Verizon have officially announced the LG Versa, the touchscreen smartphone with a detachable QWERTY keyboard that we saw in leaked photos last month. The device, which has a 3-inch 480 x 240 touchscreen, EV-DO Rev.A and a 2-megapixel camera with autofocus, flash and an onboard image editor, can be used as a straightforward candybar or with the snap-on keyboard for heavy duty messaging.
Verizon LG Versa
The keyboard is integrated into a case for the Versa, which includes its own OLED sub-display for keeping track of the time, Caller ID and signal/battery status. Onboard software includes IM and email clients for Microsoft, AOL and Yahoo!’s services, Visual Voice Mail, VZ Navigator and a media player that supports multitasking. There’s also Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a microSD card port (with 16GB support “coming soon”) and USB Mass Storage functionality.
The Verizon LG Versa will be available from March 1st, priced at $249.99. A mail-in rebate (boo hiss!) takes that down a further $50.
Verizon Wireless LG Versa Gives new meaning TO VERSATILITY
Attachable QWERTY Keypad, Animated Touch Screen Interface, and Advanced Web Browsing Offer Latest in Wireless Phone Style and Function
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SAN DIEGO – Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today that the LG Versa™ will be available on the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless voice and data network beginning March 1. The LG Versa will be an MVP (Most Versatile Phone) for customers, sporting an elegant bar design with a chrome border, animated 3-inch touch screen interface with tactile feedback and an attachable QWERTY keypad.
Customers can personalize their LG Versa phones based on their messaging needs on any given day – either attach the QWERTY keypad to their phones or leave the keypad at home. The LG Versa’s home screen is transformed into a sizzling, animated 3D interface and customers can quickly customize up to three different home screens with their favorite shortcuts. The built-in accelerometer rotates screens automatically from portrait to landscape, and customers can use rotation movements to steer games. The HTML Web browser includes Flash and RSS feed support, and customers can keep up to three windows open and switch from one window to the other to view pages.
Additionally, the phone comes packed with Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video services. V CAST Music with Rhapsody allows customers to purchase more than 5 million full songs over-the-air, download the master copy of their songs to their PCs free of digital rights management (DRM) software and sync their favorite tracks, albums and playlists from their PCs to their LG Versa phones using the included USB cable.
V CAST Video allows customers to download or stream video from the best names in news, sports, entertainment and more.
The LG Versa supports productivity tools – such as Visual Voice Mail to keep people more productive and prioritize their messages – while Verizon Wireless’ VZ NavigatorSM service transforms the phone into a navigation device at a fraction of the cost of most GPS systems. In addition, the LG Versa is compatible with Mobile Broadband Connect to allow customers to use their phones as a modem by linking their laptops to their phones to establish a broadband connection anywhere within Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband rate and coverage area.
Additional features and capabilities of the LG Versa include:
Virtual QWERTY keypad
2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder with autofocus, flash and image editor
SmartPic technology for improved image quality
Camera resolutions: 1600 x 1200 (default), 1280 x 960, 800 x 400, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 pixels
Face detection – automatically detect a face when taking a picture
Zoom: up to 2x
Image editor: zoom, rotate, crop, add frames and icons, and write over images
Video resolutions: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 176 x 144 pixels (default)
Video recording time: 30 seconds for sending or up to one hour for saving
Video player for WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
Customizable brightness, white balance, shutter sound, color effects, photometry, and self-timer
Music Player –
Music player for .mp3, .wma, unprotected .aac and unprotected .aac+ formats
Multitask while playing music – hide player to send messages, edit contacts, and browse the Web
Create and manage playlists
Music Library – organized by artist, genre and album
Music Only Mode (RF off except Bluetooth®)
microSD™ memory port with up to 16 GB support coming soon
USB Mass Storage – transfer files between microSD card and PC
Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) –
Supported profiles: headset, hands-free (car kits), dial-up networking, stereo phonebook access, basic printing, object push (for vCard and vCal), file transfer, basic imaging, and human interface device
Animated three-dimensional interface for home screens – customize up to three home screens with favorite features and applications
Module home screen when QWERTY keypad is attached
VZ Navigator-capable – get visual and audible directions to thousands of destinations, locate businesses and other points of interest, get maps of a location and share directions with others
Chaperone® Child-capable – allows the LG Versa to have its location shared with family members via the Chaperone Web site, the Chaperone® Parent application or Child Zone® SMS alerts
Chaperone® Parent-capable – with the Chaperone Parent application, customers can view location information or be notified of the whereabouts of the Chaperone Child phone
Visual Voice Mail – delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions
Mobile Web-capable – customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more
Mobile Email – access MSN® Hotmail®, America Online® and Yahoo! ® accounts to exchange e-mail
Media Center-capable – downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and more
Mobile IM using AIM®, MSN, Yahoo!
Auto Screen and Key Lock – prevents unwanted key actions
2.5 mm headset jack
Text, picture and video messaging
Supports threaded messaging
Personal organizer with calculator, EZ Tip Calculator, calendar, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, notepad, and drawing pad with character recognition
Speakerphone and voice commands
Bilingual interface – English and Spanish
Phonebook with up to 1,000 entries with multiple contacts
TTY/TDD-capable
In Case of Emergency contacts
Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA
Data transmission: EV-DO Revision A (Rev. A)
Dimensions: 4.16” (h) x 2.07” (w) x 0.54” (d)
Weight: 3.81 ounces
Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4/T4
SAR: head 1.38 W/kg, body 0.764 W/kg
LCD: 262K color TFT, 480 x 240 pixels, 3.0”
Ambient light sensor controls the brightness on the LCD according to surrounding light
Proximity sensor turns LCD off when a customer is placing a call on the LG Versa
External LCD: monochrome OLED, 56 x 120 pixels, 0.94” (only available on the QWERTY keypad attachment)
Standard battery: 1,100 mAh
Usage time: up to 290 minutes or
Standby time: up to 430 hours
Pricing
The LG Versa will be available online at
www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning March 1 for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Customers can get the most out of their LG Versa with Verizon Wireless’ Nationwide Premium calling plan. Starting at $79.99 monthly access, the Nationwide Premium calling plan includes unlimited messaging, VZ Navigator, Mobile Email and V CAST VPak, plus unlimited megabytes for Mobile Web and Media Center. Mobile Broadband Connect can be added to their plans for $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB, and Visual Voice Mail is available for $2.99 monthly access, per line, plus airtime or megabyte charges and messaging fees, depending on a customer’s plan.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to
www.verizonwireless.com.
