Verizon, LG Announce 'iPhone Killer' Voyager

[citi]

When this phone flops Verizon will be giving them away free early next year. I'm no Apple fanatic and I have had my share of smart phones but the iPhone despite it's down sides still is hands down the best phone I have owned. Those are going to be pretty big shoes to fill for the other cellular companies. The iPhone has stepped up the game as far as cell phones go weather you agree or not. If they brand something "iPhone killer" or claim that they have better product they better deliver or else.

Best phone or not, they don't have to kill the iphone nor convince everyone that this is the best phone on the market.. They just have to convince their customers that what they offer is good enough for them to stick around, and this phone may be "good enough". It's not about getting new customers, it's about keeping the ones you have. Business 101 will tell you it cost more to get new clients than to keep the old ones.

 

[mozmac]

So let me see if I understand them correctly. The Voyager has many features similar to the iPhone, so it will "kill". However, it lacks multitouch, has a built-in keyboard, and lower built-in memory? So...how is this any different from every other smart phone already out there? The only killing will be the product line itself in a couple years.

 

[muttley1211]

Some people don't want to have AT&T. This phone is a good substitute. While it might not be quite as cool as the iPhone it is still a cool phone.

Maybe I am wrong, but I think I read somewhere that they were working on this phone before the iPhone was introduced at Macworld..... so I don't think they copied apple. I know it is weird that someone else actually thought of a touchscreen phone


Competition is good

 

[alljunks]

iphone iphone iphone!!

 

[levitynyc]

iphone iphone iphone!!

The Voyager is the last straw for me. I am a longtime Verizon customer and I was really looking forward to this new phone when I heard about it a few months ago. Seeing the final product has made me switch to AT&T and buy an iPhone. I don't think the problem is the phone, but the way Verizon service is set up. The Vcast is extra, the data plan is extra, ringtones are $2.50, it doesnt have a real web browser. I do have to say, the cell service is excellent and the free IN calling is convenient.

 

[citi]

The Voyager is the last straw for me. I am a longtime Verizon customer and I was really looking forward to this new phone when I heard about it a few months ago. Seeing the final product has made me switch to AT&T and buy an iPhone. I don't think the problem is the phone, but the way Verizon service is set up. The Vcast is extra, the data plan is extra, ringtones are $2.50, it doesnt have a real web browser. I do have to say, the cell service is excellent and the free IN calling is convenient.

You are right there is no 59.00 plan like AT&T but besides that plan for 79.99 you get all of the services for free. It is their "premium plan" That is right in line with AT& T's 900 minute unlimited nights and weekend plan, plus you get unlimited SMS, MMS and vcast.

Trust me, if the iphone was on verizon I would get it, but ALL of my friends and family are on verizon. It just doesn't make financial sense.

 

[megfilmworks]

News Alert!!
Steve Jobs cries Uncle!
Dateline Cupertino:
Steve Jobs has announced the recall of all iPhones and a complete halt to manufacture.
"We can't possibly compete with the iPhone killer so we will just fold up shop and try to salvage the iPod product line."

 

[MattG]

Yeah yeah yeah...every few months someone comes out something that they say is going to be an Apple whatever-killer and it never happens. Next please.

 

[megfilmworks]

Re: hacking the SIM on Verizon.

That won't work even if someone wants to since Verizon does not use SIM cards.

Interesting, I remember hearing that once. Is that the future? Can they be unlocked? Can they be locked?
Thanks.

 

[objc]

4) Web browsing: Near-Desktop Class browser + decent speed vs total CRAP browser + 3G EVDO

Umm... have you seen the videos on youtube? Browsing on EDGE looking damn slow to me.

5) use as an iPod: 8GB onboard - beautiful interface - coverflow vs mediocre interface + $300 8GB SD card

Um... $60 on newegg? You're only off by a factor of 5.

6) Itunes Wifi music store $0.99 128kbps/$1.29 256kbps song vs VCAST wmv DRM $2.00 song 128kbps

Yeah, no wmv DRM crap for me. I only rarely buy iTunes cause of the DRM and less-than CD quality too.

 

[muskratboy]

And Nokia is like the top cell phone in the industry. I think they will release a better cell phone later, and say bye bye to iPhone..

Yes, you very smart. You make lots sense. Nokia is like, tops ... and will kill ALL phones, everywhere, when they come out with better phone later.

Can I say bye bye to iPhone now, to save time later?

Bye bye iPhone! Nokia is coming! You are dead soon!

 

[DMann]

Nokia

I waiting for the cellphone that will be released Nokia is like the top cell phone in the industry. I think they will release a better cell phone later, and say bye bye to iPhone.. l

It's not likely that Apple will sit on it's ass while Nokia desperately tries to out innovate them.

 

[maokh]

That's funny, I didn't see anything in that article that said Verizon was selling the phone unlocked.

