In time for the holidays, Verizon Wireless is launching a cell phone that looks a lot like the hottest phone so far this year: Apple Inc.’s iPhone.Like the iPhone, the LG Voyager features a large touch screen, a camera and extensive multimedia, Web browsing and e-mail capabilities.However, it one-ups the iPhone by folding open lengthwise to reveal a QWERTY keyboard and a second, non-touch sensitive screen. The lack of a hardware keyboard has been one of the main complaints about the iPhone.
The Voyager will connect to Verizon Wireless’ latest data network, providing speeds much higher than the AT&T network the iPhone uses. The Voyager also has direct access to Verizon Wireless’ online music store.
However, the Voyager will not come with a large built-in memory for songs and video, offering instead a slot for memory cards up to 8 gigabytes. Nor are its screens as large as the iPhone’s.
It’s an open question whether the Voyager can encroach on the iPhone’s cachet or match its ease of use. Apple has sold more than 1 million units since the phone-cum-iPod hit the market June 29.
In announcing its holiday lineup Wednesday, Verizon Wireless did not say how much the Voyager or three other new phones would cost. It also didn’t give a specific launch date, saying only that they would be in stores before Thanksgiving.
Verizon also showed off an LG phone called the Venus. It has two screens on its face, of which the smaller is touch sensitive, with controls for the phone’s music player and camera. The phone slides open to reveal a numeric keypad.
Verizon Wireless is also bringing out a version of the BlackBerry Pearl, with fast data network access. The slim e-mail oriented phone is already available on the slower networks of AT&T and T-Mobile USA. (Like Verizon, AT&T has a third-generation cellular broadband network, but it’s not used by the AT&T Pearl.)
The fourth phone in the lineup is the Juke, by Samsung. A small unit that flips open like a jackknife, it features an iPod-like wheel to control the music player.
I don’t know. I’m a big Verizon Wireless fan in the way that they have great wireless service here in the Bay Area, but this feels like they’re missing the boat. The new Voyager (the high end phone) is thicker then the iphone and I don’t see that they have done any of the UI things that really make people want to buy the iphone. Also with all their touting of supplying a full web browser, they don’t state what it will be. Opera mobile? Its gotten a lot better, and for its niche it works, but there are still handicaps with it. Also will it have Flash lite support? And how about Java support. Its these things that I’m most curious about, and will lead me to buy it verses getting an iphone and moving away from Verizon.
Tags: Hardware, Photographs, photos, Technology, Telephone
Verizon-of course, has all of the hottest phones! All tough they are pretty bad when it comes to their customers ;( I have had some issues with them. But their phones, plans, etc. are all at the top! I trust and sure do recommend them-mostly because of the great quality phones. At&t phones aren’t worth screaming about, except for the Iphone. Thats because of the marketing though, because it is by apple… Plus the connection is terrible and the touch keypad is almost IMPOSSIBLE to use! I know this from experience. I have used my friend’s before. This is why the voyager is great, it comes with a full keypad and has great connection. It’s almost as if verizon took the Iphone and fixed all of the mistakes! If you want the latest, coolest, and highest quality phone, but can’t decide between the Iphone or Voyager, here is some advice….. GET THE VOYAGER!!!!!
I really want the LG Voyager so much… I think the Voyager is better than the iPhone, and lots of people complained because there was a problem with it… But I wonder which is more expensive.
the Iphone is more expensive!
i’m thinking baout buying the voyager to in july
but i still dont know yet
cuz usually orfer smaller phones and im not used to text with a full a keyboard! so i still have some time to see what else comes up ….
I have and iPod touch and I love it love it love it!!!! I kind of wanted an iPhone because it was a hassle carrying my iPod and phone with me but i still can’t decide…idk if I want the iPhone just because I like my iPod so much but is the voyager more realistic? what do you think?