Verizon Picks Up Samsung's Dual-Hinge Zeal Messaging Phone

If you thought Verizon's assortment of phones were boring, or even subpar, think again. Within the past 48 hours America's largest wireless carrier has introduced two new phones that are truly unlike anything else out there. The Samsung Continuum actually has a dedicated ticker screen at the bottom of the face, and now there's the Samsung Zeal. And you can probably tell by just looking at it that it's not your average cellphone.


This isn't a full-fledged smartphone, but rather an advanced messaging phone with a dual-hinge design and an E Ink transforming QWERTY keypad. Yes, E Ink on a phone! You may be familiar with E Ink's e-paper displays that are used in e-readers like the Amazon Kindle, but it's definitely rare to see this technology on something like a flip phone. The Zeal's E Ink keyboard changes based on the user’s needs: open it vertically as a flip phone and it has a traditional numeric keypad and can change to an alpha-only keypad; in landscape, the phone features a QWERTY keypad that can change to numeric with symbols.


It also has a 2MP camera with night and panorama shot, auto focus and camcorder, Bluetooth, corporate email support, a social beat widget, VZ Navigator, media player and even support for Skype Mobile. Users can add a microSD card if you want to carry your media around. The Zeal will be available on Nov. 11 for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement, and pre-sales are open now.

Feel The Zeal With The Samsung Zeal™ From Verizon Wireless

Dual-Hinge Messaging Phone Features E Ink Transforming QWERTY Keypad and Social Beat Application

Key features:
    * Dual-hinge form factor with E Ink keyboard that changes based on the user’s needs
          o Open it vertically as a flip phone and it has a traditional numeric keypad and can change to an alpha-only keypad
          o In landscape, the phone features a QWERTY keypad that can change to numeric with symbols
    * Corporate Email support for Microsoft Office Exchange so customers can synchronize corporate e-mail, contacts and calendars from their office e-mail
    * 2.0 megapixel camera with night and panorama shot, auto focus and camcorder
    * Bluetooth® technology with support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, basic print, basic imaging, and object push for vCard and vCalendar

Lifestyle features:
    * Social Beat Widget – Offers a single point for accessing social networking sites, allowing customers to stay connected to Facebook®, Twitter™ and MySpace™ plus more than 50 news, sports and entertainment feeds
    * VZ Navigator® capable – Receive audible turn-by-turn directions to millions of points of interest and share the directions with others
    * Media Center – Access downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and more
    * Skype mobile™ capable
    * Mobile Web capable
    * Full suite of messaging options, including text, picture, video and voice messaging; Mobile IM; Mobile Chat; Mobile Email; and Mobile Web Email
    * microSD™ card slot with support for up to 32 GB (card purchased separately)
    * Personal organizer with calendar, calculator with currency converter, notepad, alarm clock, world clock and stop watch

Price and availability:
    * The Samsung Zeal will be available on Nov. 11 for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
    * Customers can purchase the Samsung Zeal beginning today at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores or online at www.verizonwireless.com. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.