The LG G-Slate that was introduced to the world at CES (then seemingly disappeared) has been further detailed by T-Mobile. The impressive Honeycomb-based tablet will be a direct competitor to the Motorola XOOM when it’s made available this spring.
On-board the device will boast a NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor which will power Android 3.0 Honeycomb, 32GB of internal storage, gyroscope and an accelerometer. The main feature of the device will be its set of on-board cameras. On the back, the tablet sports stereoscopic rear-facing cameras – one of these will serve as a 5MP still camera with flash for capturing shots with the device. On the front you’ll find a 2MP camera for video chat over T-Mobile’s HSPA+ and WiFi networks. Also supported is the output of 1080p video playback from its built-in HDMI port.
The device will ship “this spring,” but pricing has yet to be determined. But, if we know anything about tablets, we can expect it to be somewhere near the Motorola XOOM.
The Galaxy S line of phones from Samsung has just expanded with the Galaxy S 4G. This fabulous new phone will be rocking the house with 4G speeds, a full copy of the movie INCEPTION, and a bunch more surprises including full T-Mobile TV functionality. A 720p video camera on the back, Android 2.2 Froyo installed inside, and a pre-installed 16GB microSD memory card make this phone a slight step behind the rest of the pack as far as being the absolute top notch, but certainly it is heading for the top of the middle heap.
Also take special note of the fact that this phone’s stocked with Inception. Certainly an odd play by Samsung, but possibly leading again to the idea that more media (movies and music) will be finding their way onto phones in the future — will today mark the day when all Androids become iPods? We’ll see. Take a peek at the full press release below and stay tuned for additional details!
Galaxy S 4G from T-Mobile to Offer Blazing-Fast Speeds and Unparalleled Entertainment Experience Featuring Movies, TV and Video Chat ?
T-Mobile expands America’s Largest 4G Network to eight new
metropolitan areas in South and Midwest
BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — Feb. 2, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. 1, today announced the anticipated February availability of the Galaxy S™ 4G, exclusively from T-Mobile. According to T-Mobile, the Galaxy S 4G will be the fastest smartphone running on America’s Largest 4G Network™2. The Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile’s first smartphone capable of delivering theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps, offers enhanced mobile experiences and unparalleled entertainment including mobile HD TV3 through T-Mobile TV, the ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION, and T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™ — delivered at 4G speeds on its 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display.
T-Mobile also announced the expansion of America’s largest 4G network into more than 100 major metropolitan areas, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide. In addition to expanding its 4G footprint, T-Mobile also has aggressive plans to double the speed of its 4G network in 2011, and the company expects that 140 million Americans in 25 major metropolitan areas will have access to these increased 4G speeds by midyear.
“The Galaxy S 4G pushes the envelope by reaping the benefits of our network’s unprecedented speeds and by offering groundbreaking entertainment experiences,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “We are excited to continue to expand our portfolio of 4G devices that enable our customers to have access to unique and compelling features and an optimal 4G experience.”
“The Galaxy S 4G offers customers Samsung’s core premium product investments to speed, screen and content,” said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer, Samsung Mobile. “Galaxy S 4G is T-Mobile’s fastest smartphone and offers Samsung’s brilliant Super AMOLED display and rich multimedia features for premium movie and TV content.”
Through the delivery of faster speeds comes an enhanced experience when viewing video entertainment over the Web using services such as YouTube. In addition T-Mobile TV, a preloaded application, offers consumers access to live and on-demand mobile HD TV on T-Mobile’s 4G network, including free programming from select stations like ABC News NOW, FOX Sports, PBS Kids and Azteca America.
To further enhance the entertainment package on the Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile has preloaded, at no additional cost to consumers, Warner Bros. Pictures’ ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION which is nominated for Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Music (Original Score), Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects. Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which features a robust collection of new releases and TV shows.
The Galaxy S 4G’s blazing-fast speeds will make sharing memories via e-mail, social networks or video quick and easy. For example, the preloaded T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik enables customers to share any moment with loved ones virtually whenever and wherever they want through T-Mobile’s network or Wi-Fi. Using either the front-facing or the rear camera, which features a 720p HD camcorder, paired with Video Chat allows customers to hold video conversations with friends and family who have a compatible mobile device.
Featured as a pre-installed application, doubleTwist® with AirSync™ provides customers with a useful and easy way to auto-sync and back up photos, HD videos and music to and from their home computer. With a Wi-Fi connection, customers can easily sync their media wirelessly and at no additional cost. The doubleTwist Player lets customers enjoy their favorite tunes and videos directly from their phone while on the go. The Galaxy S 4G also comes preloaded with Slacker Radio, offering music fans more than 130 genre stations and ability to create their own custom stations for free.
With a slim and sleek design, the Galaxy S 4G’s 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display gives customers a vivid, sharp viewing experience, whether consumers choose to watch a movie or read a book or newspaper with the preloaded Kindle for Android application while on the go. Powered by Android™ 2.2, the Galaxy S 4G is equipped with a speedy Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor, an ST-Ericsson M5720 HSPA+ 4G modem to enable theoretical peak downloads of up to 21 Mbps, a 5 megapixel camera, a pre-installed 16GB microSD memory card, and a 1650 mAh lithium ion battery.
