Samsung unveils Mondi WiMax device for Clearwire

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled Mondi, a mobile Internet device that it plans to sell through mobile service provider Clearwire in the second quarter.

The Mondi, Samsung's first such device for Clearwire, supports both Wi-Fi, a short range high-speed wireless technology often found in coffee shops, and WiMax, an emerging wide-area technology that promises to blanket entire cities with wireless Internet access.

The device does not initially support phone calls but it has a built-in microphone, so it could potentially work with an Internet telephony application.

Samsung said electronics retailer Best Buy would be selling the device, as well as Clearwire stores.

Samsung announced the device on the eve of the CTIA annual showcase in Las Vegas but did not reveal pricing.

Clearwire, founded by wireless pioneer Craig McCaw, is building a WiMax network to offer high-speed data services. It is majority owned by Sprint Nextel.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew; Editing by Gary Hill)