Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE:CEL; TASE:CEL) today launched the first Googlephone in Israel, preempting the Israel launch of iPhone by rivals Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE: PTNR) and Pelephone Communications Ltd. by several weeks. Cellcom will launch the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KSX:5930) i7500 Galaxy Googlephone, which in addition to Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android operating system, includes a five-megapixel camera, a 3.2-inch screen, and eight gigabyte memory, which can be expanded to 32 gigabytes.
Cellcom CEO Amos Shapiro said, "I am proud to say that Cellcom is the first operator to offer its customers, as of today, the first Android device in Israel. Cellcom is the third operator in the world to launch this device. As always, Cellcom offers its customers the best communications solutions."
The Android offers Market applications, from which it is possible to download Twitter, Facebook, games, widgets, and other applications. Users can adapt the operating system to their work environment, since it includes all Google content, such as Gmail and Google Talk.
Cellcom VP marketing Adi Cohen added, "The launch of new operating systems, such as the Android, changes the mobile Internet rules of the game. To mark the launch of the handset, Cellcom has developed a new exit gate to the Internet, which provides daily management tools for smart and proper conduct in the HTML world of mobile handsets based on the new operating systems."
Cellcom will charge NIS 105 a month over 36 months for the Samsung i7500 and a three-year subscription to navigation content.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 9, 2009
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