Availability
The Galaxy S 4G is expected to be available to T-Mobile customers in February. Customers can visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/4G for more information.
Beginning today, T-Mobile’s network will also be delivering 4G speeds to Albany, Augusta, Columbus and Macon, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., in the South region as well as in Champaign, Ill.; Lansing, Mich.; and Rochester, Minn., in the Midwest.
Look, let us just sum up the Galaxy S 4G for you: it’s a Vibrant with Froyo, a front-facing camera, and Inception. After reading through the new details T-Mobile’s outed on its latest HSPA+-equipped Android smartphone today, that’s really the best way to describe it… and let’s face it, Avatar (which, you might recall, came bundled with the Vibrant) was getting kind of old and played out anyway. Naturally, like T-Mobile’s other video call-capable devices, the front-facing camera will make use of Qik; other preinstalled third-party apps will include Kindle, doubleTwist with AirSync, and T-Mobile TV for streaming content from ABC, Fox, PBS, and others. You’ll also get a slight battery capacity bump from the Vibrant to 1650mAh, undoubtedly to counteract the effects of the beefier radio. Revolutionary, no; evolutionary, quite! We don’t have a date or a price yet, but the carrier says we can expect it this month. Follow the break for the full press release.
Though it was technically announced back at CES, T-Mobile just barely talked about the LG G-Slate there, spending more time chatting up Dell’s Streak 7 and letting Motorola’s Xoom get virtually all of the Honeycomb attention. Well, that’s changed today with a handful of official new details: turns out the G-Slate features a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 32GB of internal storage, both a gyroscope and accelerometer, and — this is key — stereoscopic rear-facing video cameras capable of 1080p 3D capture, one of which doubles as a 5 megapixel still camera with LED flash. There’s also a third 2 megapixel camera up front for video chat over T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network or WiFi. Going back to that 3D business for a moment, you’ll need glasses (it’s unclear if they’re active or passive) to enjoy recorded or downloaded 3D content on the G-Slate’s 8.9-inch display — but you’ll also be able to output 1080p video over HDMI to the external display of your choice. Pricing is still an open question, but the companies are now comfortable enough to say that we can expect it “this spring,” so go ahead and start thinking about all the blooming springtime plant life you’ll be filming in three glorious dimensions. Follow the break for the full press release.
The rumors about 3D support on LG’s G-Slate tablet (both recording and viewing) have reached a dull roar in recent days, and a little teaser just posted on T-Mobile’s official Facebook account certainly isn’t going to do anything to quell the trend. The simple clipart image of some old-school red / blue anaglyphic glasses pretty much says everything you need to know — that there’s something 3D in store from these guys — and the Honeycomb-powered G-Slate is the only thing in T-Mobile’s immediate future that we know has had 3D rumors attached to it. Any other solid theories out there?
Microsoft may be playing a Samsung game when it comes to Windows Phone 7 sales and shipments, but just having handsets in stores should make a big difference to market penetration. According to TmoNews, T-Mobile USA is about to announce availability of the HTC 7 Mozart, joining the HTC HD7 and doubling the options for magenta-loving would-be WP7 shoppers.
The Mozart won our approval by virtue of its excellent build quality and above-average camera, offering 8-megapixels, autofocus and a proper Xenon flash. That’s unique among Windows Phone 7 devices and relatively unique among smartphones in general. No word on exact availability or pricing, but rumor has it T-Mobile will be offering both 8GB and 16GB versions.
T-Mobile USA has confirmed pricing and availability for the Dell Streak 7, the carrier’s first 4G tablet. The Streak 7 will be priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement and following a $50 mail-in rebate when it hits stores from February 2 2011. Opt for the Dell contract-free and it will cost you $449.99.
That gets you a 7-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, 4G HSPA+ connectivity, NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processor and a pair of cameras for photography and video calls. There’s also Gorilla Glass up front and both WiFi and Bluetooth.
Previous rumors had suggested that the Streak 7 could be as much as $330 with a new agreement, a price that T-Mobile quickly denied. More information here and at T-Mobile’s sign-up page.
The T-Mobile Sidekick 4G has been caught in the wild, complete with Samsung branding that seemingly confirms exactly who will be producing the newly-revived range. TmoNews‘ tipster sent them shots of the Android 2.2.1 Froyo based smartphone, and it’s clear that the traditional Sidekick style hasn’t been forgotten despite the gap in sales.
That means a sliding/tilting display and a distinctive hardware QWERTY keyboard, with just a splash of magenta on the shift key to let you know it’s a T-Mobile device. As for specs, the exact list isn’t known yet, but HSPA+ (aka T-Mobile’s take on 4G) is obviously onboard and there’s a front-facing camera for video calls.
As for software, the prototype pictured looks to be using a relatively stock version of Froyo but we’re guessing T-Mobile and Samsung will be doing some work on that before the smartphone actually launches. Half of the appeal of the original range of Sidekick devices was the blend of server-side and handset-side data management, so it will be interesting to see how much of that concept is carried over to the new platform.
