Virgin Mobile USA Welcomes First Samsung Handset to Wireless Phone Lineup

New SLASH Camera Phone 'Slides' Into Action with an Array of Great Features

WARREN, N.J., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Virgin Mobile USA, a top provider of feature-rich wireless plans without annual contracts, slices through the wireless monotony with the launch of Virgin Mobile USA's new Slash by Samsung, the company's first wireless handset developed with global consumer electronics powerhouse, Samsung Mobile.

Retailing at just $79.99, Slash is a slim slider phone with a sleek and compact profile. It comes equipped with a VGA camera, Bluetooth® wireless technology, and full messaging capabilities (IM, text messaging and email).

"When it comes to our handsets, we're committed to offering our customers choice, value and flexibility without sacrificing style or features," explained Bob Stohrer, Chief Marketing Officer, Virgin Mobile USA. "Samsung has a strong reputation for designing products that raise the bar across all of these criteria. We're thrilled to work with them to bring a cool new offering like Slash to market."

"Samsung Mobile is passionate about designing stylish phones that are easy to use," said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. "Our first collaboration with Virgin Mobile USA cuts right to the core of what our customers are looking for, a phone with exciting features and a cool design."

Slash by Samsung includes such must-have features as an integrated speakerphone and voice-activated dialing, and boasts a bright color display and lots of storage. The phone can hold up to 499 contact entries, with up to five phone numbers, two email addresses and one website per individual. Slash is also outfitted with preloaded and customizable Autotext™ for fast and easy text messaging.

Games such as Gameloft® Jukebox and Superscape® Demo come preloaded on the handset. The VirginXL portal gives Slash owners access to a huge array of Virgin Mobile USA content, including animated and real music ringtones and ringback tones, and Headliner -- Virgin Mobile USAs' exclusive mobile music magazine with on-demand access to music-related content like artist news, charts and concert dates.

Spanish-speaking customers have access to in-language options right at their fingertips, thanks to an enhanced Spanish-language user interface and menu also preloaded on Slash.

Light and compact, Slash by Samsung weighs in at just 3-ounces and measures 3.8" by 1.8" by 0.7". Its battery life offers customers up to 3.5 hours of talk time and a week of standby time (approximately 170 hours). More information on this newest addition to the full lineup of Virgin Mobile USA handsets may be viewed online at: http://www.virginmobileusa.com/phones/catalog.do.