Awesome Verizon

Verizon worked with Minecraft artisans BlockWorks and ad agency Wieden+Kennedy to make a gigantic virtual smartphone in the sandbox game. The phone has a functioning web browser, front-facing camera and video calling.

A rugged Android phone designed for adventurers, it’s designed to withstand extreme conditions, has special sensors for temperature, direction and speed and loaded with apps for outdoor types.

Verizon attempts to impress us with their first 4G phone, the ThunderBolt, which includes goodies like integrated video Skype mobile, an 8 megapixel flash camera, HD video and a hi-res 4.3″ screen.

Starting Feb. 10, Verizon will be selling the iPhone 4, slightly modified to use their CDMA network. The 16GB model will cost $200, while the 32GB will cost $300; both require a new 2-yr contract.

Casio’s rugged/hip G’zOne series gets an upgrade with the Brigade; it features a full QWERTY, 3.2MP AF camera w/video, EV-DO Rev.A, Mil-Spec 810F, and dual OLED/WQVGA screens.

Verizon subscribers finally get a taste of Motoblur-flavored Android with Motorola’s Devour; it’s a slide-out QWERTY phone with 3.1″ capacitive touchscreen, 3G, aGPS, and Bluetooth.

Available 1/25/2010 with Verizon, Palm doubles down with the Pre Plus (16 GB, no home button) and Pixi Plus (WiFi); both can also serve as 3G hotspots with up to 5 devices tethered.

Blackberry’s Curve 8530 does a double debut today at both Verizon ($99 on 11/20) and Sprint (price TBA); they both feature an optical trackpad, EVDO Rev.A, Wi-Fi, and 2 MP camera.

Available on Verizon 11/6, HTC’s Droid Eris is similar to Sprint’s Hero but at a lower pricepoint; it features a 3.2″ capacitive touchscreen, 5 MP camera, Wi-Fi, and Android 1.5 w/Sense UI.

The Blackberry Storm 2 is now official: it looks the same as the first Storm, but boasts updated electronic SurePress screen, Wi-Fi, 256MB flash memory, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR1.

Available 10/6/09, Verizon’s HTC Imagio is their first Win Mo 6.5 phone; it boasts a 3.6″ resistive touchscreen, 5 MP camera w/autofocus, EV-DO Rev. A w/ global roaming, and Wi-Fi.

Available through Verizon 9/13, Nokia’s 7705 Twist is more for the ladies with a built-in mirror, but its compact design, swiveling QWERTY, and 3MP autofocus camera are intriguing.

Just about every major US carrier has their own HTC Touch Pro2, but Verizon hits the sweet spot 9/11/09 with a $200 price (after $100 MIR), a full $150 cheaper than Sprint or T-Mo.

Replacing the Glyde, Samsung’s Rogue is Verizon’s first with an AMOLED phone; specs: a 3.1″ resistive touchscreen, full slide-out QWERTY, EV-DO Rev. A, and 3 MP w/autofocus.

Verizon Wireless’ UMW190 is a global USB modem that’ll provide 3G internet around the world with dual-band CDMA/Tri-Band UMTS/HSPA and quad-band GSM/GRPS/EDGE.

An answer to the Dash 3G and Snap, Verizon Wireless’ HTC Ozone smartphone has similar features–WinMo 6.1, 3G, Wi-Fi and full QWERTY–but its best feature is the price: $50.