New Info on Upcoming Verizon phones October 28, 2008
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones , trackback
There are some major rumors on some really sick phones coming soon to Verizon- and no this isn’t just the Blackberry Storm. So if its not the Storm then what phones are we talking about? Read on!
We’ll do this like we did the AT&T upcoming phone post.
Samsung Omnia
Yup, this all-touchscreen iPhone competitor from Samsung also is coming to Verizon (it is also rumored to be coming to AT&T). This phone is loaded with features including:
- Thin Design- Think iPhone 3G thin, so should easily fit into any pocket.
- Verizon 3G and V Cast
- Windows Mobile 6.1- Internet Explorer Mobile for web browsing, Windows Media player for music, and you can also add Apps to this for complete customizing (though this isn’t done through a specific App Store like the iPhone). This also has a Samsung customizable home screen which lets you put all kind of widgets- Games, IM, Music player- on the home screen. Great for quick access to your most used features.
- 5 Megapixel Camera
- 8 GB built in memory, WITH a MicroSD slot- This is great for anyone who is looking to use just one device for music and movies. Unlike the 8 GB iPhone 3G, here you can add more memory if you need.
- Virtual mouse- There is a little pad on the bottom of the phone that lets you have a virtual mouse for controlling the phone. Not something you usually find on an American phone.
- GPS- For VZ Navigator
This looks like a great phone, let’s hope Verizon gets this out soon and for a reasonable price.
Verizon’s Samsung Omnia
HTC Touch Pro
Next up is another Windows Mobile phone that is looking really good. The HTC Touch Pro– or probably the VX6850 on Verizon–is also coming to Sprint and AT&T (called Touch Pro for Sprint, HTC Fuze for AT&T).
Features:
- Touchscreen with Slide out QWERTY Keyboard- Not as thin as the Omnia, but is still pretty thin in its own right (think a little thinner the G1), and should fit into most pockets easily.
- Windows Mobile 6.1
- Verizon 3G and V Cast
- WiFi
- VZ Navigator
- 3.2 Megapixel Camera
- MicroSD slot- For loading this up with music, videos, photos.
- ? Touch Flo 3D Windows Mobile interface ?- Unfortunately, there is no word on whether Verizon is keeping the new slick and easy way to view everything from the home screen. Let’s hope they stick that in.
The HTC Touch Pro for Verizon
Samsung Saga
Next on our list, the Saga is also a Windows Mobile phone that is similar to the Samsung Epix, a phone released by AT&T recently. While not as stylish or feature packed as the Omnia or Touch Pro, the Saga is definitely interesting, with a lot of things going for it.
Features:
- Decent Design- Again, not as stylish as some other phones like Omnia or Touch Pro, but not dead ugly. One concern: the phone’s thickness. We can’t tell from the picture, but if this is anything like the Epix, you can expect thick- REALLY thick.
- Windows Mobile 6.1
- Touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard- Should be good for texters.
- Verizon 3G with V Cast
- WiFi
- Built in GSM radio- In the event your traveling over seas, you can take this phone with you and just put in a different SIM card
- 2 Megapixel Camera
- MicroSD card slot- For adding tunes, videos, pix
Since this isn’t as fully featured as the other phones, I assume it will start out cheaper than the other phones (though you never fully know with this stuff). Not a bad choice, but I think Verizon has much better phones- even ones already out now like the LG Dare- to choose from.
Samsung Saga
Samsung Renown
This phone is the “dumb phone” on the list, as it is more of your standard cell phones. This also isn’t terribly feature packed, and is more of a update to the Samsung Gleam that is out now on Verizon.
Features:
- Thin flip phone design- This phone should fit fine into any pocket.
- Verizon 3G with V Cast
- 2 Megapixel Camera
- MicroSD card slot- This phone also has external music controls on the front screen for easy control of your tunes.
- Built-in GSM radio- Like the Saga listed above.
- Visual Voicemail- One of the few phones from Verizon to get this feature (we wrote about it here). Wouldn’t be surprised if this comes out for the other phones on this list as well as Verizon expands it.
This is also a phone I expect to be priced relatively low (think below $150, most likely even below $100), but again who really knows.
Samsung Renown
All of these phones are expected to come in November or before the holiday season at the latest.
What this means to you:
If you’re a big texter and are looking for a slick phone when you upgrade or get a new phone soon, then there is definitely something on this list for you. My personal opinion is to go with the Omnia or Touch Pro, assuming there not too expensive and Verizon decides to leave the Touch Flo 3D interface on the Touch Pro.
However, Verizon has a pretty solid lineup out there already with the Dare, Chocolate 3, Voyager, all touchscreen Motorola Krave, and soon to be released Blackberry Storm. In short, if your a Verizon user, there are plenty of good choices for your next phone 
What do you think:
Which Verizon phone do you want? Already have that you would wanna share your opinion/ recommendation on? Any phones on this list stand out to you as a must-have? Let us know in the comments.
Info and pix from PhoneArena.com
Comments»
Well after buying this phone, all of what the author said about this phone is wrong. The phone is very thin, especially for a smartphone, it feels very durable, and the thing is packed with features that arent listed above. The buttons feel perfect and its nice to chose between a stylus, finger, and the optical mouse. It comes with two different internet browsers as well as two music player applications. It also has wi-fi and the ability to fully personalize how the home page is displayed. I know three people with the Blackberry Storm who all have cracked screens; the phones with a full screen are most likely going to have their screens broken.
saga^^^