LAS VEGAS—Samsung on Tuesday unveiled its first WiMAX device and updates to its TouchWiz platform ahead of the opening of CTIA Las Vegas 2009. Stressing consumer choice and a renewed focus on media rich touchscreen devices, the company unveiled its new smartphone, the Samsung Mondi.
The new device runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 and comes preloaded with Opera 9.5. The Mondi features a 4.3” LCD touchscreen, full slide-out qwerty keyboard and WiMAX capability. The new device also comes equipped with an updated version of Samsung’s TouchWiz functionality.
Previously equipped with e-mail, calendar and media support, TouchWiz now includes one-touch access to Internet applications. Omar Khan, senior vice president of strategy and communications for Samsung, cited partner relationships with Yahoo, Google and AccuWeather.
The company also showcased a revamp of the popular Samsung Instinct. The new model, the Instinct S30, will include expandable memory of 32GB and will come preloaded with Calendar Sync and IM. The new Instinct, however, will not come preloaded with TouchWiz as the UI was developed in cooperation with Sprint.
Beyond devices, Samsung also announced the release of an SDK in preparation for the forthcoming opening of its mobile applications storefront. The company said that the new store will allow a simplified widget development functionality for the consumer.
Khan said further details on the storefront will be available in the coming weeks.
