Samsung has unveiled their first Android 4.0 tablet, the Samsung Galaxy 2. This 7″ tablet will have what many consider the perfect form factor along with the tasty Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android. This Galaxy Tab successor will feature:

• 7” WSVGA(1024×600) PLS TFT
• 1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
• 1GB (RAM)
• microSD (up to 32GB)
• 3 Megapixel Fixed Focus Rear Camera
• Front facing VGA camera
• Standard battery, Li-ion 4,000mAh
• Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Samsung TouchWiz/ Samsung L!ve Panel UX

Personally, I’m not a fan of skinned versions of Ice Cream Sandwich, but if you don’t mind TouchWiz, the Galaxy Tab 2 is looking to be a budget tablet which might fall into the $199-$299 territory. The Galaxy Tab 2 will be available in both 3G and WiFi versions and will launch in the UK this March. We’ll let you know when we hear about pricing, until then, check out the full press release below:

Samsung’s new GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) offers optimal multimedia experiences in life
February 13, 2012

Samsung expands the GALAXY Tab range with GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) powered by the AndroidTM 4.0 and a 1GHz dual core processor

Prague, February 13, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today introduced its first line-up of tablets for 2012 with the launch of the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0), expanding the choice of tablets to customers. Light and portable, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) is the ideal personal on-the-go device, available in 3G and WiFi versions. Starting from UK, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) will be launched in global market from March.

“Two years ago, Samsung GALAXY Tab began to offer customers more possibilities on the go. Since then, Samsung has actively enhanced our tablet line-up with several tablets in different sizes,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “The new GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) will provide people with delighted multimedia experience and allow efficient communication.”

Samsung’s first Android 4.0 Tablet

Samsung’s first Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)-powered tablet offers a variety of new and improved Android OS features. An upgraded Android Market enables access to more than 400,000 applications which can be enjoyed across phones or tablets. Furthermore, a more intuitive user interface includes the ability to swipe-control applications as well as a wholly redesigned app gallery for easier sharing of content. The new OS’s vastly faster performance and response times across multiple applications is further enhanced by HSPA＋ 21Mbps or WiFi connectivity.

Additionally, Android 4.0 includes a selection of embedded Google applications that enables users to quickly launch sites and applications that they use frequently; meanwhile, the innovative Face Unlock feature unlocks the tablet through unique facial recognition software.

A complete experience with enriched multimedia content

The GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) offers users easy multimedia access, playback and sharing experiences with Samsung Hub services. Samsung’s Music Hub provides a full music store solution with access to over 17 million tracks. Additionally, the Readers Hub provides the user with access to over 2.3 million e-books, 3,500 magazines and over 2,000 newspapers in 51 languages, while the Game Hub instantly connects users to the latest game titles. Samsung is also introducing the Video Hub, which offers over 1,000 film titles for purchase or rent, and provides reviews, trailers and recommendations for easier content selection using the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0).

Complementing the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0)’s multimedia offering is Samsung’s upgraded Touchwiz user interface that features Hub widgets for one-step access to users’ content in Hubs; the device also presents S Suggest, a new service offering recommendations of apps suited to users’ tastes directly on a home screen.

The GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0)’s superb multimedia experience is further boosted by Samsung’s AllShare Play, a new content-sharing service available for the first time on any Samsung mobile device. AllShare Play allows users to play or live-stream their multimedia content on their GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) from PCs, other Samsung smart devices as well as third-party web storages. Users can also easily transfer content to other devices or directly to web services.

Better Communication Capabilities

Connecting socially has never been easier with GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0)’s built-in powerful communication capabilities.With the voice call capability, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) can be used just as easily as a phone, affording users the handy convenience of a second device in case they misplace their primary phone. It also lets users to spontaneously arrange multi-party video calls via Google＋ hangouts, as well as engage in group chats or micro-communities to collectively chat or share content. In addition, ChatON, Samsung’s cross-platform communication service, connects all phone users of any platform into a single community. ChatON uses phone numbers instead of ID and passwords, and provides easy instant messaging and group chatting in various formats—images, video, voice, contacts—to make messaging simple and intuitive.

Note to Editors:

Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) Product Specifications
Network
HSPA＋ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100
Processor
1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display
7” WSVGA(1024×600) PLS TFT
OS
Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera
Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel Fixed Focus Camera
Sub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video
Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, VP8
Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV, WebM
Playback/ Recording: Full HD@30fps, HD@30fps
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, MID, WMA, WAV, Vorbis
Music Player with SoundAlive
3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-added Features
Samsung TouchWiz/ Samsung L!ve Panel UX
Samsung Apps
Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
Samsung Hub＊
– Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung Hub Widget＊
– Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung S Suggest＊ (App recommendation service)
Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
AllShare Play＊
GoogleTM Mobile Services
– Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Earth™, YouTube™, Google Maps™, Syncing with Google Calendar™
Polaris
A-GPS, Glonass
(＊ Available on 3G version only)
Connectivity
Bluetooth® technology v 3.0
USB 2.0 Host
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Sensor
Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light
Proximity(＊ Available on 3G version only)
Memory
8/16/32GB User memory ＋ 1GB (RAM)
microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension
193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5 mm, 344g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 4,000mAh
＊ Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.
＊ 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.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 222,000 people in 205 offices across 71 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
Android, Google, Android Market, Google Maps, YouTube, Gmail, Google Talk, and Google Search are trademarks of Google Inc.