Verizon Wireless is going after the shutterbug-chatterbox market with the launch of the Samsung SCH-A990 mobile phone in the United States, sporting a 3.2 megapixel camera along with a number of high-end features (like video recording, video and music support, Bluetooth, and wireless photo printing).

"The launch of the SCH-A990 mobile phone marks the first time amultimedia phone is fully integrated with a high resolution camera in the U.S.," said PeterSkarzynski, Samsung senior vice president "With a design that feels and looks like a phone and camera, Samsung's SCH-A990 mobile phone is the premier print quality camera phone for photo enthusiasts in the U.S. market."

 

Verizon claims the SCH-A990 mobile phone is the first 3.2 megapixel cameraphone on the American market, designed to appeal to snappers with autofocus, flash, a built-in picture editor, PictBridge wireless printing (via Bluetooth), and a 180° swivel screen. The SCH-A990 mobile phone also offers up to 1 hour of video recording (using a separate microSD memory card), business-card scanning capability, Spanish and English language interface options, and the standard list of phone apps like a clock, to-do list, currency converter, world time, stop watch, and calendar.

The SCH-A990 mobile phone can also tap into Verizon's VCAST over-air multimedia services—something we're sure Verizon wants you to know about—to download songs and video over the air.

The SCH-A990 mobile phone is $349 after a $50 mail-in rebate when purchased with a two-year service contract; VCAST services are a $15/month premium on top of calling plan fees, and some items available via VAST entail additional fees. The mobile phones are available now from Verizon's Web site and wil be available in retail locations July 24, 2006.