Samsung unveils thinner tablet computers in U.S.

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's No. 2 maker of mobile phones, unveiled on Wednesday two new tablet computers aimed for the U.S. market, eying a bigger market share on Apple Inc.'s home turf with ultra-thin devices.

   Samsung unveiled the company's third tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab 8.9, and a U.S. version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 during a trade show in Orlando, Florida, it said in a statement. It gave a little tweak to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 for the U.S. market, replacing the 8.0-mega pixel camera in the rear of the computer with a 3.0-mega pixel camera and making the body about 2 millimeters thinner at just 8.6-millimeters.

   The two Honeycomb-based tablet computers are nearly identical versions with two different display sizes. They are both equipped with two cameras in the rear and the front, a 1-gigahertz dual core processor and connectivity to a faster wireless network called HSPA plus.

   The company did not disclose launching schedules and pricing details, adding that they are in talks with U.S. mobile carriers.

   The Korean company put on a show of its tablet computers in Orlando following market speculation that it may reconsider its 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab after Apple unveiled a faster, thinner and lighter version of the iPad at the same price range as its earlier model.

   Following Apple's iPad 2 announcement, Lee Don-joo, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile division, said that Apple presented fresh challenges for the South Korean company with a thinner mobile gadget that is priced the same as its predecessor.