Verizon Adds 2ND Netbook, 3G Worldphone

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 10/2/2009

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Basking Ridge, N.J. - Verizon Wireless expanded its wireless-netbook and worldphone selections as part of five-device announcement.

The netbook is the Gateway LT2016u, available Oct. 4 at a subsidized $149 after $100 mail-in rebate and new two-year wireless-broadband contract starting at $39.99/month. It will be sold through www.verizonwireless.com and Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and will also be available to indirect retailers to offer, a spokeswoman said.

The Gateway operates in 3G mode in Verizon's domestic Rev. A network, but the currently available Hewlett-Packard Mini 1151NR uses Qualcomm's Gobi chipset to operate in Verizon's 3G network as well as in EDGE and 3G HSPA modes in foreign countries. The Mini was introduced in May at $199 after $50 rebate through the same channels.

The new worldphone, the HTC-made Imagio, will expand the carrier's selection of worldphones that operate in 3G mode in Verizon's domestic network as well as in overseas 2.1GHz HSPA networks. The BlackBerry Tour and Storm also feature 3G roaming overseas. Additional Verizon world phones operate in 3G mode domestically but not when roaming overseas.

The touchscreen-equipped Imagio also stands out because it will be the carrier's first Windows Mobile 6.5 phone when it becomes available Oct. 20 for $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement. It will also be Verizon's first smartphone to support MediaFLO's live-TV service, dubbed V CAST Mobile TV by Verizon and costing $15/month.

Imagio features an unusually large 3.6-inch color display with 480 by 800 WVGA resolution and onscreen QWERTY keyboard. It also sports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, five quick-launch buttons, customizable home screen, 5-megapixel camera and a Mobile TV antenna that doubles as a kickstand to prop up the device for desktop viewing. It features HTC's TouchFLO 3-D interface for easy navigation between menus.

The Gateway netbook, available in black, features 10.1-inch high-definition WSVGA LED backlit display, battery life of up to six hours, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1 GB of memory, 160GB of hard drive space and a memory card slot that reads multiple types of memory cards. Other features include Dolby Headphone technology, integrated 0.3-megapixel Web cam, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, and Windows XP Home Edition.

The other three devices announced by Verizon, all phones, include the $29.99 Nokia 2705 Shade flip phone, due Oct. 6 with optional Xpress-on changeable covers on Verizon's Web site. The price includes new two-year agreement.

Another new model, Motorola's military-spec Barrage with push-to-talk service, is due Oct. 1 on Verizon's Web site and business channel at $129 after a $50 mail-in rebate. It will appear in Verizon-owned stores beginning Nov. 16. A non-camera version of the phone will be available for order on Oct. 21.

The Razzle, made by Personal Communications Devices, boasts keyboard and music controls on a tilt-and-swivel bar for more comfortable text messaging and quicker access to the music player. The CDMA 1x phone will come with pre-installed 1GB MicroSD card. The Razzle will be available on Verizon's Web site Oct. 6 and in Verizon stores later in the month.