Samsung has been very elusive and secretive about its pricing plans for the Galaxy Tab, but if the following T-Mobile slide should be proven to be real, then we’re looking at a $399 done deal tablet. Of course, you’ll have to sign-up for a new 2-year contract with the US carrier in order to get into a subsidized package, otherwise it would cost you a whopping $649.99 and would probably hurt your “already-empty” pockets.
Update1: US carrier Verizon has just announced that it will begin selling the new Samsung Android Galaxy Tab for $599.99, starting November 11th. Of course, if you want “data plans” then get ready to pay more – about $20 per month for 1GB – but for those who are using standard WiFi connection, a “few hundred bucks” looks like an insane amount of money one should be paying for. Checkout the full PR release half past the break.
Update2: All right, folks, it looks like we’ve got ourselves a competition here, with a third US carrier, Sprint, to officially confirm its Samsung’s Galaxy Tab availability dates and prices, which for some “strange” reason look suspiciously similar to T-Mobile’s offer . The meaning is that Sprint is planning to charge $399 for the 7-inch Android Froyo tablet, along with a two-year compulsory contract (comprised from either a 2GB of data plan for $29.99 and a 5GB for $59.99) or $599.99 for take-and-go buyers, starting November 14th.
Update3: On the same note, rumor has it that Best Buy is going to sell a “WiFi-only” Galaxy Tab (no obligation) for $499.99 along with a black 3G model (Verizon) and a silver 3G model (Sprint) – both require either a 2 years contract or month-to-month plans.
Update4: T-Mobile just updated that the selling of the new Samsung Galaxy Tab will officially start on November 10th with prices at $399.99 on a two years contract, or $599.99 for those who’d like to buy and go. Full PR after the break.
[via TmoNews]
Verizon Wireless Puts Samsung Galaxy Tab™ in Stores in November
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Tab™ will be available Nov. 11 for $599.99. Running on Android™ 2.2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab features a brilliant 7-inch touch screen; robust HTML Web browsing experience with full support for Adobe® Flash® 10.1 for video and mobile gaming; and a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application processor.
“This is an incredible time in mobile technology, and as a company we’re excited to add the Samsung Galaxy Tab to our portfolio,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “The Samsung Galaxy Tab brings together the reliability of Verizon Wireless’ 3G network and the power of Android 2.2 to deliver on our promise of providing consumers and business customers with a host of options to help manage their lives.”
Popular mobile applications, including V CAST Music and V CAST Song ID, VZ Navigator®, Slacker Radio, Kindle for Android, BLOCKBUSTER On Demand® presented by V CAST Video, and the exclusive golf game, “Let’s Golf,” will be available on the Samsung Galaxy Tab. In addition to text, picture and video messaging, the Samsung Galaxy Tab will also feature V CAST Apps, Verizon Wireless’ mobile storefront offering hundreds of applications for businesses and consumers at launch.
Verizon Wireless customers can add a monthly access plan beginning at $20 a month for 1 GB on their Samsung Galaxy Tab. For additional features and specifications on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxytab.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
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T-Mobile to Launch Samsung Galaxy Tab™ Nov. 10
Galaxy Tab hits stores first at T-Mobile, delivers powerful Web and entertainment experiences
BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, today announced that T-Mobile will be the first to launch the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ in the U.S. T-Mobile’s first Android™-powered tablet, the Galaxy Tab delivers access to rich content on a seven-inch touch screen for a truly mobile entertainment experience. It is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores and online Nov. 10.
“Customers want richer, deeper interactions with entertainment and online content through connected, portable mobile broadband devices that are small enough to carry and big enough to share with friends and family”
Adding fuel to the entertainment experience on the Galaxy Tab is T-Mobile’s super-fast HSPA+ mobile broadband network, which delivers a speed boost allowing the 3G-enabled device to load Web pages and videos even faster than in areas of 3G coverage2. The brilliant enhanced TFT screen and sleek, compact form factor allow customers to bring the Galaxy Tab’s multimedia capabilities to life for themselves or to share, combining all their entertainment and communication needs into one device.
“Customers want richer, deeper interactions with entertainment and online content through connected, portable mobile broadband devices that are small enough to carry and big enough to share with friends and family,” said Jeremy Korst, director of broadband products and services, T-Mobile USA. “T-Mobile’s unique offerings on the Galaxy Tab paired with the power of T-Mobile’s new network allow us to bring a truly differentiated portable entertainment offering to market.”
The multimedia experience that makes the Galaxy Tab a powerful choice for entertainment enthusiasts includes the following:
* Samsung Media Hub
Samsung Media Hub offers a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase from some of the biggest names in entertainment, including MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Brothers. Customers can share content on up to five Media Hub-enabled devices, watch movies in seconds with Progressive Download, and get access to new release movies – some the day they are released on DVD. Customers can also watch series premieres and their favorite TV shows the day after they air. Samsung worked closely with all of the content providers to ensure that each movie and TV show is optimized to deliver a premium entertainment experience.
* Qik Video Chat
Unlike other video-calling solutions that only work over Wi-Fi, Qik Video Chat on the Galaxy Tab from T-Mobile enables customers to connect with friends and family from wherever they may be through T-Mobile’s network or Wi-Fi. With the Galaxy Tab’s front-facing camera paired with Qik Video Chat, customers can hold video conversations with those who have a Galaxy Tab or other Qik compatible mobile device. Customers can even share what they are seeing using the rear-facing camera. Customers also have the option to leave Video Mail using Qik when someone is unavailable.
* Kindle for Android™
The Kindle for Android application lets customers shop for hundreds of thousands of books in the Kindle Store, including New York Times® Best Sellers and new releases from $9.99. Using Amazon’s Whispersync technology, customers can automatically synchronize the last page read, bookmarks, annotations, and more across multiple devices.
* Slacker Radio
Slacker is a free, customizable internet radio application with over 130 DJ-programmed genre stations and the ability for customers to create their own. With millions of songs from thousands of artists, Slacker allows customers to discover new artists and hear their favorite music and provide feedback on what they like and don’t like with the click of a button. Customers can also access detailed artist biographies, in-depth album reviews and album cover art.
T-Mobile customers will enjoy a rich, brilliant viewing experience on the Galaxy Tab, which features a WSVGA enhanced TFT display combined with 3D-like graphics and full support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 for accessing Flash-enabled websites, watching video and playing games. Running on Android 2.2 and with built-in support for T-Mobile’s super-fast mobile broadband network and Wi-Fi, the Galaxy Tab’s portable screen is ideal for watching the latest movies and entertainment or experiencing thousands of widgets, games and applications on Android Market™.
Beyond entertainment, the Galaxy Tab also offers mobile broadband essentials such as easy access to personal and work e-mail, including support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar. In addition, the Galaxy Tab can support up to 32 GB of expandable microSD memory. Customers purchasing the Galaxy Tab can take advantage of T-Mobile’s monthly 5GB or 200MB webConnect mobile broadband plans or the newly launched prepaid mobile broadband offerings.
Availability
The Galaxy Tab will be available at T-Mobile on Nov. 10. Visit http://mobile-broadband.t-mobile.com/tablets to register for updates.
1 Based upon reported shipment data for Q1 and Q2 2010, 2009 and 2008, Strategy Analytics’ U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.
2 HSPA+ operates at today’s 4G speeds; not available everywhere.
