from its eco-friendliness. It is a quality handset that is on par with many of the other very good ones on the market. Individuals who want to buy a green phone but don’t want to sacrifice when it comes to quality, features and specs may want to take a closer look at the Samsung Blue Earth. It uses recycled materials that would otherwise be dumped in the ocean or buried and also solar energy. While it won’t save the earth by itself, it does make it possible for each individual to do its small part.

The Genoa is pretty inexpensive phone, with a good amount of features. Users will be able to take pictures on the camera’s 1.3 megapixel phone. It has a 2.8 inch, resistive touch screen with  QVGA resolution. Individuals will be able to go hands free with the phone’s Bluetooth technology, listen to downloaded music and FM radio.

The phone gives users access to top social networking sites, Twitter, Facebook and Myspace. They will be able to check their status and update their own. It is also extremely easy for users to upload photographs to Flickr and Picassa.

The C3510 is priced at the lower end of the handset market. It is not the cheapest handset available but it is priced far below the more expensive models. It offers users a good amount of value for the price. Sure, those who purchase the Genoa won’t have the same high end features as more expensive phones, but individuals won’t have to shell out as much cash either. The Genoa has enough to keep a large number of users happy and its low price should at least give it a chance to be competitive in this crowded mobile phone market.

The Samsung C3510 Genoa looks like it will be priced at 100 euros. It should be available by the end of this year’s first quarter. This would mean that it is almost guaranteed to hit the marketplace sometime in March of this year. It is available at a few stores online, already, one which is based in Turkey.

The S7070 Diva is feature rich. It has a 3 inch touch screen and a mega pixel camera. It offers users Bluetooth, FM radio and autofocus camera with resistive display. Owners can add more memory via a MicroSD card.

The Diva is not yet available for purchase and no price point has been set. The company does plan to release the phone to the public during the early part of 2010.

There are currently two phones in this design line. The first is the S7070 Diva.  The second is the S5150, codename Olivia.  The latter is a clamshell flip phone. It has a mirrored case and the external display is decorative.

The Olivia has a 2.2 inch QVGA internal display. It also allows individuals to take decent pictures with its 3 Mega pixel camera. This particular phone is also set to be released to the general public, during the first quarter of 2010 of by March.

Both the S7070 and the S5150 Diva mobile phones were surprises to the general public. There were no promotional efforts made to generate buzz before any big reveal. The reasons why or why not, are unknown. What the public does know is that Samsung is introducing two phones aimed at female mobile users. The concept seems kind of cool and will likely appeal to teens and those who might prefer a more feminine phone. With companies grasping at ways to be unique, Samsung may have found a really simple and effective way to continue to generate sales from a proven but until recently somewhat untapped market, women.