T-Mobile USA launches Samsung messaging phones

T-Mobile USA announced a series of new Samsung handsets emphasizing messaging services as well as the operator's Social Buzz social networking aggregation solution. According to T-Mobile, the new Samsung :) boasts a slide-up vertical Qwerty keyboard as well as a dedicated shortcut for more efficient access to messaging applications including text, picture, video and instant messaging; both the Samsung Gravity 3 and Gravity T include a slide-out QWERTY keyboards and a complete messaging suite, including Exchange and personal e-mail capability, calendar and contacts. The Gravity 3 also features an external T9 keyboard, while the Gravity T arrives with a customizable 2.8-inch touchscreen.

A March 2010 internal T-Mobile USA survey indicates that close to 70 percent of customers used text messaging to connect with their contacts at least once within the prior seven days. The average number of texts sent each quarter by T-Mobile subscribers has nearly tripled over the past three years, growing from 262 messages in Q1 2007 to 752 messages in Q3 2009--T-Mobile USA postpaid customers transmitted 250 billion text and photo messages last year, a 51 percent year-over-year increase.

All three new Samsung handsets also feature T-Mobile Social Buzz, which integrates popular social networking sites into one application, giving users the option to visit each social media site separately or check out an aggregated screen including messages from all communities. When not in use, Social Buzz continues running in the background, delivering pop-up messages to keep users apprised of new updates.

For more on T-Mobile USA's new messaging phones:
- read this release

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