Samsung Galaxy Pro Android phone (preview)

Samsung is expanding its popular Galaxy smartphone range, and the latest addition is the Android-based Galaxy Pro. Unlike most other Android smartphones, the Galaxy Pro has a BlackBerry-style keyboard in a candy bar design.

Read our reviews of other top Samsung phones, and check out our guide to the best upcoming smartphones in 2011.

Described by Samsung as "the perfect business partner", the Samsung Galaxy Pro is targeted at business professionals who prefer typing on a keyboard rather than a touchscreen, but would still like a touchscreen for general input. The Galaxy Pro therefore combines both a 2.8in capacitive touchscreen, and a full QWERTY keyboard.

Although it has a very small display when compared to the likes of the iPhone 4 and Samsung's own Galaxy S and Galaxy S II smartphones, the Galaxy Pro has reasonable specifications. It is powered by an 800MHz processor, has a hefty 512MB of RAM, 2GB of internal memory, and is equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS. There is also a microSD card slot for extra storage.

The Samsung Galaxy Pro runs the 2.2 Froyo version of Google's Android operating system; Samsung hasn't stated if it will be upgradeable to the latest 2.3 Gingerbread version. Gingerbread adds a revamped keyboard, better copy and paste, improved power management, and a slicker user interface as advantages over earlier Android versions.

Samsung hasn't announced an Australian release date or pricing details, but the Galaxy Pro is expected down under in the first half of 2011.