Verizon unveils Gleam phone with 'living' wallpaper
updated 09:15 am EDT, Fri October 5, 2007
Samsung Gleam at Verizon
Verizon on Friday released the Gleam, its own variation of Samsung's Ultra U700. The flip phone is the first from Verizon to come with what the carrier dubs a "living wallpaper" interface. Like Sony-Ericsson's T650, the Gleam's background changes over time: a desktop image of the city or the countryside changes in brightness depending on the time of day, Verizon says. Samsung's device also offers a media emphasis with a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth audio with stereo output, and media playback from microSD cards up to 4GB in size.
In the American provider's version of the phone, the Gleam supports V CAST music store downloads and video Internet streaming. It also serves as a "Mobile Web 2.0" phone, according to the company, with customized news feeds as well as multi-network IM chat. Verizon sells the handset today for $150 after signing a two-year contract and receiving a $50 rebate. One-year contract and contract-free prices are unlisted.
