After numerous rumors and leaked pictures, Verizon has finally announced availability for the newest edition to their “Doird” line, the Samsung Droid Charge. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of months the Droid Charge features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 1.3MP front camera, 8MP rear camera, and burns through bandwidth using Verizon’s 4G LTE. This device also has the ability to share it’s connection with up to 10 others devices on 4G or five on on 3G.
You can can grab your own Charge April 28th with a price tag of $299 after a new two-year contract. If you’re sitting there thinking about how steep that price is you wouldn’t be the only one. At at $300 it’s a little more spendy than the Thunderbolt as well as many other competitors. Seeing as the hardware is on par with other devices out there, the pricing totally confuses me. What are they thinking?
April 21, 2011
DROID CHARGE Joins Verizon Wireless’ DROID family
As Samsung’s First 4G LTE Smartphone
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. –Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Droid Charge by Samsung will be available April 28 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com.
The Droid Charge is designed with Samsung’s 4.3-inch Super AMOLEDâ„¢ Plus display, setting a new touch screen standard for brightness, clarity and outdoor visibility. The Droid Charge is equipped with both a rear-facing 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for both stills and video chatting. The smartphone’s 1GHz application processor and HTML 5 Web browser maximizes high-speed 4G LTE connectivity for faster downloads and graphics processing.
Additional Features:
– 4G LTE– customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
– Android 2.2 platform – With support for Google Mobile Services including Gmail, YouTubeâ„¢, Google Talk, Google Search, Google Maps and access to more than 150,000 apps available to download from Android Marketâ„¢
– Adobe® Flash® Player compatible
– Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to 10 WiFi-enabled devices or a 3G connection with up to 5 devices
– Samsung Media Hub – Samsung’s own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase
– Virtual QWERTY Keyboard featuring Swype Technology
Pricing and data plans:
– The Droid Charge by Samsung will be available for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
– Droid Charge customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access. Unlimited 4G LTE data packages start at $29.99 monthly access. Mobile hotspot feature will be included for a limited time at no additional charge.
Find the DROID Charge
Beginning April 21, anyone over the age of 18 can participate in an exclusive Droid Charge Scavenger Hunt.   Follow the online clues to find hidden locations in 16 different cities to win a Droid Charge by Samsung. For additional information about the DROID Charge scavenger hunt, visit: http://twitter.com/droidlanding.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.