Dell Streak Pre-orders Start August 12, AT&T is U.S. Carrier

Pre-orders for Dell's 5-inch Android-based Streak tablet will be available August 12 for $299.99 with a two-year AT&T contact...or $549.99 without.

Computer maker Dell launched the Dell Streak, it’s 5-inch Android-based tablet, in the United Kingdom back in June, but the company has only now revealed pricing and carrier details for the United States: customers who placed pre-orders for the device will be able to get their units Thursday, August 12, for $249.99 with a new two-year service agreement with AT&T, or for $549.99 without contract. General availability will follow on August 13.

“The Dell Streak has found a way to fit your whole world in a 5-inch screen,” said Dell Communications Solutions president Ron Garriques, in a statement. “Its unique size will help people discover new ways to enjoy the Web, connect with friends, and navigate their lives.”

The Dell Streak features a 5-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen display, an integrated 5 megapixel camera along with a front-facing VGA camera for video chat, along with 2 GB on onboard storage supplemented by microSD removable storage (which can add as much as 32 GB). The device packs 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking, along with 3G (UMTS/GPRS/EDGE) mobile connectivity. The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The Dell Streak will ship with Android 1.6, but Dell has promised an over-the-air update to Android 2.2 (“Froyo”) later this year.

Although the Dell Streak was a highly anticipated device when it was first announced earlier this year, details of the device’s U.S. release are leaving some industry watchers cold. Although the Streak does over a 5-inch display, smartphones with comparable (or, arguably, better) displays are available at lower price points on contact several carriers. As an unlocked tablet device, the Streak costs more than a basic Apple iPad; although the Streak offers a 5 megapixel camera and better portability, its screen is only half as large. Adding insult to injury is Android 1.6: Dell is offering a year-old version of the operating system even as much of the Android smartphone ecosystem is, today, receiving over-the-air upgrades to Android 2.2.

And, of course, the 800-pound Gorilla in the room is Apple, which is widely expected to announce an updated iPod touch—with iPhone 4 features like a “retina display”—in the coming weeks.