Verizon Wireless has launched the UTStarcom Blitz.  The smartphone is sesigned for the heaviest of texters.  The Blitz comes complete with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and easy access to a dedicated My Messaging key, making this the must-have phone at schools from coast to coast.

The Blitz is a text messaging powerhouse with a 2.2-inch screen; ideal for browsing the Web or checking e-mail. The phone is a music player ready for any party, on or off campus. It is equipped with an MP3 player that can access Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music with Rhapsody's library of more than 5 million songs that can be downloaded to a PC and side-loaded with the included USB cable, synchronized with a Bluetooth speaker or played right from the speakerphone. Most music downloaded onto the PC using V CAST Music with Rhapsody is free of digital rights management software, which means the music can be played on multiple devices.

The Verizon Wireless Blitz is available for $69.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement. Customers can sign up for V CAST Music with Rhapsody for a $14.99 monthly subscription.