Samsung Mondi MID launched

By: Raghav Kapoor

It is reportedly the first WiMAX-enabled MID for commercial service

Samsung Mondi MID

 Samsung Mobile recently announced the commercial availability of the Samsung Mondi MID (mobile internet device), which the company claims is the most advanced WiMAX-enabled handheld device in the US. The Mondi has been specially designed for use with Clear mobile WiMAX service which is being offered by Clearwire. This service is currently available in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Portland, and will soon expand to other places also.

Since the Mondi works on WiMAX it can achieve upload and download speeds that are double of what is achieved on a 3G network. Moreover, the WiMAX also has an added advantage of a widespread network. The Mondi is also equipped with Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) that works as a backup solution in case the user is out of WiMAX coverage area. In this way the user can experience seamless connectivity.

Omar Khan, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Product Management for Samsung Mobile, said that “The Mondi is a perfect example of the powerful and stylish innovation that Samsung is bringing to the U.S. mobile market. The Mondi packs productivity tools, entertainment options and content management applications into a compact device that is flexible and intuitive.”

Talking about the tech specs, the Mondi is powered by an 800MHz ARM 11 processor and has a 4.3-inch WVGA (800x480 resolution) touchscreen display. This device also has a horizontal slide open QWERTY keyboard that offers the user ease of typing. It comes with the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system that has a flexible interface which allows the user to place widgets anywhere on the screen.

On the outside the Mondi has a small and compact form factor so that the user can easily carry this device in his/her pocket. The weight of this device is just 5.39oz and it has the dimensions of 4.88 x 3.03 x 0.63-inches. The exterior body has a solid black finish that gives it an elegant look. Other features of this device include:

·         Opera 9.5 web browser

·         Microsoft Outlook and Windows Mobile Office

·         Direct Push/Mobile Email (POP3, IMAP, SMTP)

·         Bluetooth v2.1+EDR

·         Ambient light sensor

·         Accelerometer

·         GPS

·         3MP webcam

·         Audio in/out port

·         Micro USB

·         Micro SD slot

·         MHDMI TV Out

·         4GB internal memory

·         32GB external memory

The Mondi is packed with rich multimedia features that offer instant access to the e-mail, internet, video content, and business applications. The device supports various services including Fring, Gypsii, and Windows Live Messenger. The Mondi is equipped for GPS navigation through Route 66, providing turn-by-turn directions. It also offers users personal information management software like calendar, clock, worldtime, alarm, converter, calculator, memo, and stop watch.

Samsung claims that the Mondi can run for up to 4 hours with the WiMAX switched on and up to 5 hours with the Wi-Fi switched on. The Mondi MID is cuurently available on www.samsung.com and starting this August, it would be available at all Clearwire retail outlets and select Best Buy outlets in Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Portland. This device is priced at $450 a piece.