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Go ahead, abuse this phone

A big and beefy cell phone is coming to Verizon

Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Kent German

If you're like me, and you're growing tired of the seemingly endless parade of thin, pretty cells, you'll be glad to know that not all new handsets look like contestants on Extreme Makeover. Take, for example, the new Casio GzOne, which is styled about as far from the Motorola Razr as you can get it. Rugged and durable, the GzOne features a plastic bumper on the bottom end of the front face that's designed to protect the phone if it's dropped. Rubber touches give the GzOne even more protection, and like Nextel's handsets, it promises to stand up to water and shocks. No, it's not pretty, but it goes a long way in making a statement against supermodel cell phones.

When I first saw the GzOne last month in UTStarcom's booth at CTIA, it was running on Verizon's network and bore the name "Type V." Though UTStarcom refused to confirm that the GzOne would end up at that carrier--not that I took their "no comment" seriously--rumors are now circulating that the GzOne will arrive at Verizon sometime this month. Reportedly it will carry a $300 price tag, which seems just a tad exorbitant even with the 2-megapixel camera and support for VZ Navigator.