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U.S. wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless, launched Samsung’s new breed of smartphone, Continuum. This handset, Verizon (News - Alert) said, is the world's first smartphone designed with a dedicated ticker display, which provides users with news, sports, finance and social networking updates.

The smartphone, which is set to go on sale at Verizon stores, has a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED display and a secondary 1.8-inch 'Ticker Display' below it.

 This Ticker Display has to be activated by squeezing the grip sensors at the sides of the device. Users can read news and social feeds on the Ticker Display while the phone is in standby state and this feature helps to save battery.Samsung (News - Alert) Continuum runs on Google’s Android operating system and uses Microsoft’s Bing as the primary search provider. It is powered with 1Ghz Hummingbird processor and it also boasts a 5 megapixel camera.

Dedicated ticker displays up-to-the minute news, weather and SNS updates, as well as music player controls and incoming e-mail, IM, and text messages without interrupting the activity on the main display, Verizon stated at the time of the launch in New York on Monday.

The phone offers full suite of messaging options such as text, picture, video and voice messaging. Corporate and personal e-mail accounts are also supported, the carrier said.

Its 3G mobile HotSpot capabilities allow customers to transform their phone into a wireless modem for up to five compatible WiFi-enabled devices.

According to reports, the model with 3G connectivity and WiFi would be made available by other carriers also such as T-Mobile (News - Alert) and Sprint.

All three carriers have different monthly data plans, ranging from $20 a month (1 GB on Verizon) to $60 a month (5 GB on Sprint).

Analysts believe Samsung Continuum may give Motorola Droid a run for money, the handset currently used by many customers of Verizon Wireless (News - Alert).