I found this article interesting. Anyone think VZW with atually get this phone?

Verizon's primary competitor against the iPhone may be Samsung's Ultra Smart F700, according to a purported leak by CrunchGear lead editor John Biggs. The author claims that a version of the F700 adapted to the American carrier's CDMA network would be available as soon as the end of the year; no other details are available, though the change would require a switch to EVDO mobile broadband in place of the HSPA offered in the GSM version. The 5-megapixel camera, touch interface, and slide-out keyboard would likely remain unchanged.
The claim gains support from investment in Verizon by the European carrier Vodafone, which will soon offer the F700 as the Croix and is sharing an increasing level of technology with the American firm. Both companies have discussed implementing the same 4G access when it becomes available in coming years.

Verizon has so far relied primarily on LG devices to lure customers away from AT&T and the Apple handset, including the new Chocolate as well as the fully touchscreen-based Voyager. The company has also attempted to downplay the impact of the iPhone by developing similar rate plans and has received vocal support from Vodafone, whose chief executive said was continuing to grow in spite of the publicity surrounding the iPhone's release.

Article can be found here.

I certainly hope so, but I kind of doubt it. Verizon has stated that the Voyager is their answer to the iPhone, so I don't see them releasing this.

Ah, but what you forget is that Verizon wouldn't just have one iPhone competitor, because it gives consumers a choice. I think that it could very well be true. The Voyager probably isn't Verizon's only answer to it, they did state they had a couple in the works in one of their earlier press releases...

I do believe that Verizon would jump on this, because it has a 5MP camera, vs the iPhone's 2 MP, and the sliding QWERTY, among others. This phone would be a marketing dream for Verizon!

Well IMO it would be stupid for VZW not to pursue this phone. Its always good to have choices.

I have been drooling over this phone since it hit Voda so I am gonna pray...

You've hit the nail on the head HF 9, besides look at all the bragging they could do with it "We have more pixels then the iPhone in the camera" blah blah, but see, if they could use the bigger camera and other specs of this phone, it could work to their advantage.

I think there is some truth to this rumor, not because Vodafone's getting it, although it does increas the chances, but it seems like a phone VZW would pick up as one of their prime "iPhone competitors"

That's true. I hope Verizon thinks that way as well. I'd pay up to $699 for this phone in a minute.

I was thinking about the Voyager, but then this rumor comes along! Arghhh! Oh well, if it comes out end of this year, or next, I'm waiting for this to replace my 8300. I'd have to be a fool to buy the Voyager in Feb, then have the F700 come out later..

I hope Verizon thinks the way I do too. I think that maybe, just maybe, Verizon let this purposefully leak, to build up hype way before they announce it.

This would certainly be awesome, but I doubt Verizon would release a phone with a 5mp camera. The verizon phone, which have GSM variants, all have higher mp cameras, it seems like Verizon prefers lower mp cameras to reduce costs. (Ex: the u900 it will have a 3mp camera, the scurrent GSM version of it, which has already been released is a 5mp). Although, I would certainly LOVE a 5mp Touch screen camera phone. Because I am currently torn between the u900 and voyager, and this seems the best of both worlds.

...the problem with this and many new smart devices is that VZW is taking their sweet time in releasing them, to the point that when they are released they are at least a generation behind. If this device is coming to VZW, we won't see it until next year sometime.

Does it have wifi?

I hope it has wifi. I am sure it does though. I would do anything for VZW to get this phone.

That's not necessarily true. People said that about the phones that showed up at www.verizonwireless.com/next but they will all be out before December. I remember when the Samsung Juke was first heard of it was rumored to not be launched until Q1 08. I think VZW is figuring out that we already have the "Network" but now people want the hot new phones on the "Network".

Yes. People were saying the Juke would not be here till the spring of next year, but I have one right now. We just don't know for sure. Be a little optimistic!

So HF-9, you think there is a good chance if this rumor is true of coming out before the January-Feb 08 timeframe then..