Australian telecommunication giant Telstra has announced plans to launch the new Samsung Galaxy Ace mobile phone on its Next G network.
Over the past year, Samsung has launched several major Android devices in Australia from the Galaxy S, to the 7 & 10” Galaxy Tablets, however, and now the Galaxy Ace. Despite Samsung’s good reputation, the Galaxy Ace is a much lower end affair than its galactic siblings. With a 800mhz CPU, a 3.5” touchscreen and a 5 megapixel camera, the Galaxy Ace will be a lower end option for those interested in Samsung hardware without all the accouterments.
The Ace will be served with a little Froyo since the spec sheet reveals it will ship with Android 2.2, and will also include the popular Swype keyboard. The Ace is lighter and more svelte than many other devices on the market at 113 grams with measurements of 112.4mm by 59.9mm and 11.5mm thick (4.45 in x 2.4 in x .5 inches).
Available either outright or with a service plan, the price ranges from $528 AUD for the hardware alone to a 24 month $59 a month plan that includes $550 worth of calls as well as 1.5Gb of data on the Telstra Freedom Connect plan.
“Building on the success of the Galaxy range, the Samsung Galaxy Ace offers a unique take on the Android smartphone experience, combining performance and functionality in a sleek design,” said Tyler McGee, vice president of Telecommunications for Samsung Electronics Australia. “We are excited to be partnering with Telstra to launch the Galaxy Ace and provide customers with the latest in Samsung smartphone design and innovation.”
Considering the Motorola Atrix is launching on Telstra at an outright price of $840 AUD, the $528 Ace will be a welcome option for Telstra customers who don’t need all the bells and whistles but still want a smartphone without the exorbitant price tag.
