Yes 4G, one of Malaysia’s telecommunications provider as well as a key component behind the 1Bestarinet initiative by the Ministry of Education, has just announced the world’s first 4G Google Chromebook, manufactured by Samsung. The Samsung Chromebook is a new type of mobile computing device, where almost everything is done in the cloud. Of course, relying heavily on the cloud requires an equally extensive high-speed wireless Internet network, which pairs perfectly with Yes 4G’s 4G network (the largest in Southeast Asia).
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The Samsung 4G Chromebook is co-developed exclusively between Yes, Samsung and Google to integrate a 4G module that works perfectly with Yes’ 4G network, where the company has already covered 85% of the country across over 4000 base stations – the most expansive for any telco in the country. Using their Yes IDs, users can expect Internet speeds of up to 20Mbps on the Yes network.
Interestingly, Malaysia is the first emerging country globally where the Samsung Chromebook is launched. A key reason for this, according to Sundar Pichai, Senior Vice President for Android, Chrome and Google Apps at Google, is due to the “pace at which 4G connectivity is being rolled out throughout the country.”
“What’s happening in Malaysia can be a role model for many other countries around the world,” he added.
The Samsung 4G Chromebook has a 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display, and is powered by a Samsung Exynos 5 Dual 1.7GHz processor with 2GB of RAM. There’s also 16GB of flash storage, and free 100GB Google Drive cloud storage for two years. Connectivity ports are kept to a minimum, but there are two USB ports (1 USB 3.0), a HDMI port, a headphone/mic combo jack, and a 3-in-1 card reader. There’s also a VGA webcam, while WiFi and Bluetooth connections are a given. Finally, the 3G card slot has been removed and replaced with a Yes 4G module in the device.
This Chromebook is also one of the lightest laptops in the market, weighing only 1.08kg – ideal for students who will be using the device in the classroom. The estimated 7-hour battery life also ensures that students would not need to find external power throughout the school day.
Of course, the Samsung 4G Chromebook is not only suited for students, but is also a very handy secondary laptop to have. As such, Yes is offering the Samsung Chromebook at RM1299 outright, or at a subsidized price of RM988 with two 24-month postpaid Internet plans for the public as well as for students. The first postpaid plan, available to the public, offers 3.5GB of data monthly for RM88 a month and can be purchased at all Yes Stores nationwide as well as the Yes Online Store. On the other hand, students with the 1Bestarinet Yes ID can get the same amount of data per month at a reduced price of RM69 a month, and can be purchased at the FrogStore as well as the Bestari roadshows nationwide.
For more information about the Samsung 4G Chromebook by Yes 4G, head on to the Yes website here.
