Verizon Wireless' newest camera phone has a rotating display

Verizon announced today's availability of the Samsung Flipshot 3.0 megapixel cameraphone in the US -- a slightly re-tooled version of the previously available A990.

Verizon today announced the availability of Samsung's new U900 FlipShot camera phone in the US. The 3.0 Mp handset is designed around the camera functions. And its rotating 2.2" 240 x 430 display is mounted in such a way that it can swivel and lock into a position more like a traditional dedicated digital camera.

If this design looks familliar, it's because it is a near-clone of the company's earlier SCH-A990, which was released in 2006. The older model actually featured a higher-resolution camera at 3.2 Mp, and a marginally smaller 240 x 320 display.

Aside from the loss of .2 of a megapixel and the slight shrinking of the chassis, the new U900 includes all of the features of its progenitor: autofocus, digital zoom, flash, a 3-10 second self-timer, color effects: B/W, sketch, antique, negative, and emboss picture modes: auto, portrait, landscape, macro, night, day, and backlight, multi-shot modes: series, divided and panoramic.

Resolution of photos may be adjusted as high as 2048 x 1536 and as low as 160 x 120. While only the basic Bluetooth print profile is supported, it also supports the PictBridge standard for photo printing.

Additional features of the 3.76" x 1.83" x .73" handset include Verizon's V CAST music and video capabilities, VZ Navigator, Get it Now, and Mobile Web 2.0, SMS, EMS, and MMS messaging, and select PIM features.

The main difference between this handset and its predecessor is the retail price at launch. The former was a weighty $349.99, and this is a more consumer-friendly $199.99 USD with a two-year new user contract at verizonwireless.com, available now.