Verizon Wireless debuts eco-friendly Samsung Intensity III

We reported just a few days ago that the Samsung Intensity III sliding keyboard phone would launch on Verizon Wireless, but that it was unclear when exactly that would happen. Well, the time has come because Verizon is selling the new Samsung handset starting today.

The design of the Intensity III is composed of 80 percent of recyclable materials and is built with durability and longevity in mind. In fact, it’s in compliance with Military Specifications 810F standards for shock absorption, low pressure, temperature, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, vibration, sand, and dust. It features a simple 2MP camera on the back with a few shooting modes and filters and a 2.4-inch QVGA 240×320 display on the front with a standard keypad underneath it. A full QWERTY keyboard slides out from the left that appears to be roomy and sufficient for folks heavy on text messaging.

Some of the software features include voice commands and speech recognition, VZ navigator with turn-by-turn directions, Bluetooth, and a microSD card slot to add up to an additional 32GB of storage. In keeping with the recyclable and eco-friendly theme, the Intensity III ships with an eco-calculator app that lets users track their own carbon footprint through regular activities like car fuel mileage. The packaging is small and uses recycled paper and soy ink for construction and print, too.

All in all, it’s a basic QWERTY keyboard handset that is more than adequate for the standard text message user and, as an added bonus, won’t harm the environment too much. You can pick it up through Verizon Wireless for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year contract agreement.

[via STLToday]