T-Mobile offered new details on the Samsung Galaxy S 4G, as well as LG's G-Slate Android 3.0-based tablet, both tuned to the carrier's HSPA+ 4G network. The Galaxy S 4G brings the familiar 1GHz, four-inch Galaxy S design to 4G, while the G-Slate runs on an Nvidia Tegra 2, offering 3D capabilities and an unusual 8.9-inch size.

T-Mobile USA released more information on Feb. 2 about the LG G-Slate and Samsung Galaxy S 4G Android devices it plans to offer soon — and took some shots at the Verizon Wireless iPhone 4 slated for launch next week.

T-Mobile formally introduced the Galaxy S 4G smartphone two weeks ago at a media event in New York City. Now, the wireless carrier confirmed the Android 2.2-based smartphone will launch later this month.

Two views of the Samsung Galaxy S 4G

T-Mobile still has not offered pricing for its 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird-powered Galaxy S 4G, but did offer more technical details on the phone. The phone offers a pre-installed 16GB microSD memory card, a four-inch Super AMOLED display, and an ST-Ericsson M5720 HSPA+ 4G cellular modem with peak download speed of up to 21Mbps, claims T-Mobile. Other features include Wi-Fi and a 1650mAh lithium ion battery.

The handset provides 720p video capture, and offers both a back-facing five-megapixel camera plus a front-facing videocam, says T-Mobile. Touting the multimedia experiences of gaming and movies on its 4G-enabled devices, the carrier has preloaded the film Inception on the Galaxy S 4G, along with the T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik.

T-Mobile argues that its 4G HSPA+ (Evolved High-Speed Packet Access) and affordable data prices — starting at $10 a month for the Galaxy S 4G — make it well positioned to compete with Verizon and its iPhone. In a competitive jab at No. 1 carrier Verizon, T-Mobile said in a statement, "While there's been a lot of talk about Verizon's iPhone recently, T-Mobile's perspective is — why upgrade your smartphone and downgrade your network? It's no fun having a great device running on a slow network."

However, Verizon's iPhone 4 shouldn't be T-Mobile's competitive focus. T-Mobile's attention should be on the Motorola Atrix 4G coming this month from AT&T and Motorola Droid Bionic launching next quarter on Verizon. These Android-based devices offer dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processors are, and are intended to run on 4G networks from their respective carriers.

G-Slate tablet goes 3D

More exciting for many consumers is T-Mobile's introduction of LG Mobile Phones' previously tipped G-Slate tablet, which the carrier expects to sell this spring. All that was previously revealed about the G-Slate was its Android 3.0 operating system and 4G capability. Now T-Mobile has offered more details, including the presence of the dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 32GB of internal memory, and an unusual 8.9-inch size for its multitouch display.

LG's T-Mobile destined G-Slate

As had been previously rumored, the G-Slate also offers 3D capability. The tablet is capable of 720p HD video playback and boasts an HDMI output to show 1080p content on 3D and HD displays, says T-Mobile. Native support for 3D graphics will be a boon for online gaming and to allow consumers to "capture and share their own 3D videos and experience 3D HD content right on the device with the aid of 3D glasses," the carrier said.

The device sports a rear-facing five megapixel camera with LED flash that offers a stereoscopic video recorder with 1080p video capture. The front-facing camera enables users to video chat with people over T-Mobile's network or Wi-Fi with Google Talk, says the carrier. The G-Slate is also said to feature a built-in gyroscope, accelerometer, and adaptive lighting in indoor and outdoor use.

Google is expected to present a demo of Android 3.0 on the Motorola Xoom tablet at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters today. Like the G-Slate, the Xoom and the Toshiba Tablet incorporate a Tegra 2 processor.

Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S 4G is due later this month from T-Mobile at an undisclosed price. More information, plus notification signup, may be found at T-Mobile's Galaxy S 4G page.

The LG G-Slate is due this spring from T-Mobile at an undisclosed price. More information, plus notification signup, may be found at T-Mobile's G-Slate page.

Clint Boulton is a writer for our sister publication eWEEK.

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