Samsung officially unveils Galaxy tablet, but will it fit in your pants?

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

September 17, 2010

2 Min Read
Samsung's Pocket Rocket

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea: SEC) repeatedly called its new Android Galaxy tablet "pocket-sized" during the NYC launch of the new device, but will you really be able to keep it in your pants?

The device, which sports a seven-inch display, will certainly require roomier pockets than of those in LR Mobile's battered suit. Nonetheless, it can be easily held in one hand and weighs about the same as a can of soda.

Judge for yourself how well the gadget will fit in your pocket with a few shots from the launch below (click on the image to start the brief slideshow):

7392.jpg

As with Samsung's Android Galaxy S smartphones, the vendor is launching across a number of operators. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S), T-Mobile US Inc. , and Verizon Wireless will offer the gadget before the end of the year. The US versions will not have voice call capabilities, although the international version will.

It will first be available in GSM-based and CDMA flavors of 3G with on-board WiFi to boot. A WiFi-only version will follow after that.

The US 3G carriers can rest easy for the moment, however, as the Qik video chat application is only going to run over WiFi. The Qik video app has already arrived on the High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) (Taiwan: 2498) Evo but is actually enabled to work across Sprint's 3G and WiMax network on that phone.

Video chat is a point of competition with Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)'s iPad tablet. The ground-breaking iPad has defined the mobile tablet market to this point. Samsung says it aims to change that.

"The Galaxy Tab will set the standard for the mobile tablet," says J.K. Shin, president of Samsung's mobile communications business.

The vendor isn't revealing the price of the device. Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) in the UK, however, is listing the tablet for a whopping ₤799 (US$1,251). — Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like