Samsung NZ launches Android-powered Galaxy 580 smartphone

Samsung Electronics New Zealand has unveiled the Samsung Galaxy 580 (model: I5800), a ‘smart, social media powerhouse’ based on the Android™ 2.1 platform.

The Samsung Galaxy 580 smartphone is the latest in Samsung’s portfolio of Android-powered devices and supports a full range of social networking capabilities.

Featuring an elegant, sleek design, the Samsung Galaxy 580 is an affordable yet powerful social media device, providing an integrated mobile experience. DivX support transforms the device into a personal entertainment system for video, while support for multiple audio formats is sure to delight music lovers.

Stefan Lecchi, head of the mobile communications business in New Zealand says the Samsung Galaxy 580 was designed to extend the brand’s portfolio of Android™ smart phones.

“The Galaxy 580 underlines Samsung’s commitment to offer a smartphone for every lifestyle. This device has a number of distinct benefits that can be tailored to suit users’ personal tastes.”

The Galaxy 580 features Samsung’s Social Hub, an integrated contacts list that links contacts from across social networks, enabling users to connect with friends across platforms and communicate seamlessly across networks.

Contact lists from sites including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are accessible on one platform ensuring users can remain connected at all times. Social Hub also enables fans of social networking to view photos on their mobiles using the integrated media browser and seamlessly upload, manage and share photos from Twitter and Facebook and create a digital photo album while on the go.

“With Social Hub, it is now easier than ever to keep in-touch with friends, family and colleagues through email, texting, social networking, video conference, or simply making a call, says Mr Lecchi.

The Samsung Galaxy 580 delivers rich media experiences to impress even the most demanding mobile users. The device supports a full suite of Google mobile services, including Google Search™ with Search by voice, Google Maps™, Gmail™, Calendar, YouTube™, Google Talk™ and Android Market™, so that users can benefit from the wealth of valuable content and enjoy familiar desktop PC experiences on the move via a user interface tailored for mobile devices. The Google mobile services are customised based on regional preferences and availability.

In addition, the Samsung Galaxy 580 includes a range of intelligent features and applications such as SWYPE™. Rather than typing letters individually, users simply swipe their finger across the keyboard from letter to letter, making texting on a touch screen phone quicker and easier than conventional mobile phones. Samsung and SWYPE™ recently broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest way to text.

The long-lasting Li-Ion 1500mAh battery maximizes the viewing experience. The Samsung Galaxy 580 comes equipped with a TouchWiz 3.0 User interface, which makes searching and browsing easy and intuitive.

The Samsung Galaxy 580 is available on the Vodafone New Zealand network.

Additional Samsung Galaxy 580 features:

Daily Briefing provides instant access to weather, world news, stocks and a daily calendar schedule.
AllShare enables inter-device connectivity via DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) technology to share photos, HD video and other files to other DLNA enabled devices such as TV, Netbooks, etc.
Write and go enables users to jot down an idea first and decide later on a format such as SMS/ MMS, email, calendar or memo.
ThinkFree means users can view and edit Microsoft Office documents.
Smart Alarm enables you to wake up with a natural alarm sound that gradually increases in volume and an automatically switched-on display light.

Product Specifications

Samsung Galaxy 580 (I5800)

Network	2.5G : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSDPA 3.6 Mbps) : 900/2100 MHz
OS	Android 2.1
Display	3.2” WVGA TFT LCD (240X400)
Camera	3.0 Megapixel with Auto Focus Smile Shot, Panorama Shot, Action shot, AddMe shot, Continuous Shot, Timer Shot, Scene, Digital Zoom
Video	DivX/Xvid, WMV, H.263, H.264, MPEG4 Video player & recorder (320x240) @15fps
Audio	Supports MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, WMA, MIDI, OGG Music Player with DNSe (Digital Natural Sound Effect) FM Radio with RDS, 3.5mm Ear jack
Value-added Features	Integrated Messaging ‘Social Hub’
	Google Mobile services
	Android MarketÔ for more applications and content
	Augmented Reality with Layar Reality Browser
	A-GPS
	Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor
	Touch Wiz 3.0 User interface
Connectivity	Bluetooth v3.0, USB v2.0 (Full-Speed), Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, All Share
Memory	170MB +, MicroSD (1GB included, up to 32GB)
Size	113.5 x 55x12.85mm
Battery	Li-Ion 1500mAh Talk time : 2G/15hrs, 3G/7.1hrsStand by : 2G/625hrs, 3G/517hrs

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

*Android, Android Market, Google, Google Search, Gmail, Google Talk, YouTube and Google Maps are trademarks of Google,Inc