Messaging

The messaging shortcut button is a real treat, displaying next to the dial pad, menu, and contacts buttons when the keyboard is in the open position. Verizon's built-in AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo instant messengers use airtime for sign-in and buddy-list updates but SMS for instant messages back-and-forth.

Users can set the Glyde's text message and voicemail reminder tones to ring never, once, every two or 15 minutes. Another feature unique to Glyde is the user's ability to change not only background color, but text color and font size and style for text messages and instant messages as well.

Entertainment

Verizon's built-in software syncs music with home computer via USB cable. "Get It Now" includes music and ringtones, VCAST Video, games, mobile email, the VZ Navigator, all bundled with access to the Samsung browser, pictures and videos gallery.

VCAST Video provides short one- to five-minute video clips from from content providers such as CNN mobile, ABC News Now, FOX Sports, Adult Swim, TMZ.com, Comedy Central, and even a DC Comics channel exclusive to Verizon.

With VZ Navigator, the Glyde offers audible turn-by-turn navigation to addresses and more than 14 million points of interest, from ATMs and gas stations to restaurants and tourist destinations.

Internet

The Glyde runs on Verizon's high-speed EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) broadband network, that offers DSL speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps. However, realistic rates are more around the range of 300 to 500 kbps.

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