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June 25, 2010

T-Mobile USA now is selling a few new handsets from Samsung that offer new texting features. The wireless carrier rolled out the Samsung T, the Samsung Gravity and the Samsung Smiley handsets late yesterday.

The new devices feature Qwerty keyboards and a unique set of form factors that it thinks its users will love. Following on a play from Microsoft's recent line of KIN social-oriented phones, each of the Samsung devices include a new social networking feature called T-Mobile Social Buzz, which integrates popular social networking sites into one single 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 mobile handsets feature full Qwerty keyboards, 2-megapixel cameras, video capture, browser and up to 16 GB of expandable memory. The Gravity 3 brings a T9 keyboard, however.

Available starting today exclusively to T-Mobile USA customers, the new lineup is available at $75 or less. Plans for the handset that include 500 minutes of talk, unlimited texting and unlimited Internet start at $59.99 per month.

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 Microsoft Exchange Server and personal e-mail capability.

The Smiley includes a built-in camera and camcorder, a music player and support for expandable memory.

Last week, T-Mobile USA was hoping to participate on Fathers’ Day gift-buying tradition by offering any of its thirty mobile handsets free to any customers who sign up for a two-year family plan. Only offered on Saturday June 19, the promotion comes only days before Apple's iPhone 4 officially comes to market in the U.S.

“For this special day celebrating dad and his family, T-Mobile USA is excited to offer an industry-first promotion that helps all families stay connected,” said Adrian Hurditch, vice president of marketing at T-Mobile.

“This unprecedented event rewards dad and helps families stick together with the latest phones — all for free.”

T-Mobile's latest promotion requires a new 2-year contract or an additional line added to an existing contract and is only valid while supplies last.

The wireless operator also said its new promotion includes its entire stock of mobile handsets, including the MyTouch 3G Slide, which was just introduced ten days ago for $180, as well as the HTC HD2 and Garminfone, all of which normally retail for $200.

T-Mobile recently clarified its data pricing to equalize what it charges for its WebConnect wireless data offering across its Even More and Even More Plus rate plans.

The service is now $40 a month for 5 GB or $25 for 200 megabytes of data transmission on both plans.

Packages include unlimited access to the carrier’s Wi-Fi service.

In other but related news, last month, T-Mobile continued to pressure larger wireless carriers rolling out its HSPA+ network in a number of densely populated markets in the Northeast, including New York City, parts of New Jersey, areas of upstate New York, Connecticut and Providence, R.I., as well as in Memphis, Tenn. and Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Source: T-Mobile USA.