voyager phone

Basking Ridge, N.J. ― Verizon Wireless introduced four cellphones today, including a high-end smartphone called the Voyager that could compete with the Apple iPhone.

The Voyager, supplied by LG Electronics, is similar to the iPhone in that it offers a large touchscreen, extensive Web browsing, email and multimedia capabilities; however, it will have a faster network connection.

The Voyager also includes a camera and can fold open to reveal a QWERTY keyboard and a second screen that isn't a touchscreen, according to the Associated Press. It further includes a microSD memory slot that holds up to 8GB of memory; it is expected to be available in November. Verizon as not set a price.

Verizon also pre-announced the Juke, a music-ready phone by Samsung due to ship in the near future, and a version of the BlackBerry Pearl and the Venus by LG that are due in November.

The Juke has a swivel design that lets it flick open 180 degrees to reveal a keypad. It has 2GB of internal storage, VGA camera and Bluetooth stereo for music support. It plays back MP3, WMA and unprotected AAC files and will be available in blue, red and teal.

The LG Venus is a music-ready phone that has two screens, including one that is touch sensitive and controls the phone's music player and camera. It has a camcorder function and a microSD slot, and it supports MP3, WMA and unprotected AAC files.

Joining these is the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone with wireless EV-DO connectivity and built-in GPS capability that provides turn-by-turn directions when the user subscribes to the VZ Navigator service.


Today Verizon Wireless showed off the LG Voyager, a followup to the popular LG enV. The LG Voyager features a large touchscreen on the front with haptic feedback, giving users a small vibration when they touch a button. This messaging-centric phone flips open like a laptop to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. The LG Voyager is exclusive to Verizon Wireless and features support for its high-speed EV-DO 3G network. The Voyager also includes a full HTML web browser, as well as V CAST Music and Video and V CAST Mobile TV. The music player on the LG Voyager supports .MP3, .WMA, and unprotected .AAC music files.

The LG Voyager also features a 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture, as well as a microSD card slot, with support for capacities up to 8GB. The LG Voyager will be in stores by the end of November 2007, pricing has not yet been announced.
Verizon Wireless unveiled a new cell phone today for the holiday season: a LG handset named "Voyager" that Verizon hopes "will compete with Apple Inc's iPhone," Sinead Carew reports for Reuters.

"Verizon Wireless hopes the new phone will attract customers put off by the iPhone's lack of a traditional keypad -- the Voyager hinges open to reveal a small computer keypad and a second screen," Carew reports.

MacDailyNews Take: The only people "put off by iPhone's lack of a traditional keypad" are people who haven't used an iPhone.

Carew continues, "'We think it'll be the best phone ... this year. It will kill the iPhone,' Verizon Wireless Chief Marketing Officer Mike Lanman said in an interview."

Carew reports, "Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart said the Voyager may attract existing Verizon subscribers who do not want to switch service providers, but he doubted it would hurt iPhone sales. 'People who want a high-end media phone and want to stay with Verizon will certainly give that one a hard look. I don't know that it would pull anybody away from an iPhone,' he said."Verizon's LG Voyager phone is loaded with features and includes a touch screen, a camera and extensive multimedia, Web browsing and e-mail capabilities. It is ready for a Christmas shopping battle with Apple's newest portable toy the iPhone. Hoping to make the most of the holiday season, Verizon Wireless is launching the new absolutely loaded cell phone.

LG Voyager: Touch Screen TV Phone to Battle iPhone

So what can it do? It one-ups the iPhone by folding open lengthwise to reveal a QWERTY keyboard and a second, nontouch-sensitive screen. The lack of a hardware keyboard has been a top complaint about the iPhone. Very cool, and much needed.


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According Macnn the "Voyager will make its Internet connection through Verizon's EV-DO 3G network and will support virtually all of the provider's extra services. Subscribers can buy songs from the V CAST music store or receive assisted GPS routing through VZ Navigator, the company says. Arriving last out of the four new phones, the Voyager is due to arrive last and should launch by the Thanksgiving holiday."

So after the huge pricing controversy with iPhone that infuriated many Apple customers and dedicated Nac users what will be the pricing strategy for the LC Voyager. They are in a holding pattern - the pricing for it and the other phones that will be released as well has not been announced. But there are hints, while Verizon would not give exact pricing beyond saying each phone would target a different segment and range from under $100 to about $400. The iPhone costs $399.


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Three new cell phones (pictured above) were unveiled by Verizon Wireless for the holiday season on Wednesday. The winner - the consumer. Good luck and happy shopping.