Verizon launches the Ellipsis 7, its own affordable Android tablet

Verizon Ellipsis 7
Say hello to VZW's little friend

Apparently not content to only offer tablets from the likes of Apple and Samsung, Verizon is serving up its own slice of 7-inch 4G LTE fun this week, courtesy of an affordable, unbranded slate.

Verizon announced today the launch of the Ellipsis 7, a budget-priced 7-inch Android tablet that designed to take advantage of the carrier's 4G LTE network, exactly as rumored only last week.

Arriving in stores exclusively from Verizon on November 7, the Ellipsis 7 features a 1280 x 800 IPS HD screen in a compact frame for only $249.99 - an attractive option considering Google's new Nexus 7 still can't be activated on the carrier's LTE network.

For a limited time, Verizon customers signing up for a new two-year data contract can grab the Ellipsis 7 for $100 off, a deal that also applies to any other tablet offered by Big Red.

Google Play ready

The first product in what Verizon Wireless calls a "family" of Ellipsis products yet to come, the tablet comes out of the box with a full range of Google services, including the Google Play Store.

Powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz processor with 8GB of expandable storage, Ellipsis 7 also features a 3.2MP rear camera plus front-facing camera for video chats, a feature suited for families keeping in touch during the busy holiday season ahead.

Ellipsis 7 also comes with Verizon Messages, the company's own app for sending and receiving text messages, which now includes the ability to send customized photo collages thanks to a major update released last Friday.

Last but not least, Ellipsis 7 is running a relatively stock version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, making it one of the cheaper ways to experience 4G LTE without buying one of Google's own.

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