Samsung Galaxy Tab Android tablet coming to Sprint [Press Release]

The Galaxy Tab from Samsung is the big talk and now that we have seen the official word from Samsung it is time to get on with the carrier announcements. And coming as one of a few quick follow-ups to the press event, we have some word from Sprint. And while it is nice to see Sprint offer up the press release — the details contained nothing more than we already knew. In other words, still nothing in terms of pricing or availability aside from the fact that it will be available “this fall.” That said, keep reading to check out the full press release…

Sprint’s First Android-Powered Mobile Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Available This Fall

As the perfect combination of an e-reader, media player and mini-PC, Samsung Galaxy Tab from Sprint boasts the reliability of the Sprint 3G network, 7-inch Enhanced TFT touch-screen, super fast 1GHz processor, Android 2.2 with Flash video and dual cameras for video chat

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Sept. 16, 2010 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, today announced the upcoming arrival of Samsung Galaxy Tab™ to the Sprint 3G network this fall. This new tablet combines the popular Android platform and award-winning data features of the Samsung Galaxy S lineup of mobile devices with the reliability and value of Sprint and access to the Sprint 3G network.

Samsung Galaxy Tab weighs less than a pound and features a brilliant 7-inch Enhanced TFT touchscreen display, Android 2.2, a 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor, supporting 3D graphics and smooth Web browsing, as well as dual cameras for video chat on-the-go. It offers two fast and easy ways to enter text onto the tablet – a virtual keyboard and SWYPE technology, which allows users to input text faster and more intuitively with one continuous finger motion across the virtual keyboard.

“Samsung Galaxy Tab is another Android innovation for Sprint and adds a new category of devices to the Sprint device portfolio,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “The Sprint 3G network is designed to bring our customers a reliable data experience to keep them productive and entertained on-the-go. With Samsung Galaxy Tab, our customers will appreciate the ability to quickly and easily browse the Web, send email, share pictures and video, use GPS navigation or watch videos or live TV.”

Samsung Galaxy Tab features two cameras – a 3-megapixel camera with camcorder, flash and zoom, and a front-facing, 1.3-megapixel camera – enabling video chat. It also offers mobile hotspot capability to simultaneously connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices. Additional key features include:

* Android Market™ for access to more than 80,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience
* Microsoft Document Viewer & Editor to open and make changes to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or PDF documents
* Stereo speakers
* Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n
* Integrated GPS
* 2GB onboard memory, 16GB microSD card included, with support for up to a 32GB microSD card
* 4,000 mAh battery

On-The-Go Movie Theater Experience
Samsung Media Hub will offer users an easy-to-use mobile video store with movies and TV shows available for purchase or rental and video content set up for an HD-like entertainment experience. Users can quickly get downloads of a full library of video content powered by some of the biggest names in entertainment using Wi-Fi, including MTV Networks, NBC Universal and Paramount.

Samsung Galaxy Tab will also enable sharing user-generated video content with other devices with Samsung’s exclusive AllShare service. AllShare wirelessly shares stored music, pictures and HD video (720p) to other DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) certified™ home electronics, including HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras and printers. Through AllShare, users can capture special moments with the phone’s camera and camcorder and wirelessly show them to friends or family on their DLNA-certified HDTV or download music from a PC to Samsung Galaxy Tab and take it on the road.

To make staying connected faster and easier, Samsung Galaxy Tab includes Samsung Social Hub, designed to integrate social networking services, messages, personal and business email, calendars and contacts. Calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar and social networking services, are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.

Reliability from Sprint 3G
Samsung Galaxy Tab will operate on the Sprint 3G network and customers can be confident in their ability to stay connected. According to the results of a 13-city test conducted by PC World on 3G performance, no one has a more reliable network than Sprint. For the second consecutive year, Sprint’s reliability rates were second-to-none.

PC World’s test involved Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in 13 major cities in all regions of the country during December 2009 and January 2010. In all, roughly 9,000 individual tests of Sprint’s 3G service were conducted from 280 testing locations. Testing sessions were one minute in duration per location, and network performance can be highly variable from neighborhood to neighborhood. In laptop-based tests, Sprint tied with another carrier for first in 3G network reliability.

With the Sprint Free Guarantee, customers can take advantage of Samsung Galaxy Tab for 30 days. If not completely satisfied, customers may return the device within 30 days to get reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get both the early termination and restocking fees waived, and receive a full refund for the monthly service plan charges.2

A Sprint developer guide for Samsung Galaxy Tab will be available on the Sprint Application Developer Web site when the device launches. The developer guide will provide details for an Android 2.2 tablet and how to take advantage of Samsung Galaxy Tab’s unique hardware and software capabilities on the Sprint network. In addition, session leaders will cover tablet development at the Sprint Developer Conference during the Android breakout sessions. The Sprint Developer Conference is Oct. 26-28 in Santa Clara, Calif. Developers can register for the conference at http://developer.sprint.com/devcon2010.

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48.1 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. With its customer-focused strategy, you can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of (US)$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.