Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G to hit T-Mobile in coming weeks

The Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G smartphone now has an official U.S. launch date, or rather a launch timeframe.

The Korean handset maker said today that the phone will appear on T-Mobile's network sometime in the coming weeks. T-Mobile subscribers will be able to order the phone through the carrier's retail outlets, certain third-party stores, and online through T-Mobile's site.

Initially known as the Galaxy S Blaze Q, the phone was rechristened with its current moniker last month. The Relay 4G was also allegedly supposed to reach consumers in August.

Sporting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Relay 4G offers a 4-inch super AMOLED display, a 5-megapixel camera in the rear, and a 1.3-megapixel camera in the front. Powered by a 1.5-GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor, the phone comes with Wi-Fi calling and can support up to five devices by acting as a mobile hot spot, assuming you've got the right data plan.

Dubbed a 4G phone, the device will run under T-Mobile's HSPA+ 42 network, which revs up with an average download speed of 8 megabits per second and a peak speed of up to 20Mbps.

The Relay 4G is also geared for the enterprise crowd through its SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise) feature set.

SAFE includes AES-256 bit encryption for added security and supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for companies that use Exchange. IT administrators can also manage the phones in their organization through the use of various policies.

"Consumers are increasingly looking for a powerful device that makes it easy to integrate their busy work and personal lives," Andrew Morrison, vice president of product management for T-Mobile USA, said in a statement. "The Galaxy S Relay 4G is the perfect addition to T-Mobile's popular Galaxy smartphone lineup, providing our customers with a reliable and business-centric Android experience -- and the easy access to entertainment for which Galaxy devices are known."