From the news release:

The discerning gadget-lover will love the a970’s brilliant 262K-color LCD screen and use it to view all the action at their fingertips. Customers can shoot videos, personalize their FLIX Messages with text or save personal videos and pictures as their phone’s wallpaper. The a970 offers camera-happy Verizon Wireless customers the flexibility to either save their user-generated photos or videos using the phone’s internal memory or store them on a removable TransFlash(TM) memory card.

It’s all work and all play with the a970’s built-in MP3 player that enables customers to take their favorite music on the road when they use their removable TransFlash memory card (sold separately) to load music from their computer directly onto their new a970. Opening up a whole new avenue for listening and managing music on wireless phones, music fans can select, change or delete individual songs or create their own playlists on the memory card — each card can store a bunch of tunes to keep customers moving for hours.

The newest addition to Verizon Wireless’ array of V CAST-enabled phones, the a970 is a multimedia powerhouse allowing subscribers access to the first wireless broadband consumer multimedia service in the country. With $15.0 monthly access added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan, customers can view crystal clear video clips on demand including current news, weather, sports and entertainment programming. Or, customers can download and play cutting-edge 3D games as well as watch music videos and concert performances from favorite artists.

With the a970’s VoiceMode(TM) speech-to-text dictation technology, customers can give their thumbs a rest by speaking instead of typing their TXT Messages. This technology adapts to the user’s voice and allows consumers to speak text messages directly into the handset. In addition, advanced speech recognition technology from VoiceSignal(TM) allows for one-step voice commands that make voice-enabled dialing and TXT Messaging a breeze. Even checking the phone’s battery life or signal strength is as simple as giving one-step verbal commands to the phone.

The Samsung a970 is available today in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and participating Best Buy locations. Customers can purchase the Samsung SCH-a970 for $299.99 after a $50.00 mail in rebate and two-year customer agreement. TransFlash memory cards are sold at participating retailers, including Best Buy locations.

Samsung SCH-a970 Reviews

SciTech Today reviews the Samsung SCH-a970 and notes the pros and cons: Pros: EVDO; camera; VoiceMode technology. Cons: Dim external screen; hefty weight; no direct access to POP3, IMAP, or corporate e-mail accounts; VCast service requires additional monthly fee; video playback is limited to 15 fps; audio playback limited to files stored on TransFlash card.” The conclusion? The Verizon VX9800 might be more appealing.