T-Mobile USA’s device portfolio today received a fresh infusion of high- to mid-range texting devices from Samsung. The carrier rolled out the Samsung T, the Samsung Gravity and the Samsung 🙂 (Smiley). The phones feature qwerty keyboards and a unique set of form factors.
Following on a play from Microsoft’s recent line of KIN social-oriented phones, each of the Samsung devices includes a new social networking feature called T-Mobile Social Buzz, which integrates popular social networking sites into one application. When not in use, Social Buzz runs in the background and delivers pop-up message notifications to the phone’s home screen.
The next generation of Gravity devices follows on the Samsung Gravity and Gravity 2. Both feature full qwerty keyboards, 2-megapixel cameras, video capture, browser and up to16 GB of expandable memory. The Gravity 3 brings a T9 keyboard.
The Samsung 🙂 (Smiley) features a compact, rounded-edge design, a slide-up vertical qwerty keyboard and a dedicated shortcut for quick access to messaging applications, including text, picture, video and instant messaging, as well as Exchange and personal e-mail capability. The Smiley includes a built-in camera and camcorder, a music player and support for expandable memory.
Available starting today exclusively to T-Mobile customers, the new lineup comes in at $75 or less. Plans for the phones that include 500 minutes of talk, unlimited texting and unlimited Web start at $59.99 per month.