Google-branded Handset to Go on Sales in Taiwan Soon

Taipei, March 7, 2011 (CENS)--Google Nexus S smartphone will hit shops in Taiwan later this month following a promotion campaign jointly launched by Taiwan Mobile Corp. and Samsung recently, making the phone the first Google-branded smartphone available at shops on the island.

Although Google Nexus One is the search engine's first own-brand smartphone, the handset has never been displayed at bricks and mortar shops in Taiwan, but on online stores only.

The latest Google handset is the first embedded with near-field communication (NFC) technology on the island. The wireless technology can beam and receive information at a distance of up to four inches, making it an ideal technology for realizing mobile-phone payment.

Samsung is contracted to make Google Nexus S and is pushing to promote mobile-phone payment service in cooperation with telecom service providers throughout the world.

Samsung Taiwan executives pointed out that optimistic perspective for NFC market will inspire Samsung to build the short-range wireless technology into its self-developed Bada OS for smartphone, in addition to Google Android OS this year.

Taiwan Mobile executives estimated over half of the smartphones due out by the end of this year will be NFC enabled and 2012 would be the year for NFC service to take off. The carrier will retail the phone at NT$18,900 (US$630 at US$1: NT$30) for non- subscribers and offer free phone to subscribers with a two-year contract.