Verizon Wireless today announced a slew of new devices for their holiday 2009 lineup, including a wide variety of phones for all user types and pocketbooks. Ranging from a Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone, the HTC Imagio, to a new rugged clamshell in the Motorola Barrage, Verizon left no stone unturned, even launching a new netbook with built-in connectivity for their 3G wireless network.
HTC Imagio, a V Cast Mobile TV smartphone
 At first glance, it might be easy to think the HTC Imagio is simply Verizon Wireless' new brand name for the HTC Touch Diamond 2 that we reviewed this past Spring. In fact, it bears the same tablet design, with the zoom bar beneath the screen, and it also runs HTC's TouchFLO 3D interface on top of Windows Mobile, but the HTC Imagio goes a few steps farther. For one thing, the phone will ship with the new Windows Mobile 6.5, the newest version of Microsoft's smartphone OS.
For another feature boost, Verizon has added support for its V Cast Mobile TV service, making the HTC Imagio the first device to be released with V Cast TV in quite some time. In fact, of all the original V Cast TV phones we saw, only the Motorola Krave ZN4 still remains available on Verizon's site. The new HTC Imagio marks the first smartphone available for the service, and hopefully this means Verizon Wireless will be growing their Mobile TV plans, as the service is far superior in quality and content to the carrier's standard V Cast Video service, available on most of their 3G phones.
Otherwise, the HTC Imagio packs a solid feature set. Beyond the normal Windows Mobile offerings, including Mobile Office and Outlook, the phone will also feature Wi-Fi for WLAN networking, as well as the same 5-megapixel camera we enjoyed on the HTC Touch Diamond 2. The HTC Imagio will be available on October 6, the launch day for Windows Mobile 6.5, and will cost $200 after a mail-in rebate. The V Cast Mobile TV service adds another $15 per month.
Verizon Wireless Razzle, for music-loving tweens
 If you're not looking to drop $200 on an advanced smartphone, Verizon Wireless has a nice mix of new devices coming out. The most unusual of these is the Verizon Wireless Razzle, a phone made by Personal Communications Devices (PCD). The Razzle is a unique swiveling phone. The bottom half of the Razzle is a full QWERTY keyboard, so clearly text messaging will be a priority. But on the other side, the Verizon Wireless Razzle hides a set of speakers and music controls. You can twist the bottom half of the phone around to play music without headphones, sharing your music with your friends and neighbors. Otherwise, the Razzle is strictly a low-end device. The phone doesn't use 3G networking, opting for the slower 1X network instead. The phone will feature a 1.3-megapixel camera and a smallish 2.2-inch display.
As a nice surprise bonus, though, the Verizon Wireless Razzle will feature GPS navigation, and the phone will use VZ Navigator for turn-by-turn directions. The Razzle will be available online for $70 with a contract agreement. Specific release dates, including when the phone will be available in Verizon stores, has yet to be announced.
Motorola Barrage, a seriously rugged phone
 If your idea of fun is more about getting outdoors, and less about blasting music at your fellow commuters, Verizon Wireless is also offering the Motorola Barrage, a rugged phone clad in chrome, glass, mesh and rubber for serious resistance. The Moto Barrage can handle underwater submersion for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water. It's protected against rain, high and low temperatures, shock and vibration, and salt fog. It can even handle a "transit drop," which we assume means dropping it from a BlackHawk helicopter.
The Motorola Barrage will feature Push-to-Talk capabilities on Verizon Wireless network, which should please walkie talkie fans. The phone uses dual speakers for high quality audio, though we'll have to get our hands on the phone to see how this actually works. The Barrage doesn't slouch on network features, either. As an EV-DO Rev. A phone, the Moto Barrage will have access to Verizon Wireless' V Cast Music and V Cast Video on Demand services, as well as VZ Navigator for turn-by-turn directions.
Verizon Wireless will start selling the Motorola Barrage online today, October 1, for $130, after a $50 mail-in rebate, with a new contract agreement. The Barrage will be available in stores on November 16, and if your work requires a rugged phone without a camera, Verizon Wireless has you covered with a version that lacks the 2-megapixel shooter, available on October 21.
Nokia Shade, a colorful phone trying to do good
 Nokia's burgeoning Verizon Wireless lineup grows again this month with the Nokia 2705 Shade. The Nokia Shade may lack the high-end specs of Nokia's best phones, but the device will be one of the smallest devices available at Verizon Wireless when it launches. Features are slim, including a 1.3-megapixel camera and GPS navigation with VZ Navigator. The real selling point seems to be the changeable cover plates. Nokia will offer Xpress-on changeable covers separately to let buyers customize their devices.
Verizon Wireless is also using the Nokia 2705 Shade to raise awareness about domestic violence. In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is October, buyers who purchase the Nokia Shade will also get a purple Xpress-on cover, as purple is the signature color of the cause, as well as a free picture frame phone lanyard. Additionally, the Nokia Shade features pre-loaded wallpapers that highlight HopeLine, and the phone will come with #HOPE pre-programmed to quickly access the National Domestic Violence Hotline. We're not sure this is something people want to be reminded about every time they use their phone, but we applaud Verizon for raising awareness for an important cause.
The Nokia Shade will be available online on October 6 for $30 with a contract agreement. Xpress-on covers will cost an additional $20, and will be available on Verizon's Web site.
Gateway LT20, a subsidized 3G netbook
 Beyond the phones, Verizon Wireless also announced plans to sell the Gateway LT20, offering a subsidy with a contract agreement to bring the price of the netbook down quite a bit. The Verizon Wireless model, the Gateway LT2016u, will retail for $150 after a $100 mail-in rebate. The Gateway LT20 is a fairly standard netbook, with an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard disk drive, and a 10.1-inch screen. The netbook will ship with a 6-cell extended battery that will offer up to 6 hours of continuous use, according to the official press release. Missing from the Gateway LT2016u on Verizon Wireless is Windows 7, as the netbook will only ship with Windows XP Home edition, so if you're looking for a Windows 7 laptop on the cheap with a contract agreement, you'll probably have to wait until after the new OS launches on October 22.
The new Gateway LT2016u will be available in Verizon Wireless stores and online this Sunday, October 4. Verizon Wireless will be selling the netbook in a Night Sky Black color only, skipping the somewhat dashing red version we saw floating around when the netbook was originally launched this past Spring.
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