Basking Ridge, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is launching new products
for two types of travelers.
One, for world travelers, is the carrier’s first global-ready 3G
mobile hotspot, which operates in CDMA 1x EV-DO Rev. A 3G networks as well as
HSPA 3G networks. The other product, for outdoors travelers, is a ruggedized
clamshell phone, the Casio G’Zone Ravine. It’s is dust-, water- and
shock-resistant and features GPS and push-to-talk capabilities.
The mobile hot spot is the Verizon Wireless Fivespot, developed
by ZTE USA. It lets users share a 3G data connection with up to five
Wi-Fi-enabled devices in more than 200 countries. In more than 120 of those
countries, the device delivers 3G speeds when a user subscribes to Verizon’s
GlobalAccess plan. The Fivespot comes with a pre-installed SIM card.
The 2.82-ounce device measures 3.92 inches by 2.11 inches by 0.55
inches and operates in 3G mode in 800/1900MHz CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A/Rev. 0
networks and in 850/1900/2100MHz W-CDMA HSPA networks. It operates at 2G and
2.5Gs speeds in 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks.
The Fivespot will be available in Verizon’s Communications Stores
and web site on Oct. 7 at $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new
two-year customer agreement. The rebate takes the form of a debit card.
For people who travel
outdoors, the Casio G’Zone Ravine will be available “soon” in Verizon’s
stores and website at $149 after $50.00
mail-in rebate, which also takes the form of a debit card. A new two-year
customer agreement is also required.
The clamshell phone conforms to the MIL-STD-810G military
standard and features 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder with LED flash,
text-to-speech and voice dictation for hands-free texting, voice recorder,
email and IM functions, Verizon’s VZ Navigator service to retrieve
voice-prompted turn-by-turn driving instructions, and multiple outdoor-lifestyle
features. Those include Earth Compass, which functions as a regular compass but
adds GPS to show the distance and direction to more than 33 domestic and
international landmarks. A walking counter measures steps, distance and energy
consumption by the user. A thermometer displays current temperature in both
Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Other functions show the tidal graph for the day; the time of
tide ebb and flow; current, past and future sea tide levels; and optimal
fishing times. The Sunrise Sunset feature highlights the position of the sun at
the current time; sunrise and sunset times for current, past and future dates;
sunrise and sunset times for select major cities; as well as the ratio of day
to night in numbers and graphs. An Astro Calendar displays a graphic of the
current moon’s face and indicates the number of days until a full or new moon.
The Star Gazer uses GPS to display the stars in the sky and names the
constellations based on the current season and time.
