Samsung Renown launching on Verizon November 19, in stores December 1

If you're a Verizon customer, global roaming's up your alley, and the Storm and Saga are both just a little more smartphone than you need, there's another option dropping shortly: the Samsung Renown. There's really not a hell of a lot to the unassuming flip beyond an integrated quadband GSM radio, but hey -- for some frequent travelers (drug runners come immediately to mind), maybe that's all the doctor ordered. The bronze flip musters VZW Navigator support, a QVGA primary display, micro SD expansion to 8GB, and a 2-megapixel camera, and while the $179.99 on-contract price after rebate might sound a smidge steep for such specs, let's not lose sight of that all-powerful globetrotting capability. It'll hit November 19 over the phone and December 1 in-store; in the meantime, follow the break for some views of the thing.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

[carcomptoy Posted Nov 13th 2008 9:14PM]

I wonder if it's going to be unlocked SIM-card wise...it'd be great to have a Verizon-branded phone say "T-Mobile" on its screen hahaha

[Sofunnytom Posted Nov 13th 2008 9:32PM]

actually, i believe it would be vodafone because of the 45% ownership thing, and thats who they have for international roaming

[Fox9751363 Posted Nov 13th 2008 9:43PM]

Why did you spell it Reknown with a "k" when VZW spells it Renown with no "k"

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2008 10:58PM]

'reknown' isn't even a word... [insert obligatory FAIL here]

[Rollins Posted Nov 13th 2008 9:45PM]

For the price, the Motorola Z6c looks a lot nicer.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2008 10:53PM]

I agree. I think the price is a little high. Should be 129. But there are a lot more GSM phones coming for VZW so I think as they get more the prices should drop a lil as well. I think they are trying to grab some global cstmrs before the LTE starts.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 14th 2008 9:27AM]

that is such an ugly color.

[Level 5 Posted Nov 14th 2008 11:15AM]

So does this phone contain a CDMA radio, and just use GSM for international roaming, or is it able to latch GSM in the States? It's specs mention quad-band, maybe it's just an uber-roamer.

[Level 5 Posted Nov 14th 2008 11:17AM]

Answered my own question, it does pack CDMA, but iis it able to do GSM in the states? I smell Verizon unlocked iPhones if it does :)