Samsung Stratosphere has 4G LTE, QWERTY keyboard for Verizon Wireless

Samsung Stratosphere

Samsung Stratosphere

Samsung Stratosphere

Samsung Stratosphere

Verizon Wireless has announced the new Samsung Stratosphere, its first 4G LTE smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard. Similar in appearance to last year's Samsung Epic 4G for Sprint, the Stratosphere has a 4-inch display and a single-core 1GHz processor.

The Stratosphere features a 4-inch, Super AMOLED^(INFO) display with WVGA (480 x 800 pixel) resolution. Like the Epic 4G, it is powered by a 1GHz, single-core Samsung Hummingbird processor, and features both a 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and flash and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera does not record HD video, however. Underneath the display is a five-row QWERTY keyboard that slides out for easy access. The Stratosphere has support for Verizon's 4G LTE network, as well as Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS connections.

Samsung has equipped the Stratosphere with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and its TouchWiz custom interface. The Stratosphere also includes access to Samsung's Media Hub, where users can download TV shows and movies to watch on their handsets.

Verizon Wireless will offer the Samsung Stratosphere online and in stores on October 13. It will cost $149.99, after rebate, with a new two-year contract.