Samsung Electronics Australia has announced the launch of its new flagship handset for 2009, the Ultra Touch, which Samsung is claiming will reinforce the company’s leadership in touch, style and slide categories.

According to Tyler McGee, vice president of telecommunications, Samsung Australia, the new Ultra Touch’s dual form factor provides consumers with the ultimate choice, by offering an easy to use touch screen and slide-out numeric keypad.

“Introducing the new Samsung Ultra Touch gives us the opportunity to build on the popularity and huge success that Samsung and our customers have enjoyed with previous touch phones including the OMNIA and F480. The dual form factor gives consumer’s the best of both worlds and the design will ensure it’s your best looking accessory,” he said.

Aesthetically the Ultra Touch features red contoured lines on the front, a polished black keyboard and brushed metal frame. As well as this the slide-out keyboard is complemented with a large 2.8” AMOLED touch screen, which Samsung claims creates unparalleled screen brightness and clarity.

Technically speaking the Ultra Touch comes with an eight megapixel camera with dual power LED flash with Geo-tagging capability, Find Music and Fake Call functionality, and HSDPA 7.2 Mbps for high speed internet access.

The Ultra Touch also comes with web auto rotation which automatically changes between landscape and portrait mode when you rotate the phone.

“The Samsung Ultra Touch draws on Samsung’s long heritage as a leading creator of slider phones and incorporates the company’s recent developments and successes in the touch screen market with the OMNIA and F480,” said McGee.