Samsung's Omnia II is a Windows Mobile smartphone, but don't hold that against it. Even though it's running a mobile OS in need of a major overhaul, the Omnia II has at least one new feature that sets it apart from everything else on the market.

It's the phone's virtual keyboard and text input method.

First, the numbers. This smartphone is loaded:

• 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA display (like on Google's Nexus One)
• 8GB of built-in memory and microSD card slot (16GB max)
• 5.0 megapixel camera/camcorder (up to 2048 by 1536 pixels)
• Microsoft Office Mobile
• Full HTML Web browser
• All sorts of Verizon premium services including V Cast Music, Video on Demand, VZ Navigator, Mobile IM and plenty more
• EV-DO/3G connectivity
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• FM radio

There are lots of different ways to control your Omnia II. There is a configurable slide out widget panel to control some applications. Then there is Samsung's rotating CUBE interface which, once you look at it, needs very little explanation. I'm not exactly sure why it is needed at all, really. CUBE lets you launch a very limited number of applications via a sort-of-3D cube, and the interface doesn't always rotate when and where you want it. Not to worry though, as the phone also has the standard Windows Mobile screen interface for all your app-launching needs.

Officially, the handset runs on the latest version of Microsoft's OS: Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional. It's beginning to show it's age, as we all know. Unofficially, Microsoft is hinting that the next major overhaul of the operating software is due to be released very soon. Nothing new was announced at CES, so expect something to be said at either GSM Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, or the CTIA show in Las Vegas in March. In fact, we might even hear about it at both shows.

Back to the big selling point. It's the on-screen, virtual keyboard that makes this phone very, very cool.

The new text input system is called SWYPE, and it was invested by Cliff Kushler, a member of the team that invented T9. SWYPE lets you slide your finger over the keys to form words instead of tapping each letter separately like you have to do with every other smartphone on the market. The software follows your motion and does the rest.

I was amazed at just how quick and accurate SWYPE really was in real-life use. Within minutes I was "typing" faster on this phone than any other in recent memory. The learning curve is nearly instantaneous, which is surprising considering how different this text input method is from anything else on the market today. Sure there are other companies trying to push a variety of alternative text input methods, but they always seem to end up being clunky and impractical. SWYPE, in spite of all expectations, is just the opposite: easy to learn, easy to master, accurate and surprisingly efficient.

Let's hope Samsung -- and every other smartphone manufacturer -- considers implementing SWPYE on as many touchscreen phones as possible moving forward. Here's a quick video to give you an idea of how SWYPE works:

As for pricing, Verizon is asking $199.99 (after its $100 "online discount") with a two-year service contract; the same price that it's currently seeking for the Motorola DROID.

There are better devices on the market today (DROID, Nexus One, Palm Pre) and personally, I would wait to see what Microsoft has in store with Windows Mobile 7. But, the bottom line is that you could do a lot worse than the Omnia II. It's got the goods, and that new sliding keyboard input system is terrific, but the competition may just be too stiff for a Windows Phone in today's market.