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Motorola GLEAM+ shimmies onto shelves, into European pockets
There are many typographical accoutrements manufacturers can hang on existing product names to let you know that this one's different, better. Motorola's plumped for the humble "+" to let us know this isn't just any Gleam, it's a new, improved beast. So what's changed since last time? Well, it's dropped a dress size first of all, measuring 0.4mm thinner than its elder sibling, and that dot-matrix style outer display now stands much taller. The main screen also jumps from 2.4- to 2.8-inches, sporting a 400 x 240, WQVGA resolution. So, if you're a fan of the form-factor, and live in Europe (it still only has that dual band GSM radio) then you can get your mitts on it from today. PR after the break.
Motorola Gleam flip phone proclaims Moto isn't done with dumbphones just yet
We were just settling into our expectation that the terms "Motorola" and "Android" are always going to appear in the same sentence, but check it out: the new Gleam flip phone for Europe bucks the trend in a big way. Looking more like a South Korean or Japanese domestic market handset than anything else, the Gleam features an external dot matrix LED display that can flash a variety of messages and pictograms, while the inside sports a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a dual-band GSM radio (don't even think of importing this thing to the States), Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB charger, microSD slot with support up to 16GB, and a 2 megapixel cam. High end? Not exactly, but we bet the price will be right when it launches in the first half of the year in your choice of gray, red, or "thistle." Follow the break for the press release.
Verizon announces purple Gleam and wider FlipShot availability, too
Remember how only Best Buy had the red Samsung FlipShot for a while? Verizon's finally pulling the rug out from under that whole deal and bringing both the red and black FlipShots under one roof. The pivoting wonder with the 3 megapixel autofocus cam is available in either shade you like from Verizon's stores and site now for $149.99 after rebate. Speaking of colors and Samsung, that purple Gleam we mentioned a few days back is all official now, coming in at $50 less than the FlipShot; it's also available now. Enjoy!Read - Purple Samsung GleamRead - Samsung FlipShot
Verizon giving Samsung Gleam a dash of purple
In case the original Gleam wasn't... shall we say, gleamy enough, perhaps a violet-ification (pardon the grossly abused suffix) of the phone's exterior is just what the doctor ordered. The midrange flip for Verizon relaunches in purple come the 27th of this month for $99.99 on contract after rebates. Tough call with the equally loud pink Centro for Sprint coming in at the same price point, we'd say.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
More details on Samsung's U700, U900 for Verizon
phoneArena's scored some more details on the U700 and U900 flips from Samsung that had previously been mentioned as contributors to Verizon's rumored lineup for the remainder of the year, and at least one of the two looks from the outset like a high-end winner. First up, the U700 Gleam offers pretty much everything you'd expect from a midrange Samsung circa 2007: 2 megapixel camera, QVGA display, microSD expansion, yada yada -- plus an updated Flash-based UI. We can allegedly expect this puppy in the next month or two. Later on in the year comes the U900, heir apparent to the A990, likely making it Verizon's new king of the Samsung hill. This one rocks out with a 3 megapixel autofocus cam, stereo speakers, touch sensitive external controls, and a rotating display (it seems to us like the twist top makes this puppy perfect for VCAST TV, but there's no indication that it'll be available here) in your choice of red or black.
Samsung U700 "Gleam" for Verizon, A513 for Helio?
Is Helio finally ready for its first flip phone? The MVNO has tended to stray from form factor convention -- think Kickflip and Ocean -- but to satisfy traditionalists, a good, clean clamshell is probably a solid addition to any carrier's lineup. PhoneArena has scored a shot of what will allegedly become the Samsung SCH-A513 for Helio (though we imagine they'll come up with a much snappier name for launch), sporting an m610-ish profile but upping the cam to 3 megapixels. Meanwhile, Verizon will apparently be sourcing the U700 "Gleam" from the manufacturer, offering EV-DO and external music controls in what appears to be a refined, midrange shell. No word on release dates or prices for either of these just yet.
