Verizon today began shipping its promised Samsung FlipShot cameraphone to stores. Originally introduced in November, the device focuses more on photography than most phones in the class with its namesake swiveling, 2.2-inch LCD that can twist into a comfortable position for photos or video capture from the onboard 3-megapixel camera. It can also print directly to printers that support either PictBridge or Bluetooth printing.

The device supports Verizon’s VZ Navigator assisted GPS service and will play media from the carrier’s V CAST music and video services as well as local content stored on a microSD card. It also shares the Gleam’s “living” backgrounds that change with the time of the day. Verizon has lowered the price of the FlipShot for its formal debut, releasing the phone in either black or red color schemes for $150 (versus the original $200) when picked up alongside a new two-year contract.