The rumours that have been swirling around the blogosphere that Samsung would launch a WiMAX-enabled tablet device at this week's CTIA Wireless shindig have proven well founded.

Dubbed the 'Mondi', Samsung officially unveiled the WiMAX tablet at the US wireless event in as vegas, which is to be made available first on the Clearwire network. This goes some way to filling the gap left by Nokia in this handset segment. The Finnish giant announced earlier this year it was scrapping its production plans for its first (and only) WiMAX-enabled device, the N801 Internet Tablet, which was also lined up to make to make its debut on the Clearwire network.

Available in a solid black finish, the touch-screen Samsung device  extends horizontally to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. The Mondi offers a variety of multimedia features that offer instant access to email, internet, video content, GPS navigation and business applications. The Mondi web browser, powered by Opera 9.5, is assisted by a 4.3-inch screen.

The Korean giant has been stepping up its WiMAX device activity of late with its recent joint announcement with Yota that it was introducing the first '4G' ready netbook (mini-notebook) in Russia. A modified Samsung NC10 netbook, the new device has a built-in mobile WiMAX module plus software to connect to Yota's 802.16e network.

Clearwire currently provides mobile WiMAX service in Portland, Ore. and Baltimore, MD. The company expects to bring the service to more than 80 markets by 2010. Some of the major markets expected to launch Clear service this year include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

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