AT&T Commits To a Trio of Android Smartphones, Including the Samsung Galaxy Note II

Looks like AT&T is expanding its 4G LTE offerings, announcing the arrival of three new Samsung smartphones set to run on the high-speed network, most notably the Galaxy Note II, the 5.5-inch follow-up to last year's popular phone-tablet hybrid, which is set to arrive at the carrier later this year.

While AT&T remained vague on a specific launch date, simply saying it will arrive in the "coming months," the phablet is likely to roll out just in time for the holiday rush. Revealed earlier this month at the IFA tradeshow, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is a serious upgrade to its predecessor, boasting an improved battery life, thanks to a 3100 mAh capacity ticker, and a thinner and narrower design.

However, the biggest improvement in Sammy's latest Note will be an enhanced S Pen, which will have 1024 levels of sensitivity, a rubber tip and can be used in three ways to make the user experience more enjoyable. The device will feature a HD Super AMOLED display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, a 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos processor and will ship with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Initially described as "the Galaxy S III on steroids," check out our hands-on preview of the Galaxy Note II to see if this device is more than just an amped-up smartphone.

Sharing the spotlight with the headlining second-gen Note are the Galaxy Express and Galaxy Rugby Pro. Powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the Express will sport a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen and will pack a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. The smartphone will house an 2000 mAh battery, which AT&T touts will help users stay productive all day, while its 5-megapixel rear-facing camera will let users capture and share images easily, according to the carrier.

It appears the Galaxy Rugby Pro will just be an update to the rugged OG Rugby Smart, a handset that is water-, shock- and dust-proof thanks to its military 810g specifications. Equipped with a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display and a 5-megapixel camera, the phone will come with full device encryption and EAS corporate email support, targeting active and business users alike.

Customers looking to put one of these devices on their wish list are left in the dark for the time being, as AT&T neglected to mention pricing or specific availability for the smartphones.