Look out iPad, here comes Samsung’s Galaxy Tab
Samsung Mobile unveiled its entry in the U.S. computer tablet field yesterday. And it looks as if the company’s new Galaxy Tab is many things Apple’s iPad isn't. 
The Galaxy Tab comes with choices. It will be available on multiple wireless carriers, breaking from the AT&T-only strategy of Apple. Samsung said the minitablet will be available in the United States on all the big players in the U.S. wireless market — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. That’s good for Samsung, and good for consumers, because they won't need to change wireless providers to use the gadget or wait for the gadget to become available on their chosen network.
Samsung doesn’t plan to offer a Wi-Fi-only Galaxy Tab, which means customers will need a data plan with a wireless carrier for the unit to function fully.
The Galaxy Tab has cameras. It includes both front- and rear-facing cameras and will also support the Adobe Flash Player 10.1, which the iPad does not. The Galaxy will use the Google Android 2.2 operating system, and its application market. There will be partnerships in place with entertainment companies for video and television content. The device will have a 7-inch touch screen and weigh 13.4 ounces — about half the weight of the iPad, which weighs 1.6 pounds (25.6 ounces), and has a 9.7-inch screen.
The Galaxy Tab has front- and rear-facing cameras.
The Galaxy Tab is expected to go on sale in the U.S. before the holiday shopping season. The price hasn't been announced, but there's lots of speculation. Bloggers yesterday reported finding the device for sale on Amazon UK. A story on the Christian Science Monitor website: (http://bit.ly/galaxycsm) said a 16 gigabyte unit was selling for the equivalent of $1,067.
Samsung executive Hankil Yoon told The Wall Street Journal earlier this month that the Galaxy Tablet will likely retail for between $200 and $300, although the final price will vary depending on wireless-carrier subsidies.
American wireless carriers subsidize mobile phone prices. Customers can get a state-of-the-art smart phone for around $200 with a two-year contract, but may pay more than $500 for he the device without a service contract.
Read the official Samsung press release on the Galaxy Tab:
http://bit.ly/galaxypr
Read a Los Angeles Times blog about the Galaxy Tab:
http://lat.ms/galaxylat
