Telus Mobility has announced plans to launch its first smartphone supporting up to 21 Mpbs download speeds within the next two months.
The phone is the Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate 4G, which is nearly identical to the current model of the same name that Telus currently sells supporting 3G+ speeds. Telus recently upgraded its network to dual-cell HSPA technology, which gave it a speed boost to a theoretical 21 Mpbs download, up from 14 Mpbs. Telus is marketing its newly-upgraded network as being a “4G” network.
Related blog post: ‘4G’ joins ‘HD’ as meaningless marketing label
In typical use, owners of the new Galaxy S Fascinate 4G can expect to get 10 to 11 Mpbs download speeds, according to Hugh Dyke, manager of marketing mobile communications for Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. In a speed test run using an app on the device inside Telus’ Toronto headquarters, the device achieved a download speed of just faster than 4 Mbps.
“This is about three times faster than a first generation smartphone,” Dyke says. “You think about all those emerging video services that people will use online, this allows you to take full advantage of them.”
Related Story: Samsung Galaxy Tab holds its own in review round-up
Pricing is not available for the device at this point, but Telus says there will be no premium for access to the 4G speeds. The 3G+ version of the device is currently available for $49.99 on a three year term with a voice and data plan from Telus, to $529.99 with no contract.
The device will launch running Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo OS, and will later be upgraded to run 2.3 Gingerbread, Dyke says. The device includes a front-facing camera and comes pre-loaded with Qik, a videoconferencing app.
Telus bringing Nexus S to Canada
Samsung is also launching the Google-branded Nexus S phone with Telus. This four-inch touch screen Android device will launch in the next 30 to 60 days with Android 2.3.
The device has a contoured Super AMOLED screen, shaped slightly like a boomerang, for an ergonomic shape. It will also have a near-field communications (NFC) chip that will enable “bumping” phones to exchange contact information or other data, Dyke says. NFC could also be used as a mobile wallet function in the future.
The phone will support voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services like Fring or Skype on WiFi or Telus’ 3G+ network.
Brian Jackson is a Senior Writer at ITBusiness.ca. Follow him on Twitter, read his blog, and check out the IT Business Facebook Page.