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Samsung Ultras now with 3G and HSDPA

By Reuben Lee
Dec 12, 2006

SINGAPORE--Samsung showcased for the first time in Singapore the silver versions of its new 3G Ultra Edition 8.4, 11.8 and 13.8 phones.


The 11.8 is touted as the world's slimmest HSDPA phone
(click for more specs)
First announced in Europe in August, the three new Ultra Edition mobiles are 3G successor models to the Ultra Edition 6.9, 9.9 and 12.9 phones unveiled at CommunicAsia 2006 earlier in June this year. Like its predecessors, the numbers used in the naming convention represent the thickness of the phone.

In a press statement issued earlier, Ng Long Shyang, Samsung Asia's director of Sales & Marketing, Telecommunications & IT Products, SET Division, believes that "the launch of Samsung's latest Ultra Edition 3G handsets has broken down the barrier of delivering great 3G handsets that combine the best design and feature functionalities".

Of the 3G trio, only the Ultra Edition 11.8 (Z620) and 13.8 (Z720) feature High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) connectivity, a first for the Ultra Edition series. According to Samsung, both the 11.8 and 13.8 are the world's slimmest HSDPA clamshell and slider handsets, respectively. Interestingly, the 13.8, which sports a slightly larger footprint than the 12.9, actually weighs 5g less than its non-3G predecessor. Users who found the touch-sensor-like keypad for the 9.9 not user-friendly for SMS texting will also be happy to know that its 3G successor, the 11.8, features a more responsive light-touch number pad


Samsung claims that the 8.4 is the slimmest 3G phone in the world
(click for more specs)
The spotlight of the launch was, however, on the Ultra Edition 8.4 (Z370). Touted as the world's slimmest 3G phone, the 8.4 improves upon the 6.9 with a thicker, yet more solid chassis as well as a microSD card expansion slot.

A Samsung spokesperson added that the new Ultra Edition handsets will be available in silver to help users differentiate between the new 3G range and the earlier non-3G handsets in black. The new phones will also sport higher-capacity 900mAh batteries, in response to user feedback that the earlier Ultra phones have a limited battery life.

The 8.4 is expected to be launched in mid-December 2006, while the 13.8 will be available much later in February 2007. At press time, Samsung cannot confirm when the 11.8 will be introduced in Asia but expects it to be out in the first quarter of next year.

Also showcased at the event is Samsung's recently launched HSDPA-enabled SGH-Z560. The company will be partnering local mobile operator M1 to conduct the first consumer trial of HSDPA phones in Singapore for 200 M1 customers. Selected users will be given the Z560 handset and M1's HSDPA SIM card for a one-month trial period, which begins December 19 2006.

 

 
See the new 3G Ultra Edition handsets »

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