Samsung Galaxy smartphones, Galaxy Tab 3 to support nine Indian languages

Korean electronics major Samsung Tuesday said its Galaxy range of smartphones and Tab 3 will support content and user interface in nine major regional languages of the country.

While the Galaxy Grand, Galaxy S4 and Tab 3 will support Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati from Tuesday, the firm will enhance availability of the regional language content starting with its entry-level Android model Galaxy Star this month.

The introduction of content and user interface in these nine major regional languages will also help the electronics major expand its reach as these languages are spoken by almost 80 percent of the country's population.

"Availability of content combined with easy access is the key driver for usage of any language. We clearly sense a need and demand amongst users to communicate in local languages using their mobile devices," Samsung India Country Head (Mobile and IT) Vineet Taneja said New Delhi.

Samsung will not only work with content providers towards making more regional language content, but will also work with app developers so that more Indian consumers can enjoy mobile experience in their own language, he added.

"At Samsung, we will increase the number of devices that offer regional languages content and experience from next month onwards as well as enhance the bouquet of languages for our consumers," Taneja said.

Speaking on the occasion, National Innovation Council Member Kiran Karnik said access to regional languages content will give a strong fillip to mobile data consumption and also empower millions of Indians who are not fluent in English.

"To further propel the market and technology penetration, industry should come out with below USD 50 smartphones and tablets. The government in the next few months will launch the Akash 4 tablet," he added.

Facebook India Country Growth Manager Kevin D'souza said the social networking firm is excited that Facebook for Android and Facebook Messenger on Samsung smartphones will now support 9 Indian languages.