The Samsung Vibrant is up for grabs today on T-Mobile USA’s website. The new Super AMOLED Galaxy S Android smartphone was originally set for a July 21 launch date. The phone, which comes bundled with the movie Avatar on a 2GB MicroSD card, sells for $199 with a two-year contract.

The Vibrant ships running Android 2.1. Additional specs include a 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, 16GB storage, 8-megapixel camera with auto focus, digital zoom and 720p video capture. The phone also includes an FM radio, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi, digital compass and GPS.

The Vibrant is one variation of the Galaxy S line from Samsung. Similar variants have been announced for AT&T (Captivate), Sprint (Epic 4G) and Verizon Wireless (Fascinate).

The Vibrant launch comes as Motorola and Verizon Wireless today launched their new Droid offering, the Motorola Droid X.

Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee announced that he will be stepping down as head of South Korea’s largest corporation following his indictment on tax evasion and breech of trust. Kun-hee had led the group for more than 20 years.

Charges against him and other Samsung executives were the result of a 3-month investigation into accusations that executives were keeping a “slush” fund that was used to bribe judges and other state officials. The independent counsel running the investigation said it did not find evidence of the slush find, but did charge Kun-hee with evading taxes on up to $4.5 billion hidden in associates’ accounts.

After undergoing hours of questionings twice in the same week, Kun-hee hinted that he may step down. He announced his resignation earlier today, and Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo announced his own resignation and that Lee Jae-yong, the chairman’s son who is an executive at Samsung Electronics, also will be stepping down.

The company also announced that Kun-hee would pay the taxes he is accused of evading and that he would not use the money found in the extra accounts.

The true age of global mobile communications has come, in which one mobile phone can be used for services anywhere in the world.

On September 13, SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics revealed that it would release a World Phone (model: SCH-V920) that supports CDMA, mobile communications technology used in Korea, GSM, used in Europe, and JCDMA used in Japan, making automatic roaming possible in 90 countries around the world. This is the first time in the world that a mobile phone has been released that allows automatic roaming all over the world including Japan.

“Real World Phone”, released by Samsung Electronics for SK Telecom, supports CDMA for automatic roaming in North America, Latin America and Asia where 800MHz spectrum is used as in Korea, as well as GSM with frequencies of 900, 1800MHz in Europe, CIS, Oceania, and even Japan’s JCDMA, and is a “World Phone” in the true sense.

In the past users could use their phones and numbers in North America, Latin America and Asia where the same CDMA technology is used, but now they can receive automatic roaming services in Europe and Japan, and the World Phone is expected to become an essential for businessmen who travel frequently to Japan and Europe.

Also, through the launch of World Phone, SMS messaging and receiving, and caller ID services are possible in GSM regions such as Europe. SK Telecom has revealed that a free demonstration event will be held until the end of October for outgoing SMS messages, which are KRW 460 per message (SMS reception and caller ID services currently free.)

Despite the fact that it is a phone that supports various mobile communications technology, it has adopted the currently popular slim slide style, and it is hoped that its functional attractiveness along with sophisticated design will be favorably received by consumers.

An “Anycall Translator” function has also been included, allowing translation of simple expressions in various situations into English, Japanese and Chinese in airports, hotels and stores. The phone also has functions most preferred by consumers, including a 1.3 million pixel camera, Nate Drive, MP3, and Bluetooth functions.

To celebrate the launch of World Phone, SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics will hold a “Two-Top Real World Phone Festival” from September 20 to October 31. Customers that purchase World Phone during the period are automatically entered, and among the winners 10 will receive airline tickets for a world tour, 20 the opportunity to visit Tokyo and Yokohama, a total of 100 receiving diverse prizes.

SK Telecom’s CEO Kim Shin-Bae remarked, “Among total departures, those leaving for Japan take up 20%, and thus it is highly significant to become the first in the world to release a World Phone that can cover Japan.”

Samsung Electronics Head of Information and Communications Lee Ki-Tae remarked “Samsung’s mobile phone with hi-tech functions and quality design will be a route through which people can communicate freely and conveniently anywhere in the world.”

“Real World Phones” are to be released through SK Telecom in four colors – “deep grey”, “double red”, “shiny silver”, “white” – and cost approximately KRW 500,000.