Samsung T709 Makes Cellular and Wi-Fi Calls

Samsung introduced the SGH-T709, a sophisticated new slider phone which allows consumers to travel between their home, office or public wireless LAN locations with virtually no data interruptions, meaning fewer glitches when downloading content, surfing the wireless Internet or watching streaming video.

Requiring no additional setup by the consumer, the T709 switches between cellular networks and Wi-Fi hotspots, automatically detecting the fastest and most cost-effective network - reducing bills dramatically. UMA is particularly attractive to business users, with Wi-Fi use in the office environment growing exponentially, further reducing bills for corporate users.

"Most operators and vendors acknowledge that UMA is a stepping-stone to a more fully convergent solution that is closely aligned with IP standards, technologies and approaches," said Jeremy Green, principal analyst, Ovum. "UMA has some clear advantages, apart from its current availability. It is closely aligned with the GSM network architecture, and is thus easy for most mobile operators to implement technically and commercially."

"The success of services offered by major VoIP operators has proved that cheap internet telephony has become increasingly popular with consumers," said GertJan Kaat, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile & Personal Business Unit, Philips Semiconductors. "We will continue to drive innovation by providing our partners with exciting new technologies like UMA, delivering the building blocks for superior products designed around the consumer."

In addition to Wi-Fi connectivity, the T709 works on high-speed EDGE technology, allowing consumers to access, browse and download data files at speeds faster than ordinary GSM handsets. With a built-in speakerphone and speaker-independent voice recognition features, the T709 further enhances productivity by being a hands-free communication device.

The phone's cutting-edge network capabilities and advanced multimedia functionality are captured in a sleek black compact slider design weighing only 3.3 ounces. The tiny device packs a range of features including a 1.3-megapixel camera, an MP3 player, a video player, dual stereo speakers and an enhanced 262K-color TFT screen, providing a rich, vibrant sound and image to pictures, music, video clips and ringtones.

"Never before have consumers had the kind of freedom in communicating made possible by Samsung's T709," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president, Samsung.

"Samsung's T709 blazes a trail into the totally wireless world, allowing consumers to stay connected via cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity no matter where they are."