Samsung announces Galaxy Player handset

Samsung is expanding its Galaxy device range with the addition of a portable media player.

The company said that the Galaxy Player would sport a 4in or 5in screen and an Android-based touch-screen interface.

It will also feature Wi-Fi connectivity and support both VoIP call and videoconferencing through a pair of embedded cameras, the firm said. The handset will also boast stereo speakers, a microphone and support for Flash 10.1

Samsung said the devices will ship with Android 2.2 and will support Android 2.3 upgrades.

"Our Galaxy Family, including Galaxy S mobile phones and Galaxy Tab, has been a success because we give people what they truly wish for, access to thousands of Android Apps coupled with Samsung's sleek design," said Samsung Electronics America consumer business president Tim Baxter.

"Our new Galaxy Players deliver that same experience in two terrific, ultra-portable form factors, without incurring fees for a monthly data plan."

The introduction of the Galaxy Player adds a possible rival to Apple's iPod Touch and comes just days after Microsoft announced the formal end of its much-maligned Zune player.

Ross Rubin, an executive director of industry analysis for the NPD Group, believes that with its open ecosystem and application market, the Galaxy Player looks to be far more like the iPod Touch than the Zune.

"In general, the 5in product category has traditionally been a small one," Rubin told V3.co.uk.

"But particularly for those who aren't yet ready to commit to a data plan, it could allow a rich array of functionality."