The Pantech Jest is no joke

Get ready for a slew of jokey headlines with this one--Verizon Wireless just announced on Tuesday a new slider messaging phone called the Pantech Jest. One unintended implication of the name is that phone itself is a joke, but it actually looks like a decent QWERTY phone.

It has a 2.6-inch display, an optical sensor that works like a mouse, a 2-megapixel camera, EV-DO, GPS with VZ Navigator, V Cast Music access, stereo Bluetooth, and direct connections to social networks like Twitter and Facebook. It'll be available starting July 5 for $69.99 with a new two-year service agreement.

Update: We've learned that Verizon is offering it for free if you buy it from Verizon's online store.