Ina Fried

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Sprint, T-Mobile Delay Retail Launch for Samsung Galaxy S 4

Sprint said on Wednesday that it won’t have availability of Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 on Saturday, as planned.

samsung_galaxy_s4

“We had planned to launch this next generation of the award-winning Samsung Galaxy line-up on Saturday, April 27,” Sprint said in a statement. “Unfortunately, due to unexpected inventory challenges from Samsung, we will be slightly delayed with our full product launch.”

The No. 3 U.S. carrier still expects to make it available online and via phone sales Saturday, with retail-store launches once supply increases.

Update: T-Mobile said it, too, is pushing things back.

“We know customers are really looking forward to getting their new Samsung Galaxy S 4 soon,” T-Mobile said in a statement. “However, due to an unexpected delay with inventory deliveries, the Galaxy S 4 will not be available on www.T-Mobile.com as planned today. Instead, online availability is expected to begin on Monday, April 29. We apologize for any inconvenience and are working with Samsung to deliver the device to T-Mobile customers as soon as possible.”

As for stores, T-Mobile said the Galaxy S 4 is now expected in selected T-Mobile stores and other retailers on May 8, with nationwide retail availability starting May 15.

AT&T, by contrast, says its planned Saturday launch is on schedule. “We are on track with our planned April 27th in-store launch of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and are excited to hear what our customers think of this highly anticipated smartphone,” a representative told AllThingsD.

Verizon, meanwhile, has said it will start taking preorders on Thursday but won’t have the Galaxy S 4 available until May 30.

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Another gadget you don’t really need. Will not work once you get it home. New model out in 4 weeks. Battery life is too short to be of any use.

— From the fact sheet for a fake product entitled Useless Plasticbox 1.2 (an actual empty plastic box) placed in L.A.-area Best Buy stores by an artist called Plastic Jesus