Verizon Wireless and Motorola (News - Alert) have announced the availability of the Motorola Rival phone.

 

According to the companies, the new QWERTY messaging phone is specially designed to offer users One-Touch Access to IM-Style Texting, social connectivity and uninterrupted access to a variety of multimedia features from Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless, including V CAST Music with Rhapsody, V CAST Video, Visual Voice Mail and VZ Navigator.

 

Verizon Wireless claims to operate the nation’s largest wireless voice and data network. Motorola deals in communications and claims it is focused on advancing the way the world connects.

 

The new device has a smaller form factor and a compact but well laid out 4-row QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard has a dual-mode backlight system that lights the numbers and symbols in green when the function key is activated.

 

Rival is available in tin silver or purple color and the key features of the device are Touch dial-pad; IM-style texting that organizes messages by contact, displaying them in a chat-like format; and One-touch access to text message composition, emoticons, symbols, IM and e-mail.

 

The phone features a 176x220 pixel touch sensitive display and the touch sensitive softkeys light up when available, which makes them easy to find in both landscape and portrait modes. For messaging tasks the phone can be opened up in landscape mode and at that time the on-screen button at the bottom of the display can be activated by touch or by clicking on the d-pad’s center button. The full touchscreen can only be used when in the dial-pad mode, for entering numbers.

 

The phone’s inbox is capable of storing over 500 messages and the device comes with a 2.0 Mega Pixel camera, 3.5 mm headset jack and up to 8 GB optional removable memory.

 

Rival’s text messaging system provides an IM-like threaded view, and the actual IM client works with AIM, MSN, and Yahoo! instant messaging services. Email support for both personal and corporate exchange support is also available.

 

The Motorola Rival is available beginning June 10, 2009, online at the Verizon site and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

 

Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions recently announced a new addition to its innovative Mesh Wide Area Network portfolio, the Vehicle Mounted Modem (VMM) 4300 and Motorola earned WiMAX (News - Alert) Forum certification for its WiMAX access point, the WAP 400 for 3.5GHz.