T-Mobile Prices Galaxy S 4G, Bills For Media Hub

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 2/24/2011

Bellevue, Wash. - T-Mobile priced the 4G version of its Samsung Galaxy S smartphone at $199 after $50 rebate card and announced that consumers would be able to pay for Samsung's MediaHub video-download service through their monthly phone bills.

The retail price requires the purchase of a $30/month unlimited data plan, which is added to voice plans, or the purchase of a $99/month Even More unlimited talk, text and web plan. A two-year contract is also required.

The Galaxy S 4G Android 2.2 smartphone is the carrier's fastest 4G phone to date, capable of theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21Mbps in HSPA+ markets. The carrier's other two 4G phones, the Android 2.2-based HTC-made myTouch 4G and HTC-made G2, are capable of 14.4Mbps peak downloads.

Compared to the 3G Galaxy S, the Galaxy S 4G adds video-chat capability  and automatic Wi-Fi syncing of photos, HD video and music with a home PC.

 With direct billing by T-Mobile of Samsung's Media Hub service, consumers get the option to place the charge for a purchased or rented movie or TV download directly to their monthly T-Mobile service bill. Downloads are enabled over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G. Media Hub customers who purchase for permanent ownership can share that content with five devices enabled with Media Hub at no extra cost.

Media Hub is available on Samsung's Epic 4G, Vibrant and Galaxy S 4G, and it will be available on the Captivate, Fascinate and Continuum Galaxy-class phones, a Samsung spokesperson told TWICE. Media Hub is also available on the Galaxy Tab in the U.S. Right now, however, only T-Mobile offers direct carrier billing, and only for the Galaxy S 4G.

Media Hub offers movies and next-day TV-show titles from CBS, Fox, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

Movies are available for rental at $2.99 to $3.99 or for purchase at $9.99 to $17.99. TV episodes, including next-day programming, can be purchased for as low as $1.99. The price range for renting and buying content depends on whether a title is a new release. In addition, full seasons of TV shows are available to buy from Media Hub.

Like T-Mobile's 3G Galaxy S, called the Vibrant, the 4G version features proprietary 4-inch multitouch touchscreen with Samsung-proprietary Super AMOLED display, Samsung 1GHz processor, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera/camcorder with 720p video capture, LED flash, DLNA-certified Wi-Fi, six-axis sensor, and stereo Bluetooth. Both versions also come with preloaded MobiTV-powered T-Mobile TV app, which streams live and recorded TV programming over cellular.

The 4G version adds a pre-loaded T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik, enabling live video chats over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G via the new front-facing video camera or via the rear-facing camera. Also new is the pre-installed doubleTwist with AirSync app, which enables Wi-Fi auto syncing of photos, HD videos and music to and from a home computer.