Unlocked Dell Venue Android Smartphone Shipping Soon Michael Kwan February 4, 2011 Maybe you were thinking about buying the Dell Streak, but thought the five-inch device was way too big to be considered a “smartphone.” Well, Dell is finally coming down to more reasonable proportions with the Dell Venue. What’s interesting is that, unlike its keyboard-touting Dell Venue Pro cousin, the Dell Venue (sans Pro) ditches Windows Phone 7 in favor of Google Android 2.2 Froyo. It’s not quite Gingerbread flavored goodness you get with the Google Nexus S by Samsung, but Froyo tastes pretty good too. Because it doesn’t have the slide-out hardware keyboard of the Venue Pro, the Dell Venue is comparatively slimmer too. There’s a 4.1-inch WVGA AMOLED capacitive touchscreebn to along with the 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 8MP camera, WiFi, GPS, 3G, and Bluetooth 2.1. Just like the Dell Streak, though, the Dell Venue uses that Dell “Stage” user interface overlay. I prefer vanilla Android myself, but I guess I could get used to Stage, just like how I came to like HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz. In any case, Dell is playing nice with as many GSM carriers as possible. The Venue can be purchased with AWS 3G to work with T-Mobile, Wind Mobile, and Mobilicity, as well as with the usual 850/1900/2100 WCDMA for AT&T, Rogers, Telus, and Bell. There’s no HSPA+ support, but you do get HSDPA 7.2. And yes, it’s factory unlocked either way. You can check it out the new $500 smartphone at Dell.com. They’ll start shipping on February 18. Share This With The World!
