Samsung: Galaxy Tab 10.1 Still Coming To Australia ‘In The Near Future’


Today started with big news: Apple had blocked Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 from being released in Australia — an injunction as iTnews reported. But in a carefully worded, almost cryptic statement this afternoon, Samsung says that “no injunction was issued” and that the “Galaxy Tab 10.1 for the Australian market will be released in the near future.” Say what now? That’s not what we’ve been hearing all day…

Gizmodo’s understanding from this morning’s court agreement — and reports from media that had been in attendance — was that that the 10.1 won’t go on sale before the next hearing on August 29, and in the meantime Samsung is to provide Apple with three samples to crack open for investigation.

That’s why we’re confused by Samsung’s statement this afternoon (below). It mentions that the “variant in question will not be sold in Australia” and that an agreement was reached. That wouldn’t mesh with The Sydney Morning Herald’s report that Apple wants all of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 stock destroyed.

From Samsung: Apple Inc. filed a complaint with the Federal Court of Australia involving a Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 variant that Samsung Electronics had no plans of selling in Australia. No injunction was issued by the court and the parties in the case reached a mutual agreement which stipulates that the variant in question will not be sold in Australia.

A Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 for the Australian market will be released in the near future.

This undertaking does not affect any other Samsung smartphone or tablet available in the Australian market or other countries.

Samsung will continue to actively defend and protect our intellectual property to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communication business.

In court, Samsung’s legal rep argued that the Australian 10.1 was different from the US model, and that some of Apple’s patents aren’t valid in Australia anyway. So…what’s actually different about the Australian version compared to the US model? Will the 3G and Wi-Fi only version be available here if the Galaxy Tab 10.1 actually does arrive as Samsung suggests? And will that be before or after August 29?

I’ve personally asked Samsung Australia these very questions, and I’m told that execs are on a conference call getting their ducks in a row as I hit publish on this post. Stay tuned for updates…


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