Samsung yesterday announced an impressive touchscreen camera phone called the Memoir, that packs a huge 8-megapixel camera, Xenon flash and 16x digital zoom inside a slim, streamlined body. The phone is designed to look much like a regular point-and-shoot digital camera and could easily be mistaken as such.

The SGH-T929 Memoir includes a full touchscreen display powered by Samsung’s TouchWiz UI and combined with a 3G connection over partner carrier T-Mobile, makes for easy uploading to photo sharing sites such as Photobucket or Flickr.

Phone functions aren’t ignored either. The phone/camera hybrid comes with a full-touch virtual QWERTY keypad for easy composition of messages and can handle not just simple TXTs, but also MMS, IM and email. The Memoir also includes built-in GPS navigation, a music and video player and Bluetooth for handsfree calls and voice-activated dialing.

This is a rather comprehensive piece of gadgetry and certainly scores well for convenience. If you’re in the market for some of the devices this thing covers (Phone, Camera, Sat Nav), it may even be worth its likely hefty price tag. The Memoir is rumored to cost $299 on a 2-year contract and should be available soon on the T-Mobile network.

Full Press Release Below:

SAMSUNG MOBILE AND T-MOBILE USA INTRODUCE BEST-IN-CLASS

8-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA PHONE Samsung Memoir™ Captures and Shares High-Quality Images

With Advanced Features and Touch Screen DALLAS, and BELLEVUE, WASH. — Feb. 5, 2009 — Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) and T-Mobile USA, Inc., today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Memoir™, a full touch-screen mobile phone equipped with an 8-megapixel camera and premium multimedia features, placing it among the highest quality imaging phones available in the U.S. The Memoir, available exclusively from T-Mobile, is designed to look and feel like a customer’s current point-and-shoot digital camera. The built-in 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, 16x digital zoom and five shooting modes empower customers to capture exceptional photos and videos from their phone — whether they’re on the go, on a vacation or just hanging out around the house. The touch-screen phone, enabled by Samsung’s TouchWiz™ user interface and powered by T-Mobile’s high-speed 3G network, makes sharing photos easy. Samsung’s new photo widget allows customers to post images taken with the Memoir directly to their favorite online photo sharing source, such as flickr®, Kodak® Gallery, Photobucket and Snapfish. “With the 8-megapixel Samsung Memoir, T-Mobile customers can capture and share little slices of life in all their vibrant brilliance,” said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. “With the ability to share photos at your fingertips, the Memoir helps make those connections more meaningful by their immediacy.” The Memoir’s full-touch virtual QWERTY keypad and multiple messaging capabilities, including text, multimedia messaging, instant messaging and e-mail, make staying connected quick and easy while on the go. The Memoir is complete with a music and video player and built-in Assisted GPS navigation, which allows customers to utilize location-based services including turn-by-turn directions. For hands-free use, the Memoir features stereo Bluetooth® technology, speakerphone and voice-activated dialing. “This is the camera phone that will make people want to leave their digital camera at home,” said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. “When you combine the Memoir’s imaging capabilities, customizable menus and music player, not only is it a great phone, but the entertainment possibilities are unlimited.” T-Mobile’s 3G coverage available in select markets. Samsung Memoir also works on T-Mobile’s 2G network. See coverage maps at T-Mobile.com Model number: SGH-t929

Sources:

Gizmodo via DVICE