Exactly. Verizon is a CDMA network. Of course its locked down. You couldnt take it to Sprint (the other major, national CDMA carrier) if you wanted to ... Sprint wont touch it.

CDMA phones are also not SIM based. They have an ESN which you need to provide to the carrier...and they will check to see if its a phone they sell or have previously sold before activation. Also, due to very heavy carrier customization of firmware, even if Sprint/Verizon let you activate another carriers phone, you would be limited to voice only.

Unlike Apple, Verizon unlocks their phones when the contract is over...

No, they do not "unlock" the phone. Verizon will *never* provide you the MSL code (master subsidy lock) after your contract is up. yeah, you can trick them sometimes by making them think they need to reprovison your phone. And even if they did, what would you do with it? Take it to who?

I know of only one, very small CDMA carrier that will let you do this. Again, those flashy features go bye-bye on activation.

 

[maokh]

Exactly. I think that Nokia and RIM are going to give Apple a run for their money, if even they can. And, while I have my doubts, god I hope they do. Apple really, really needs some serious competition.

The RIM looks nice, but what really makes the iphone stand out is its UI and capacitive multitouch screen. No more awful, nappy resistive "touch" screens that you have to put massive pressure on to even get to register...and no more silly stylus pens to always lose.

its a pretty sad situation. Wording like "iPhone killer" just makes the situation even funnier. Instead of being able to come up with something innovative, LG, Blackberry, and Nokia come up with some knee jerk reaction copycat design over a year late.

None of these companies are really known for compelling interfaces either. Nokia, perhaps, but nothing like apple. Blackberry is cluttered. LG did okay on the voyager, but they are still trying to shake that cheap image.... and after watching their low end CDMA phones litterally fall apart in people's hands, i think they have a few more years.

Oh..and i should note...LG...wow....i am very happy to see that this phone features tactle response. its a about freaking time. I have used a navigation system with this type of "haptic" response....does wonders on the brain. it feels like a real button. iphone, if you could only gently vibrate the same way on touch.

 

[levitynyc]

You are right there is no 59.00 plan like AT&T but besides that plan for 79.99 you get all of the services for free. It is their "premium plan" That is right in line with AT& T's 900 minute unlimited nights and weekend plan, plus you get unlimited SMS, MMS and vcast.

Trust me, if the iphone was on verizon I would get it, but ALL of my friends and family are on verizon. It just doesn't make financial sense.

I had the Verizon 39.99 plan. Plus it cost me 10 a month for text, 8 bucks for internet. There alone is a reason to switch. For a dollar more a month you get so much more. Plus this new Voyager phone doesnt have Wi-Fi.

 

[citi]

I had the Verizon 39.99 plan. Plus it cost me 10 a month for text, 8 bucks for internet. There alone is a reason to switch. For a dollar more a month you get so much more. Plus this new Voyager phone doesnt have Wi-Fi.

can't argue with that, you should go. Wi-fI is cool but to me is too gimmicky, if you have 3g, than you probably don't need wi-fi plus that fact that you suck battery life like noone's business. My laptop is wi-fi and makes sense, even ipod touch wi-fi makes sense. I have yet to determine why it makes sense on your cell phone.

 

[joshkugler]

can't argue with that, you should go. Wi-fI is cool but to me is too gimmicky, if you have 3g, than you probably don't need wi-fi plus that fact that you suck battery life like noone's business. My laptop is wi-fi and makes sense, even ipod touch wi-fi makes sense. I have yet to determine why it makes sense on your cell phone.

Why does it make sense on the iPod Touch, a media player, and not on the iPhone, a communications device? Your argument makes no sense. A cell phone is a communications device. Wi-fi is another means to communicate via the internet. Makes sense to me.

And by the way, 3G drains battery life faster than Wi-Fi.

 

[Unspeaked]

SD cards aren't that expensive try $75+, still not a bargain, but $25 is quite a difference.

Yeah, I could probably find them for under $50 if I looked around, but I was presuming we were talking about what the average Verizon user who'd buy this phone would pay - they're not going to shop around, they'd just pick up the first card they found on a shelf in BestBuy (at which a quick search reveals prices in upwards of $200 for an 8GB card).

 

[Telp]

people really take those slogans seriously. This kid just came up to me telling me my phone was crap and that its gunna be even worse when verizon introduces their "iPhone killer". I couldn't help but to laugh. On well. Let people believe whatever they want to. There problem not mine.

 

[citi]

Why does it make sense on the iPod Touch, a media player, and not on the iPhone, a communications device? Your argument makes no sense. A cell phone is a communications device. Wi-fi is another means to communicate via the internet. Makes sense to me.

And by the way, 3G drains battery life faster than Wi-Fi.

