Dell announces plan to make its Streak tablet device available starting October 1. With the device, which has a price of $649, the company beats rival Samsung in launching the first of a new line of non-Apple tablets in Australia.

Samsung earlier revealed that it planned to make the Galaxy Tab available in Australia by November. The handset will cost for $999 and will have service from major carriers.

The Streak and the Galaxy Tab are both based on the Android operating system. However, the Streak will have the ageing version 1.6 of the Google platform. The Galaxy Tab, on the other hand, has version 2.2, the latest form of the platform. Dell earlier announced that it would release a 2.2 update later this year.

Dell's device, which has a 5-inch touchscreen, is able to make calls. However, it is too big to be categorized as a smartphone.

The Streak will be available from Optus starting October 1. The tablet will go for free upfront with a two-year contract that costs $59 monthly, or for $649 outright.

"Dell has found a way to fit Australians' whole world in a 5-inch screen. Dell Streak's unique size will help people down under discover new ways to enjoy the web, connect with friends and navigate their lives," said Ron Garriques, the company's president of communication solutions division.

Optus said that the tablet would hit the "sweet spot" between bigger tablets and traditional handsets.