Verizon launches the Samsung Glyde

by Chris Ziegler posted May 8th 2008 at 12:58AM

One of the worst-kept secrets in Verizon's stable is finally getting official today; that's right, ladies and gentlemen, meet the Glyde from Samsung. Wearing CDMA guts underneath its F700 clothing, the fashion-friendly QWERTY slider offers a 2 megapixel cam with flash and autofocus, GPS, the full range of Bluetooth profiles, microSD slot, and a true HTML browser. Unlike its crosstown competition -- the LG Voyager -- the Glyde doesn't offer support for Verizon's VCAST TV service, but we imagine most folks will consider that a minor (read: nonexistent) inconvenience. Look for the phone to start circulating into retail channels this week for a princely $249.99 on contract after $50 rebate.

Gallery: Verizon launches the Samsung Glyde

Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, glyde, samsung, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

snowenloe @ May 8th 2008 1:06AM

yawn

Highly Ranked

CB17 @ May 8th 2008 1:16AM

Wow, another non-smartphone Verizon QWERTY phone, what a complete waste of plastic.

Once again, what's the point of QWERTY if all you can use it for is texting...ridiculous.

Highly Ranked

MastrCake @ May 8th 2008 2:06AM

DUDE!!! You posted the same exact thing on the normal Engadget site like 1 minute ago... WTF?

Highest Ranked

elgee02 @ May 8th 2008 3:14AM

Wow.... just wow.

I am simply amazed how you think your own personal distaste for non-smartphone QWERTY phones is somehow more relevant than the MASSIVE market that exists for these phones.

Ever hear of the sidekick? I hate that POS phone but not doubt that phone was quite popular over at T-Mob.

The enV has been one of VZW's best selling phones almost every month since it has been released (which was black friday of 06).

The Voyager STILL sells like hotcakes too.

So just because YOU think wanting QWERTY just for texting is silly doesn't mean these phones won't sell or aren't any good. If you send literally thousands of texts a month (and A LOT of people do) but you could give a rats ass about syncing with outlook why the hell WOULDN'T you want a QWERTY non-smartphone? That's what is ridiculous.

Highly Ranked

WiiTodd @ May 8th 2008 8:06AM

This phone does Sync with Outlook via Wireless Sync.

Low Ranked

CB17 @ May 8th 2008 9:23AM

@Elgee02

The sidekick is popular for other reasons. Yes, QWERTY might be popular among the tweens and that's probably why a low cost phone (like the EnV) sells a lot. But for mass market, most people still don't know what LOL stands for.
Like how I LOL at you for defending 12 year olds.

Anybody who's buying a phone for someone above the age of 16, isn't gonna care about QWERTY unless they can E-Mail (and other things). The Voyager probably sells well because of the touchscreen and TV.

Highly Ranked

elgee02 @ May 8th 2008 3:11PM

"Anybody who's buying a phone for someone above the age of 16, isn't gonna care about QWERTY unless they can E-Mail (and other things)."

No... that is also incorrect. My step-dad bought my enV off of me when I upgraded my phone. He is in his mid 50's. He maybe only texts 200 times a month (small compared to teen standards) but he LOVES having a QWERTY. I was 22 when I bought then enV (black friday of 06). I have sold literally hundreds of enVs to people already out of high school. I have even sold enVs to senior citizens. QWERTY phones are a HUGE market, and it is NOT just for email but by far texting. This phone I predict will also sell like hotcakes despite the fact it is not (and thank goodness) a smartphone.

CB17, you seem like a pretty knowledgeable guy but here you are dead dead dead wrong. The market for non-smartphone QWERTY phones is massive and it aint just kids 16 and under.

Neutral

CB17 @ May 8th 2008 5:04PM

@Elgee02

While I'm sure there IS a market for people who like QWERTY phones for the sole purpose of texting. Neither you nor I can, with any authority, make any claims on the global popularity of such phones.

Even so, you CAN'T deny that, speaking strictly from a DESIGN point of view, having a big ass keyboard on a phone ISN'T a waste of space, when 10 key + T9 works GREAT for texting. Just look at all those die hard texters that can text with 1 hand, without looking (and some even with their phone in their pockets).

Bottom line: Texting is informal. And keeping that in mind, it's just as easy to text with 10 key as it is with a full keyboard (and easier with 10 key when 1 handed). My only opinion is that, because of that, Samsung (and LG) could have ripped the keyboards off and put the space on the phone to better use.

