By Claire Reilly
Following the launch of Australia’s first 4G smartphone – the HTC Velocity 4G – in January, Telstra and Samsung have announced the launch of the first tablet in Australia to utilise the country’s 4G LTE network.
With its eponymous 8.9 inch high-definition touch screen, 1.5GHz dual core processor and fast multi-tasking, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G is being billed by Telstra as the next step in technology and mobile connectivity.
“Australians are adopting mobile tablets in record numbers and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G – the nation’s first 4G mobile tablet – promises to boost the appeal of this technology even further,” said Telstra Mobile executive director, Warwick Bray.
“The leap in internet speeds available on Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G means customers can stream HD video and music over the internet, load magazines faster and enjoy rich internet content traditionally confined to a PC screen.”
Samsung Electronics Australia’s VP of Telecommunications, Tyler McGee, was similarly positive about the new device.
“Samsung is delighted to partner with Telstra to offer consumers Australia’s first 4G tablet device,” said McGee. “We know speed is increasingly important to Australians as is portability and a sleek, stylish form factor, both of which the Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G offers in spades.”
The device runs the Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system (which will be upgradable to Android 4.0 in the future), and features a 6,100 mAh battery, 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with flash and 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and weighs in at 470 grams.
The Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G is available in a 16GB model (RRP $720 outright) and a 32GB model (RRP $840 outright), both of which will be available in Telstra stores from today.
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Telstra also announced the launch of the new Telstra Pre-Paid USB 4G dongle, joining the consumer and business post-paid 4G dongles that were launched last year. The device can be purchased for $129 and comes with 3GB worth of data to use in 30 days, with a variety of recharge options available.
“With the launch of the Telstra Pre-Paid USB 4G hundreds of thousands of Australians who rely on pay-as-you-go mobile broadband can access some of the fastest mobile internet speeds available,” said Bray.
“In 4G coverage areas Telstra Pre-Paid USB 4G owners can surf the mobile internet on their laptops up to five times faster than previously possible on 3G Pre-Paid modems. That means they can download songs faster, video chat with fewer interruptions, get TV shows in minutes and do more things simultaneously.”
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 4G.