Verizon launches its first ZTE handset: the Salute F350

Nice to see Verizon and ZTE making nice with the newly launched -- but not very surprising -- ZTE Salute. The Salute's launch marks ZTE's second foray into the arms of Big Red this month and the set maker's first top-tier carrier launch in the US. So what does ZTE's little slider bring to the table? A 2.4-inch display, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, Bing search, a pile of messaging features, and social apps, of course. Unfortunately the phone only chugs along at 1xRTT speeds, but hey, for only $19.99 after rebate, we expect it'll find some fans. Follow the break for the full press release.

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VERIZON WIRELESS SALUTES ZTE'S FIRST HANDSET ON THE NATION'S MOST RELIABLE NETWORK

Easy-to-Use Slider Phone Comes Packed with All the Essential Features to Stay on Schedule

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and RICHARDSON, Texas – Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation's largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and ZTE USA, Inc., introduce the Verizon Wireless Salute™. Available today, the lightweight, slim slider phone offers up to 240 minutes of talk time and up to 220 hours of standby time on a single charge. It is a reliable handset with the most important features customers need in a single device, including a 1.3-megapixel camera, speakerphone and Bluetooth® headset support.

Key features:
· Stylish slider design

· Large 2.4-inch screen

· 1.3-megapixel camera

· Mobile Web capable

· Messaging options include: text, picture and voice messaging; Mobile Email; Mobile Web Email; and Chat capable

· Bilingual interface: English/Español

· Micro USB 2.0 compatible


Lifestyle features:
· Bluetooth® technology with support for the following Bluetooth profiles: headset, hands-free, phonebook access, and object push for vCard and vCalendar

· Media Center provides access to downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and more

· Social Beat application – offers a single point for accessing social networking sites, allowing customers to stay connected to Facebook®, Twitter™ and MySpace®, plus more than 50 news, sports and entertainment feeds

· Backup AssistantSM application – saves and updates a copy of the phone's address book to a secure website

· VZ Navigator® capabilities for customers to receive audible turn-by-turn directions to millions of points of interest and share the directions with others

· Preloaded with Bing Search


Price and availability:
· The Salute is available today at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores for $19.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

· For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.