Samsung's Galactic Expansion Continues With New Tablet Models

By Mark Raby | TechNewsWorl

Confirming earlier rumors, Samsung has unveiled yet another member of its Galaxy Tab family: an 8.9-inch model. This falls between the 7-incher already on the market and the 10.1-incher scheduled to arrive in a few months. The company also revealed another version of its 10.1-inch tablet -- this one sleeker, lighter and thinner.

After launching a seven-inch tablet last year and unveiling a 10.1-inch pad earlier in 2011, Samsung on Tuesday revealed its Galaxy Tab family's middle child: an 8.9-inch tablet computer.

While other high-profile tablet makers like Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Motorola (NYSE: MOT) have generally stuck around the 10-inch form factor, Samsung's apparently attacking the market with a lineup that offers a range of choice in size.

"This shows just how dynamic and competitive the mobile market has become, and how innovative we need to be to stay ahead of the competition," said Samsung Mobile President JK Shin at a media event in Orlando. The tablet market in particular is "growing more competitive and complex every day. People expect different user experiences for different screen sizes." 

The New Galaxy Tab 10.1 

It was just a month ago that Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab 10.1, a larger, 10.1-inch version of the 7-inch Galaxy Tab it launched during the 2010 holiday season. On Tuesday, the company introduced another version of the 10.1-inch tablet that's lighter and thinner than the one it showed just a few weeks ago. 

In fact, at just 8.6 millimeters thick, Samsung is calling it the thinnest large-screen tablet in the world.

It's more than just making it a bit sleeker and adding a pinch of functionality. Most importantly, it will be available with 4G connectivity, starting with the low-end HSPA+ networks but eventually leading up to WiMax and LTE, Samsung said.

Samsung's marketing message with the new 10.1 is its entertainment value. Users can watch movies on Samsung Media Hub, take pictures with either the HD-capable rear-facing camera or the 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and listen to music with the brand new Music Hub.

Samsung plans to challenge the dominance of iTunes in the digital music market by launching its own service, which will integrate directly into the new Galaxy Tabs. This feature won't just be found on the new version of the 10.1 tab, but also on the newly revealed 8.9-inch tablet as well. 

The Goldilocks Tablet ? 

 

So what about the consumers who think the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab is too small and the 10.1-inch model is too big? That's where the Galaxy Tab 8.9 comes in.

With a display measuring in at 8.9 inches, the newest tablet, Samsung says, is focused on productivity. It's small enough to take everywhere but big enough to show a lot of information.

The new screen size perhaps underscores what Samsung has been focused on from the beginning of its tablet endeavors. When the company first unveiled the Galaxy Tab last year, Samsung executives spent a lot of time talking about all the market research they poured into finding out the perfect screen size. At the time, apparently, that was 7 inches. Today, though, Samsung said there is no perfect size. If you think the optimal size is 7, or 9, or 10, you're right.

"You have to at least admire the ambition," Andrew Kameka, editor of Androinica.com, told TechNewsWorld. "The original Galaxy Tab was great, but then people started wanting more. That's when the 10.1 was announced. But this is a crazy market, and the iPad 2 was announced, so now people want even more. Samsung is performing a Herculean task by keeping on top of this demand."  

Challenging the Enterprise Market 

 

Samsung also wants to take its new toys to the enterprise market. It's offering the following features on the new Galaxy Tabs :

• SAP's (NYSE: SAP) Business Objects Explorer software
• Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Exchange ActiveSync
• Sybase (NYSE: SY) Afaria
• Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) AnyConnect
• Microsoft QuickOffice

 

Tablet Pricing 

 

Although both new Tabs will be available with 4G connectivity in the future, the first versions to hit the market will only be equipped with WiFi.

Those WiFi-only models will be priced as such :

• Galaxy Tab 8.9 -- 16GB : US$469
• Galaxy Tab 8.9 -- 32GB : $569
• Galaxy Tab 10.1 -- 16GB : $499
• Galaxy Tab 10.1 -- 32GB : $599. **