The most powerful camera phones in the U.S. have been the Motorola Zine with 5 megapixels, and the Samsung Innov8 with 8 megapixels that is only available in Europe. These two have been at the top of the list… until now. Samsung is introducing the new Memoir from T-Mobile, with an impressive 8 megapixel camera that is available in the U.S.

You can instantly share your photos with direct upload support for Flickr or Photobucket. Stay connected with T-Mobiles 3G network and instant messaging with AIM, Yahoo, Gmail and more. Chatting is easy with a virtual QWERTY keyboard on its vibrant 2.6 inch touchscreen. There is even GPS, a music player, and full HTML browser. There is a microSD card slot for expandable memory, and shortcut buttons for the camera shutter, screen lock, and volume rocker that doubles as the camera’s zoom controls. You can sync with your PC and utilize the Web-based email for several providers, also stay informed with a built-in RSS reader.

All of these features come at a price; at $249.99 it is still a much better deal than its European rival, the Innov8, going for $700 or more.