Dell Streak To Hit US Shores One Month After UK

Dell’s Android-based Streak hybrid tablet will go on sale in the US for $500 (£340) at the end of July, one month after it launches in the UK, a Dell executive has revealed.

Ron Garriques, president of Dell’s Communication Solutions Group, said at the D8 conference June 2 that Dell will sell the the 5-inch tablet/smartphone combination device unlocked through Dell.com next month.

Garriques also implied Dell would partner with a wireless carrier to sell the device, with that price a “carrier decision.”

Carriers would surely sell the Streak subsidised with a two-year contract the same way they sell mobile phones, making the device more affordable for consumers.

Same Price As iPad

AT&T and Verizon Wireless sell high-end smartphones that cost $500 (£340) or $600 (£408) for $200 (£136) or less with two year contracts and $100 (£68) rebates. Expect the same treatment for the Streak.

Unlocked for $500, the Streak costs as much as the base iPad. Subsidised, the Streak could prove more attractive for web surfers balking at buying an iPad.

Garriques described the device, which sports a capacitive, WVGA touchscreen and 5-megapixel camera and is powered by a custom build of Android running Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor, as a business first product, noting that he began using it in earnest three months ago.

He’s been using the device, which supports WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G connectivity, for phone calls, texting, web browsing and corporate email and directory (that means Microsoft Exchange support).

For his demo, Garriques connected the Streak to a TV via the HDMI output slot and a docking station. This is a big deal for users who want to bring their TV content with them, but wish to watch it on a larger screen. He said the dock will ship with the Streak at no extra charge.

Garriques said Dell’s goal with the Streak was to create a device that proved satisfactory for letting users browse the web, while letting users store it in their top pocket when they’re on the go.

Tablet Or Smartphone?

Not as full-bodied as Apple’s iPad and too big to be an effective smartphone, this smartphone/tablet hybrid has caused some consternation among analysts who believe the device may have trouble finding traction in a market the demands definition.

Meanwhile, British users will be able to buy the Streak through carrier O2 and at The Carphone Warehouse this weekend, and later in June at Dell.co.uk. Dell provided full specs for the Streak in a blog post here.