I mean, be honest, you know people make fun of the Voyager for being big and bulky. And the same can be said for any other phone with a slide out or flip open keyboard. It's just that with a QWERTY smartphone, you actually have a lot of uses for the QWERTY.

Neutral

BrokenMonkey @ May 8th 2008 7:23PM

i sry, jst bcuz u thk tht txtn lk ths s k dsnt mn rest f wrld s rtrd lk u

Neutral

CB17 @ May 8th 2008 9:53PM

@Broken Monkey

+1 points for being funny, but unfortunately I had deduct a couple thousand for over-exaggeration and not sticking the landing (making the wrong joke).

Your reference was for texting BEFORE T9 (triple tap).

Don't worry though, here on Engadget Mobile we're on a double elimination system. Better luck next round.

Neutral

BrokenMonkey @ May 9th 2008 12:08PM

Despite the fact that T9 exists (whether or not it works is debatable) people still text like that whether it's out of idiocy, dislike of T9, or just laziness. Even my own mother texts like that.

Neutral

EMck @ May 22nd 2008 6:15PM

Busy mothers need a phone, calendar, texting and a camera, but can't be accountable to the web and email or they'd completely ignore their children. This phone is perfect for us.

Neutral

DP @ May 8th 2008 1:17AM

And that yawn is not just because it's 1:06 in the morning.

Neutral

Kevin Kurumada @ May 8th 2008 1:20AM

Should I get this phone. I sorta wanted the blackberry curve, but I don't need the push email function of it. Would this be a good phone to get?

Neutral

supes @ May 8th 2008 1:28AM

only if you like giant Verizon logos ;-)

Neutral

snitch @ May 8th 2008 1:47AM

Next, Please

Neutral

VZWguy @ May 8th 2008 2:01AM

GPS, HTML browser, croix interface(but i am sure most here will tel you it's a "verizon" interface because they have no clue).

however the little things that bigged me:
full screen browsing is a pain in the ass to find
small screen for web surfing.

otherwise it was pretty stable, I liked it a lot more than the voyager...wich is HUGE imo. the device is smaller than the voyager, and just as thick, but with no flip open keypad.

Neutral

seanh1231 @ May 8th 2008 3:56AM

@ VZWguy: Actually no, the Glyde does NOT have the Corix interface. The Glyde has the usual VZW UI, but with some features of the Croix mixed in, such as the cross on the menu screens when you select an icon and the pulsating blue square on the home screen that takes you to the shortcut menu. The actual Croix interface that is on the F700 has far more to it than the Glyde's interface. For instance, the cross (Croix is French for cross) feature is present in almost ALL aspects of the phone, from the music player (where sliding the horizontal part of the cross rewinds and fast forwards, and sliding the vertical part changes volume), to the messaging application, and much more. So, my friend, I wouldn't be so fast to say that the Glyde runs the full Croix interface. In reality, the Glyde's UI is only slightly different from the Voyager's, with a few cosmetic changes to incorporate some of the Croix. I suggest you check your facts before saying doesn't have a clue. ; )

Neutral

TubeTop100.com @ May 8th 2008 7:33AM

Now that I have a good look at it: it's actually different from the F700 case.

The speaker and the key on the front are different. The keys on the sides are different(both in color and position, on/off key moved to the side and doubles as keyblock, which is strange). And the connector has been removed from the top.

Neutral

frzd @ May 8th 2008 2:59PM

Doesn't look too bad. Looks like an Iphone with a full qwerty keyboard. I'd like to know more specs and since I am on verizon, I just might get this. I wonder what else it can do besides texting.

Neutral

Noah Kravitz @ May 8th 2008 1:43PM

It's actually noticeably smaller than the F700. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFaehcsam9k

Neutral

Lee @ May 8th 2008 12:25PM

I am very disappointed in Verizon, I was excited for this phone to come out. The interface for the f700 was awesome, designed by adobe and all that. Now Verizon has slapped this stupid ass interface on it and it looks like crap. iPhone FTW.

Neutral

xB Owner @ May 8th 2008 6:11PM

As mentioned to some degree by others, you can hardly say "F700 clothing" about this phone. Other than the form factor, and a tiny bit of design there is hardly anything left of the F700 in the Glyde. The phone is different in every dimension, the physical interface and keyboard are different, the OS is different and the UI is different.

While similar phones, this is not a Verizon or US version of the F700. A "kissing cousin," maybe. But not a Verizon phone in F700 clothing. Even though I had high hopes for this phone, it is all but off my list at this point.

Neutral