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Verizon's Samsung Illusion appears Nov. 23

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread Samsung Illusion will be free for a limited time.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
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Jessica Dolcourt
Samsung Illusion
An illusion no more. Samsung

A mirage no more, the Samsung Illusion is now officially on the records.

Whispers of Verizon's more midlevel Illusion first reached our ears in September, when a spoiler image briefly appeared on Flickr. Back then, we knew few details, other than its Android character.

Now we know that it runs on a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, has a 3-megapixel camera, and a curved glass display, likely similar to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus S.

It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has the Swype virtual keyboard onboard. The microSD card slot holds cards up to 32GB, and the phone comes with 2GB to get you started. It's 3G-only.

Eco-warriors will also be pleased to know that the Illusion is made with parts constructed from between 35 percent and 70 percent post-consumer material, and that the packaging has bleach-free paper, recycled paper, and is printed with vegetable ink rather than oil-derived ink.

As a Black Friday sales promotion, the Illusion will be available online at VerizonWireless.com for free between November 24 and 28, with a new two-year service agreement. You can start purchasing it online on November 23, but it won't be available in retail stores until January 2012, when it will cost $79.99.

The Illusion requires a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan starting at $39.99 per month, and a smartphone data plan, beginning at $30 per month for 2GB of data.