14 DAY TRIAL // Verizon Wireless, US's second largest mobile carrier, will offer the exquisite Samsung U940 phone starting late March 2008, and apparently it will name it Verizon Glyde. Initially rumored to be launched as Samsung Q-Ball, U940 is a high-end handset that is already available in Europe, in a slightly changed version: Samsung F700.
Samsung U940 was approved by FCC in December 2007, so all it needs now is an official release. The phone is a 3G CDMA dual-band one (800 and 1900 MHz) that packs lots of evolved features. It comes with a 2.8 inch touchscreen display (240 x 440 pixel resolution), a full QWERTY keyboard and HSPDA connectivity for download speeds of up to 7.6 Mbps. Moreover, it offers GPS, WAP 2.0 browser, email capabilities, stereo Bluetooth, USB, Music player with support for MP3, AAC+ and eAAC+, Video player with support for MPEG4, H.263 and H.264, Custom Picture and Ring ID for contacts, 3.5 mm headphone jack and microSD card support to boost the 150 MB internal memory.
One of the important differences between Samsung U940 Glyde and the European Samsung F700 is the built-in photo camera. While F700 has a 3.15 Megapixel one, the US handset only brings a 2 Megapixel one. Sure, it includes auto focus, flash and video capabilities, but from 3.15 to 2 Megapixel is a long way and the picture quality is, of course, a different one. I guess users will have to be happy with only 2 MP. After all, it's not really that bad.
What's interesting ? in a quite funny way ? is that Samsung Glyde already has an unofficial fan site (access it at this address if you want), which only shows that it will surely be a successful handset. As for its price, expect the Glyde phone to be available for about $500, or much less with a Verizon contract agreement.