Verizon Wireless has begun offering the Samsung Galaxy Stellar, bringing Big Red's customers an entry-level smartphone alternative to the high-priced handsets that currently swamp the market.

The Stellar is free, although getting that price requires a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreement. Still, not a bad deal for first-time smartphone adopters.

Helping new Android users get their footing, Samsung has included a Starter Mode feature, which trims the user interface back a bit, making it easier for those transitioning from a featurephone. The Stellar also offers a Standard Mode interface option for those already familiar with smartphones.

More Stellar Details

Running Android 4.0 out of the box, Samsung's latest addition to its Galaxy lineup sports a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) display and a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor. Additionally, the handset features a 3.2-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter, and a microSD expansion card slot, which can expand storage space up to 32GB.

The Galaxy Stellar can connect to Verizon's 4G LTE network, giving the budget-friendly smartphone high-speed connections that top those of some more expensive devices, like the iPhone 4S. Other features include GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Equipped with the full suite of Google productivity, organization, and entertainment software, the handset also boasts a host of Amazon applications, such as Kindle, MP3 and Shopping.

As is the case with other recent Samsung devices, like the Galaxy S III, the Stellar is a S.A.F.E. (Samsung Approved For Enterprise) approved phone, which offers on-device AES-256 bit encryption, enhanced Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support, and tools for Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM).