LG's Versa means versatility - or vice versa

by Stevie Smith - Feb 27 2009, 16:00

You want a touch-screen mobile device, but you’re not overly keen on touch-screen keyboards. You’d much prefer a physical keyboard, but don’t enjoy the unavoidable extra bulk they generally demand. What you need is versatility. Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics believe they have just what you’re looking for.

At first glance, the aptly named LG Versa seems much like any other sleek, button-lite mobile handset insofar as it offers typical features such as a generously dominant 3.0-inch LCD TFT touch-screen display (480x240), a 2.0 mega pixel camera, Bluetooth v2.1, a HTML Web browser, a voice-command speaker phone, and support for Flash and RSS feeds.

However, alongside the inclusion of popular Verizon services such as V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video, support for Visual Voice Mail, VZ Navigator, and notebook connection via Mobile Broadband Connect, the new Versa is likely to tempt prospective buyers thanks to its detachable keyboard.

Citing the benefits of enhanced flexibility, Verizon and LG are bundling the Versa alongside a finger-friendly QWERTY keyboard that can be attached to the handset’s chrome-accented main body while on the go, or left at home if the user so chooses – either way the phone should provide an appealing and fully-featured mobile experience.

LG’s handset also comes with a new “sizzling” animated 3D touch interface that users can quickly customise thanks to a selection of different home screens and their choice of favourite shortcuts. The display interface and viewing performance also benefit from a built-in accelerometer for screen rotation, while the HTML browser allows the opening and interchanging of up to three windows at any one time.

Other contributing features and functions include a frequency of 1.9GHz CDMA PCS and 800MHz CDMA, a microSD slot for up to 16GBs of memory expansion, USB support, video capture, text, picture and video messaging, and a modest weight of just 3.81 ounces (approx 108g).

The LG Versa will be available through Verizon Wireless on March 01 and will come attached to a price of $199.99 USD after a $50 USD mail-in rebate and a mandatory two-year service contract.

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