The wait for the 7-inch Galaxy Tab Android tablet will soon come to an end – at least for Verizon Wireless fans. Verizon will launch the tablet on Thursday, November 11, for $599.
The Galaxy Tab will run Android 2.2 “Froyo” and include Wi-Fi and EV-DO Rev A 3G mobile broadband for always-on connectivity. Data plans will start at $20 for 1GB of usage, but just like the iPad on AT&T, users will be able to choose whether or not they want the data plan, and if they do it won’t require a contract. There’s 512MB of RAM, 2GB of onboard flash storage, and an included 16GB microSD card.
$600 seems a bit steep for this device considering its smaller screen size and app library vis-a-vis the iPad. If Samsung wants to compete with the most popular tablet device ever sold, it would seem they should be a bit more competitive in their pricing. But the Verizon Galaxy Tab is $30 cheaper than the base iPad Wi-Fi + 3G model, so we’ll soon see how many users are willing to spend about as much for a tablet that doesn’t have a fruit logo.
Read the full press release after the jump.
VERIZON WIRELESS PUTS SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB™ IN STORES IN NOVEMBER
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS – 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.