Alltel rolls out LG AX490 with Fastap

Ah Fastap, it's been a minute since we heard from you -- glad to see you've stuck around to find your way into a US release. The unique layout, which squeezes a mind-boggling array of keys into an area the size of a traditional keypad in an effort to simplify text entry, has never managed to break into the States -- though it's previously come as close as Canada. Alltel will do the honors here, getting Fastap on its new Bluetooth-enabled LG AX490 clamshell, "designed with the racing enthusiast in mind" featuring NASCAR-themed ringtones, games, and graphics. If texting on a good, old fashioned 38-key keypad and NASCAR are your two passions in life, expect the AX490 to drop for $59.99 after rebate on a two-year contract starting this Thursday.

[Thanks, Peter]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 31st 2006 6:59PM]

I wonder if this will make the little alltel emo kids from that previous article happy...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 31st 2006 11:00PM]

Well i already have trouble typing on my treo, this looks nearly impossible to type with. Does it have a magnifying glass and toothpick to push the buttons with?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 1st 2006 9:01AM]

please. you can NEVER make an emo kid happy. and here's another thing you can't do: type on the thing! c'mon! anyone short of a newborn is going to have problems typing on that thing!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2006 12:08AM]

So whats with Alltel anyhow? Are they still just in the South or are they growing? It seems like they are making a ton of noise in Charlotte at least, MyCircle, largest network, and now the new FastTap...what gives?