Samsung Galaxy S3 Hits AT&T Stores After Delayed Release Date, Limited Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has finally arrived in AT&T stores, although store managers are warning customers about limited availability.

The Times Square and Penn Station AT&T stores in New York are allowing customers to call to reserve their phones for same-day pick-up. Other stores are reporting limited stock.

The initial release date for the Galaxy S3 was June 21 on AT&T, but the carrier has faced an epic backlog on orders due to high demand for the phone.

Most AT&T customers who pre-ordered the 16GB version of the phone have received the device, but those who ordered the 32 GB model continue to face delays.

The phone is priced at $199 on a two-year contract and $249 for the 32GB model.

AT&T is also expected to debut an exclusive red version of the phone. The addition of the Samsung Galaxy S3 to our portfolio of 4G-LTE devices gives our customers another truly cutting-edge smartphone to choose from, said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility. With an exclusive red color this summer and the power of the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T delivers the best wireless experience for Galaxy S III fans.

Meanwhile, pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S3 have finally started arriving on Verizon, and the company has confirmed that the phone will hit stores on July 10.

The S3 heralds a 4.8-inch screen, a Qualcomm S4 processor, voice control and face recognition. The new Super AMOLED display is 22 percent larger than its predecessor, bringing the phone into the Galaxy Note's phone/tablet hybrid category.

Samsung also launched a face recognition feature on its latest phone to the make the smartphone experience more natural. The phone uses its front camera to identify the user's eye movement and to ensure it never goes dark or switches off while the user is looking at the phone.

Samsung has also improved its voice control feature with a sophisticated, Siri-like, voice recognition system dubbed S voice. The service allows users to make verbal demands to control their phone. Texts and emails can be dictated and photographs can be taken through voice commands using the feature.

The S3 also includes an NFC chip, which enables content sharing -- including video -- through tapping two phones together. The chip can also be used to make mobile payments.

The new Pop up Play feature on the phone enables multitasking, allowing users to open a video in a window on-screen and then use other apps with the rest of the screen.

Specs

Screen size: 4.8 inch

Processor: Qualcomm S4 processor

Memory size: Up to 32 GB (+64 GB with card)

Operating system: Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Camera: eight megapixels

Weight: 133 grams

Dimensions: Height - 136mm

Width - 70mm

Depth - 8.5mm

Battery: 2100mAh