CTIA: Samsung Officially Trots Out Its Wimax Tablet

First spotted last week, it appears that Samsung is going to fess up to its Wimax-enabled Mondi Mobile Internet Device. The Mondi boasts some impressive specs, but will it sell?We caught a glimpse of the SWD-M100 Mondi last week. Now we get to see it in all its glory. The Mondi, which is sort of a cross between the Nokia N810 and OQO model 2+, runs Windows Mobile 6.1, has a 4.3-inch touch screen, 3 megapixel camera and HDMI out.

Other notable specs include GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4GB of memory, instant messaging and MMS support, Opera 9.6 Mobile browser, and of course direct-push mobile email from Microsoft.

On a pure spec level, it looks like it could compete well between the smartphone / netbook crop of devices. It's larger than a smartphone, but smaller than most netbooks. It is highly portable and can definitely serve as a mobile email tool while out of the office...as long as you're in an area covered by Clear's Wimax network.

Right now, just Baltimore and Portland, Ore., have Wimax powers. Clear will add the Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Philadelphia, and Seattle markets throughout 2009, but hasn't said exactly when.

Being able to access Wimax in just two markets severely limits the impact this device has to offer.

Still, Clear needs a device such as this in its lineup of Wimax equipment if it is to convince people to sign up for its service. Let's hope those networks go live sooner rather than later.