Samsung launch three new Wave series smartphones

Global handset maker Samsung Electronics Co Ltd today announced the launch of three new smartphones- Wave 3, Wave M and Wave Y.

All three devices are powered by Samsung’s own new bada 2.0 platform, said an official press release from the company. In pictures: Samsung Tab 10.1 released in India

Samsung Wave 3 comes with a 4” Super AMOLED display, a 1.4GHz processor and HSPA + connectivity packed into a 9.9mm brushed-metal case. The phone has a slim unibody design and is constructed of anodized aluminium.

The phone includes Samsung’s integrated Social Hub and Music Hub, which allows the purchase and download of tracks and albums over-the-air.

Samsung Wave M has a 3.65” HVGA screen made from tempered glass and a metallic body.

The phone allows streamlined messaging feeds, enhanced on-the-go web browsing and Wi-Fi applications. Read: Cheaper iPhone 4 to be released within weeks

Samsung Wave Y, touted as the smartphone for beginners, has a metallic hairline body, a 3.2” and an HVGA screen. It comes with Music Hub, a portable music manager, which gives ‘users a jukebox in their pocket’.

Both Wave M and Wave Y allow mobile social networking with Social Hub and ChatON.
(ChatON is Samsung’s global cross-platform communication service that instantly links users with all friends and contacts, and allows setting up of micro-communities through group chat and sharing of content and conversations between mobile and PC.)

All three phones allow multi-tasking, Wi-Fi Direct, voice recognition and Near Field Communication (optional). They also offer advanced services such as photo and file sharing without internet networking, mobile payment and transport pass-card recharge.

 JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications business said,“Smartphones are gaining popularity by the day. The new additions to the Wave portfolio are the first to benefit from the power of our bada 2.0 platform; the full extent of our commitment is clear to see in each device. We’ve produced easy-to-use smartphones that will inspire the market.”

Verizon Wireless Pushes Square-Competitor to mobile payment at retails

Verizon Wireless will be adding one more item to the accessory rack in its stores.

Nope, it’s not earbuds or a new iPhone case. It’s a credit card reader.

The wireless carrier has formed a strategic alliance with Intuit to start selling that company’s GoPayment credit card reader in its 2,300 retail stores and other distribution channels.

Mike Schaefer, Verizon’s executive director of product development, tells me that salespeople in Verizon retail outlets will be trained to teach owners of small-to-medium-sized businesses — or anyone else, for that matter — how to install the application, sign up, and start taking credit card payments.

Other devices on the market offer similar services, but Schaefer said Verizon picked Intuit’s card reader to exclusively feature in its stores. He declined to disclose the terms of the agreement. Other similar products are available from Square and VeriFone.

Many small-business owners are already acquainted with Intuit through its line of software products, including Quicken, QuickBooks and TurboTax.

Andrew Morbitzer, director of Intuit’s Payments Solutions Group, said this is the first time its card readers will be available at retail other than at the Apple store, which was negotiated by the company’s partner.

Verizon Wireless customers will be able to get the card reader for free after a $30 mail-in rebate. The application can be downloaded for free; Intuit charges 2.7 percent of each transaction. It also offers a monthly plan that costs $12.95, along with a lower 1.7 percent transaction fee. Verizon customers who opt for the monthly plan will not have to pay the fee for 60 days.

GoPayment is actually one of Intuit’s fastest growing businesses and Hylen says the service is on track to process over $1 billion in transactions for the year. Intuit declined to reveal how many businesses are using GoPayment but did say that customer acquisition has gone up by eight times since January.