Samsung's e-ink texting Alias 2 now on sale at Verizon Wireless

Electronic ink ain't just for readers. Samsung's Alias 2 is here, making use of a cleverly segmented display to make a mighty-morphing, e-ink keypad, which you can now get thumbing at Verizon Wireless -- right on time, no less. The price with a two-year contract is $129.99, but another $50 instant discount brings it down to a tick under $80. Go get your text on.

[Via PhoneArena]

[Craneguy Posted May 11th 2009 7:40AM]

Twat

[Craneguy Posted May 11th 2009 7:45AM]

A picture of the keypad would have been nice...

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 7:48AM]

Click the 'Alias 2' link above.

[Craneguy Posted May 11th 2009 7:50AM]

Thanks. Too early for rational thought...

[bdav Posted May 11th 2009 7:50AM]

Thrilling. Simply thrilling.

Could they not have done it on a slightly higher end phone?

[CJ Posted May 11th 2009 8:39AM]

The problem these days, is that 'high end' automatically means 'giant touchscreen'

I mean, look at phones like the N85/96 - they were pretty much Nokia's flagship phones when they were released, with all the latest features, but because they weren't 'ripping off the iPhone', they were panned by most commenters on here, at least.

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 8:37AM]

I guess we were all 12 years old once, but still...

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 8:39AM]

At first, I read that the article said "E-Ink for texting" as in, the screen will be e-ink. The idea behind an e-ink screen, with a cellphone would be horrendous!

Smart integration though Samsung. I like the idea of having a keyboard that can change for different purposes.

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 8:40AM]

God damn.... What's wrong with you?

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 9:04AM]

Err....Usually engadget starts an Alias story by telling us how ugly it is and then all the clones chime in that they think it is ugly too. Something is amiss here!

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 9:26AM]

Sorry for all my firsts guys :( i'm an idiot

[Giroro Posted May 11th 2009 12:05PM]

Too bad the phone's UI is embarrassingly horrendous :\

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 12:13PM]

This is finally Verizon's answer to the iphone

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 12:27PM]

Are the buttons pushable or is it just a segmented touch e-ink screen?

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 4:39PM]

My coworker literally just showed me the thing. The keypad is as you would expect for a phone, and the buttons are pushable. I've got enough stupid e-toys to have fun, but that keypad is admittedly pimp (and the phone apparently is cheap enough that work was willing to buy it as a base model)

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 7:28PM]

Yeeeeeeeah. I'm getting this tomorrow.

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2009 9:40PM]

got this phone today, was due for an upgrade, and not really looking for a smartphone, just something simple, the keys are great, perfect for my thumbs, great for someone looking for a simple phone. I'm in the verizon VIP club, so phone only cost me around $30, not a bad deal

[Noswal Posted May 11th 2009 9:56PM]

When is someone going to make a laptop with e-ink backlit keys?