Bloggers peeling away the onion layers that comprise Samsung’s Galaxy Tab have learned that the widely anticipated, Android-based iPad challenger is launching on Verizon Wireless.
Boy Genius Report snared this screenshot of a listing for “Sam Galaxy Tab Demos” from Verizon’s internal systems.
A spokesperson for Verizon Wireless declined to confirm the news for eWEEK Aug. 31, but the world should know in the next couple days.
This video published on Samsung’s Website hints that the device will be formally unveiled at an event in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 2 at the IFA 2010 consumer electronics and home appliances tradeshow.
The video itself has all the marketing aesthetic of a Verizon Wireless Droid smartphone commercial, as the device’s features are accompanied by futuristic-sounding robot music.
The Galaxy Tab will run Android 2.2 on a 7-inch screen, according to the Samsung video.
The device will support augmented reality applications and video calling, which means it has a front-facing camera which Apple’s iPad currently lacks. The tablet also sports SDHC memory expandability and a DMB tuner for TV viewing.
The Verizon Wireless tie to the Samsung Galaxy Tab is also interesting because Google CEO Eric Schmidt is scheduled to provide the closing keynote Sept. 7 at IFA. Read more on Android tablets expected at IFA on GigaOm here.
Schmidt’s ties with Verizon Wireless go back to last October, when he appeared with the No. 1 carrier’s CEO Lowell McAdam to announce a deep partnership to provide mobile devices based on Android.
Since that time, Verizon Wireless has launched the successful Droid line. Schmidt also popped in a a guest speaker for the carrier’s launch of the Motorola Droid X June 23 in New York City.
That Samsung’s Galaxy Tab would drop on Verizon Wireless shouldn’t be a surprise. McAdam told The New York Times in May it was working on an Android tablet.
Moreover, Verizon already supports the Samsung Galaxy S smartphone line with the as-yet-unreleased Fascinate model.
BGR unearthed this Verizon roadmap earlier this month with evidence that Verizon is launching a Samsung tablet.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab will have competition in the form of a a 7-inch, Android 2.2 tablet from ViewSonic in October, as well as a tablet from Motorola that is reportedly based on Android 3.0.
This device isn’t expected until February 2011.