If these first in-the-wild shots of T-Mobile’s upcoming Android-powered Sidekick 4G turn out to be legit — and we’ve no reason to doubt them, especially considering TmoNews‘ track record — then we’d say the carrier has done a reasonably good job porting the classic Sidekick design and pulling it into the modern age off the strength of a big display… and, of course, a modern operating system. Interestingly, word on the street is that the new model is made by Samsung, not Sharp; historically, Sharp has made all of the Sidekicks with the exception of the forgettable Slide, which was a Motorola one-off. Looks like the swivel display has been replaced by a tilt-slide, but most importantly, the device looks the same when open and closed, which should put a warm, fuzzy feeling in the hearts of old-school Sidekick users. Who’s excited?
Carrier combo Everything Everywhere – Orange and T-Mobile UK – has announced a partnership with Barclaycard to roll out contactless mobile payments in the UK come Q2 2011. The system will use Gemalto secure UICCs and work in over 40,000 stores from the off, and require users have either a Barclaycard or Orange credit card account.
Exact handset requirements are yet to be confirmed, but we’re assuming this isn’t a system that will work on just any device; we’re waiting to hear back from Everything Everywhere on the details. Still, it’s nice that the UK is catching up to where Japan was a decade ago.
Update: Everything Everywhere tells us that special handsets will indeed be required in order to use the contactless payments service, and that details “will be available in due course.”
Press Release:
The UK’s first commercial launch of contactless mobile payments by Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard, set to revolutionise buying on the high street
The UK’s first commercial contactless mobile payments service, to be rolled out by Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard by early summer (second quarter of 2011)
The new service will offer consumers greater convenience and control on the high street with over 40,000 stores ready to accept contactless payments
Industry backed secure SIM-based payments approach, ensures excellent purchase protection for consumers
Latest move builds on Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard’s ongoing partnership, which has already produced a co-branded contactless credit card and the forthcoming Orange Cash pre-paid contactless card
Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard today announced the first contactless mobile phone payment solution for UK consumers will launch by early summer. The move will usher in a new era for consumers, offering greater simplicity, convenience and control and will change the way payments are made on UK high streets.
Barclaycard and Orange, who announced their strategic partnership to bring contactless mobile payments to market in 2009, believe this will be the biggest revolution in payments since credit cards were introduced in the UK by Barclaycard over 40 years ago.
Commenting on the announcement, Gerry McQuade, Chief Development Officer, Everything Everywhere, said: “This is the beginning of a revolution in how we pay for things on the high street. It’s a cultural shift that is as important as the launch of the personal credit card or ATMs.
“We’re making something that’s been talked about for many years a reality and very soon, using your mobile to buy a sandwich, a cinema ticket or in time, even something bigger like a computer will simply be the norm.
“As Britain’s biggest communications company, we’re proud to be delivering this technical and cultural innovation to the UK through the Orange brand. Orange and Barclaycard customers will be the first to be able to use their mobiles to make payments on the high street wherever contactless payments are accepted. This is part of our wider strategy to re-define what people use their mobiles for, with mobile payments being the start.”
David Chan, CEO of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said: “Barclaycard is well known as a leader in helping consumers and businesses to make and take payments in their everyday lives. Finding new and better ways of doing this is what drives us, so it’s exciting, with Orange, to be giving consumers in the UK the choice to make contactless payments on their mobile phone as well as their card. Barclaycard is going to lead the innovation and explosive growth you’ll see in mobile payments.
“I believe that future generations will find it surprising that early this century we were still carrying separate items to buy goods and to communicate with each other. As payment experts, our role is to make it easier, more convenient and incredibly secure for people to make purchases and manage their money while on the move.”
Working with the world’s leading handset manufacturers, the new offering from Orange and Barclaycard will enable customers to use their mobiles to pay for goods and services at more than 40,000 retailers that use contactless technology, by simply waving their mobile phone against a contactless reader.
The new contactless mobile payment technology has been developed to ensure customers’ transactions and personal data will be protected and secure. The launch proposition will focus on an industry backed, SIM-based approach to payments ensuring enhanced security for customers, as well as to initially provide a single point of customer care contact. MasterCard will provide the payment capability for the contactless mobile transactions.
Contactless mobile phone payments will feature as part of the wider Orange portfolio of products, developed in conjunction with Barclaycard, and which already features a contactless co-branded credit card as well as the forthcoming contactless Orange Cash prepaid payment card.
The move builds on existing contactless payment technology with 11.6m contactless credit and debit cards already in circulation, of which over 10m have been issued by Barclaycard and Barclays. There are also already 42,500 live Barclaycard contactless terminals in retail outlets including Pret a Manger, EAT, Little Chef and, soon, Co-Op.
Further details on the roll out will be made in the forthcoming months.
Notes to Editors:
Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard are the key partners in the development of this proposition
MasterCard PayPass is the technology used at Point of Sale to effect the mobile contactless payment transactions
Gemalto provides Barclays with Trusted Service Management (TSM) operated services which enable the secure deployment and management of mobile contactless payment. Gemalto’s full range of NFC solutions also includes the UICC Cards supplied to Orange
