Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung) today unveiled a super slim bar phone that is expected to be the thinnest available in the U.S. when it launches this spring. The Samsung t509, displayed for the first time at the CTIA Wireless 2006 trade show, boasts an ultra-thin profile of only 9.8 mm. With the addition of the t509 to its U.S. product portfolio, Samsung leads the industry as the only company to have three distinct slim phone designs -- clamshell, slider and bar.

Driving the global trend and popularity of slim, wide-screened phone designs, Samsung's growing U.S. portfolio of ultra-slim phones is part of the company's aggressive global strategy in the slim phone category, demonstrating how quickly and effectively Samsung recognizes and acts on consumer demands. While Samsung delivers on developing smaller and thinner mobile phones, the company does so without compromising on reliability or on providing premium multimedia capabilities.

The functionality provided by a slim phone with expanded screen supports crucial advanced multimedia features, such as entertainment services, streaming video and messaging. The t509 joins Samsung's successful slim predecessors, the a900, featuring a clamshell design, and the t809, with its slider design. Both phones support impressive multimedia features and each measures less than 15 mm thin. Also included in Samsung's upcoming portfolio of sleek, slim phones is the d807, a stylish black and chrome slider expected in the U.S. this summer.

The t509 and d807 feature high-speed EDGE connectivity and Bluetooth(R) wireless technology to support delivery of entertainment and information on- demand services. Each phone boasts large, vivid 262K-color screens, ideal for watching streaming videos or viewing images taken with the phones' integrated cameras. On the d807, an external memory slot, supporting microSD(TM) memory cards, allows for additional external content storage.

"Samsung's industry leadership is based on our ability to deliver innovative phone designs, especially as consumers demand thinner and sleeker devices," said Peter Skaryzynski, senior vice president, Samsung. "When consumers choose one of our slim phones, they are getting an intelligently designed handset that integrates the best features and functionality on the market."

Samsung's reputation to develop slim designs with advanced features started early with the introduction of the company's first 9.8 mm mobile phone, the SPH-N2000, in Korea in 2001. Samsung will continue to introduce additional slim concept designs throughout the world with various form factors and features.

Global products announced earlier this year and on display at CTIA include the credit-card sized SGH-P300 phone, which measures 8.9 mm and comes packed with a 1.3 megapixel camera, music player and advanced video recording capabilities. Samsung's SGH-D870 is the world's thinnest three megapixel camera phone in a slider form factor, and the SGH-D520 and SCH-Z540 are both slim, elegantly designed multimedia phones.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, L.P., a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, see STA's website at http://www.samsungwireless.com .

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2005 parent company sales of US$56.7 billion and net income of US$7.5 billion. Employing approximately 128,000 people in over 90 offices in 51 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones, and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit http://www.samsung.com

Source: prnewswire