Orange is set to launch a new Welsh language phone from Samsung that will feature over 44,000 Welsh words. The move comes as recognition that many people in Wales only speak English as a second language and up until now have had to make do with English language phones. The new move will allow the UI to be displayed in Welsh and also allow the use of predictive Welsh messaging.
The announced handset will be the Samsung S5600 that is already on sale in the UK in English. The phone has already been very successful since its launch. The move comes from Samsung who back in 2008 were also the first company to offer an Irish language phone. Hiring specially trained translators Samsung released a version of the popular Tocco Lite with a dictionary of 44,000 Irish words. The success of that move saw Samsung promising to try and release many key launches with the Irish language as an option.
The Welsh language phone is a one off at the moment, but if it proves as successful as the Irish language phone it could see Samsung offering this as an option for most of their main releases. The inclusion of the language also accounts for variations between Northern and Southern dialects.
The Samsung S5600 is a midrange touchscreen featuring a sharp and colourful 2.8” display. The innovative TouchWiz interface it employs can also allow some great applications in combination with the device’s accelerometer. There is also a 3 megapixel camera and a built-in GPS receiver.
Although this is the only phone announced by Samsung so far to feature the Welsh language, if the Irish language move is anything to go by it could see this as being an option on many of Samsung’s key releases in the future. The Welsh language Samsung S5600 will be available on Orange through pay as you go and contract.
Tags: Samsung-S5600