First off, it wasn't an argument, it was a personal opinion. Second, 3g does NOT drain battery life faster than Wi-FI. Check your sources.

My issue is simple, if you have an always on connection, why would you switch to a wi-fi spot just to get a faster connection. If it was 3g and not edge you probably wouldn't want to use wi-fi. I have a phone with wi-fi and 3g and it just doesn't make sense for me. I said FOR ME.

 

[joshkugler]

First off, it wasn't an argument, it was a personal opinion. Second, 3g does NOT drain battery life faster than Wi-FI. Check your sources.

My issue is simple, if you have an always on connection, why would you switch to a wi-fi spot just to get a faster connection. If it was 3g and not edge you probably wouldn't want to use wi-fi. I have a phone with wi-fi and 3g and it just doesn't make sense for me. I said FOR ME.

Read this article, it's pretty conclusive that the iPhone would run longer on Wi-Fi than if it used current 3G chipsets.

http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3036

Using 3G on the Blackberry you only get 165 minutes browsing the web, whereas with Wi-Fi on the iPhone you can browse 428.
Checking email - 3G Blackberry: 504 minutes, iPhone Wi-Fi: 589 minutes
Streaming YouTube Videos - 3G Blackberry: 186 minutes, iPhone Wi-Fi: 231 minutes
Talk Time with 3G enabled on Blackberry: 251 minutes, Talk-Time with Wi-Fi enabled on iPhone: 359 minutes.

Also, 3G is great if you live in an area you can find it, but I live in a small rural town, and don't have access to it. If I were to buy a voyager, 3G wouldn't benefit me at all, whereas even in my small town, there are a lot of Wi-Fi hotspots available.

 

[DMann]

Wi-fi

can't argue with that, you should go. Wi-fI is cool but to me is too gimmicky, if you have 3g, than you probably don't need wi-fi plus that fact that you suck battery life like noone's business. My laptop is wi-fi and makes sense, even ipod touch wi-fi makes sense. I have yet to determine why it makes sense on your cell phone.

Considering that the iPhone renders true web-pages, not to mention YouTube, Wi-fi is a most desirable feature. 3G will suck alot more battery life out of a phone than Wi-fi does, and 3Gs coverage thus far is spotty at best. Greatly looking forward to Wi-Max in the near future. Intel's new mobile chip will provide both Wi-Max (up to 20 mile radius) as well as 3G. Hopefully, Wi-Max will continue to develop at a similar pace.

 

[citi]

Also, 3G is great if you live in an area you can find it, but I live in a small rural town, and don't have access to it. If I were to buy a voyager, 3G wouldn't benefit me at all, whereas even in my small town, there are a lot of Wi-Fi hotspots available.

I don't use a blackberry and I am using 3g evdo so I will take your word that it's true. I have used wi-fi in my house on my xv 6700 and I only got like 45 minutes online. It was a lot longer on my 6700. I think it depends on how you use your connection and the processing power on the phone. I believe iphone uses a lower power wi-fi radio. I haven't been completely impressed by the wi-fi speeds on the iphone when I tested it in the apple store. If I turn on my wi-fi on my 6700 at home, my connection flies. Wi-fi on the iphone seems a little slow. IMHO

Of course, you living in a rural area, really makes sense to use wi-fi. I'm sitting in So Cal so I have never run into dead spots

 

[dante@sisna.com]

Will take Edge Plus WiFi over 3G

I don't use a blackberry and I am using 3g evdo so I will take your word that it's true. I have used wi-fi in my house on my xv 6700 and I only got like 45 minutes online. It was a lot longer on my 6700. I think it depends on how you use your connection and the processing power on the phone. I believe iphone uses a lower power wi-fi radio. I haven't been completely impressed by the wi-fi speeds on the iphone when I tested it in the apple store. If I turn on my wi-fi on my 6700 at home, my connection flies. Wi-fi on the iphone seems a little slow. IMHO

Of course, you living in a rural area, really makes sense to use wi-fi. I'm sitting in So Cal so I have never run into dead spots

I will take Edge Plus WiFi over 3G any day of the week. Edge is very slow, but it WORKS nearly everywhere, even in rural areas. Last week I was camping/mountain biking for 4 days at Gooseberry Mesa Outside of Zion's Park in Southern Utah. I ran my business via Edge while cooking breakfast with friends and preparing my bike. I returned a dozen emails, checked a PDF proof via Safari via web login, updated a text based blog, etc. When I need speed I seek out wifi. I'd take this battery and service preserving dynamic duo anyday of the week over 3G.

I have used a lot of phones: none comes close to my iPhone.

Not a Fanboy, this is just MY reality.

 

[Bentov]

Sweet!!!

This thing looks like poo.

http://www.infosyncworld.com/phones/lg_voyager.html?n=0

I haven't seen CGA graphics in years