Samsung announces the next Google phone

One of the worst kept secrets of late, the Nexus S brings Android 2.3 to market and will be carried by Google online and in the best case Buy starting on December 15th.

After months of speculation and teasing, it is nevertheless official: The Nexus S is the then and there "Google Phone."  Samsung today sent out a press release laying out the specs of the new device and its release window.

The Nexus S will be the first phone to sport Google's Android 2.3 OS and will include new features like Nearly Field Communications radios and a curved front face "for a more ergonomic style and feel when held to the user's face".  Nearly Field Communication research allows users to read information off of day in day out objects like stickers and posters that are embedded with NFC chips.

"T-Mobile was the first carrier to launch an Android?-powered phone and currently carries the largest selection of Android devices.  The number of Android phones on T-Mobile's network has grown at an impressive pace over the past year, illustrating our clients' strong appetite for the innovative, rich experience Android offers.  We're excited to once again bring to our clients another breakthrough product with the Nexus S at the same time with Google, Samsung and Best Buy."

The latest version of the Android platform

Nexus S offers the latest version of the Android platform, Gingerbread, 4" Super AMOLED touch screen with curved design, Nearly Field Communication, front and rear-facing cameras and 1GHz application processor

SEOUL, Korea,  and DALLAS, US December 6, 2010 — Samsung Electronics,  a leading mobile phone provider and the  No. 1 mobile phone provider1 in the U.S., and Google? today announced Nexus S?, the world's first handset to feature the latest version of Google's Android? platform. Powered by Android 2.3, Samsung and Google have packed Nexus S with powerful research and the latest in hardware features.

JK Shin, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, said, "Samsung and Google have worked at the same time closely to deliver the best Android smart phone experience for consumers. It has been our ambition in working with Google to continue to push the Android platform forward and create a smart phone that has both superior functionality and a stunning user-experience. It is in the extreme satisfying to see this partnership again bear tremendous fruit."

"Samsung was thrilled to work with Google to create the first device featuring the much anticipated Android 2.3 OS. Nexus S is powerful proof of Samsung and Google's commitment to bringing innovation firsts to market and launching products that utilize the open and innovative Android operating system," said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer of Samsung Telecommunications America. "Nexus S integrates Samsung's best-in-class hardware and innovation with the exciting new features and upgrades of Android 2.3 Gingerbread to give consumers a breakthrough smartphone experience."

"Google is excited to co-develop Nexus S with Samsung, ensuring solid integration of hardware and software to deliver the lead device for the latest version of Android, Gingerbread," said Andy Rubin, Vice President of Engineering at Google.

Premium viewing experience

Nexus S is designed with Samsung's brilliant Super AMOLED touch screen innovation providing a premium viewing experience. The 4-inch Contour Display features a curved design for a more ergonomic style and feel when held to the user's face.  Nexus S as well features Nearly Field Communication research which allows you to read information off of day in day out objects like stickers and posters that are embedded with NFC chips. Powered by a 1 GHz Samsung application processor, Nexus S produces rich 3D graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content.

Nexus S is equipped with a 5 megapixel rear facing camera and camcorder, as then as a VGA front facing camera. Just in case, Nexus S features a gyroscope sensor to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down or panning the phone to the left or right. Nexus S as well comes with 16 GB of internal memory.

Android 2.3, Gingerbread, is the fastest version of Android but. It features support for Nearly Field Communication, a new and improved keyboard with multi-touch support, Internet calling, and a clean new user interface. Nexus S as well includes popular Android features just as portable Wi-Fi hotspot, true multitasking, access to Google mobile services just as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Voice Actions, Google Voice™ and YouTube™, and access to over 100,000 apps and widgets on Android Market™.

Nexus S can be purchased online and in-store from Best Buy retailers in the U.S. starting afterwards December 16 and at Carphone Warehouse retailers in the U.K. afterwards December 20.

1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q3 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

Google, Nexus S, Android, Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Voice, YouTube, and Android Market are trademarks of Google, Inc.