April 3, 2009 One of the new releases attracting a lot of attention at CTIA is the Samsung SWD-M100 Mondi, a mobile WiMAX enabled handheld device that is designed for use with the Clear mobile WiMAX service from Clearwire. The touch screen Mondi includes a slide out lower lip QWERTY keypad and, according to Samsung, ‘many of the powerful features and uses of a laptop computer or netbook,’ in a unit that fits in your pocket.
The Mondi also includes GPS Navigation provided by Route 66 and a full-featured web browser, powered by Opera 9.5, which has been designed to take full advantage of the device’s 4.3-inch touch screen. The unit Mondi offers location based services, instant access to social networking websites and also supports various services including Fring, Gypsii, and MS Live Messenger. Customization is possible using a set of widgets that can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the display screen.
Samsung is positioning the Mondi as ideal for both work and play with WiFi connectivity offering business users fast and access to Outlook Email/Calendars, Microsoft Office and other vertical business applications outside the Clear service area, while for the multimedia user, the device offers the ability to download and watch movies, listen to music or play games. Running on Windows Mobile 6.1 the Mondi has 4GB of internal memory, direct push/mobile email (POP3, IMAP, SMTP) support, 3.0 Megapixel camera and camcorder, Bluetooth 2.0, HDMI TV output and supports multiple video and audio formats.
Clearwire currently only provides mobile WiMAX service in Portland, Ore. and Baltimore, MD. but expects to expand the service to more than 80 markets by 2010 with Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Philadelphia, and Seattle some of the major markets expected to launch Clear service this year.
There’s no pricing or release date available for the Samsung SWD-M100 Mondi as yet, but Samsung are promising it will be the first handheld WiMAX device released in the US.
Darren Quick
Via The Mobiler.
