Verizon Wireless and Samsung announced the Alias by Samsung will be available in mid-April.

The successor to the Samsung SCH-u740, the Alias sports the familiar dual-hinge design but is packaged with an updated easy-to-read full-QWERTY keyboard. In addition to sending text messages, customers can use Wireless Sync, Verizon Wireless' proprietary personal information management solution, to synchronize their phones with their home or office PCs for easy access to e-mail, calendar, contacts and task information.

Additional features of the Alias include:

• 1.3 megapixel digital camera with flash
• Camcorder
• Instant Messaging using AIM, MSN, Yahoo!
• Text, picture and video messaging
• Bluetooth 
• Expandable memory with external microSD card slot
• Dimensions: 3.8" x 2.04" x .58"; 3.65 ounces with standard battery
• Bilingual user interface: English and Spanish
• TTY/TTD Capable

The Alias will be available in mid-April for $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement