Introduction

The LG Versa from Verizon Wireless sets the bar high in terms of demanding versatility from a mobile handset. With the Versa, you can choose between using the phone as a clamshell that opens up to reveal a full-size QWERTY keyboard, or keep it simple without the accessories and you'll still have a sleek candy bar-style touch screen phone, reminiscent of the LG Dare.

LG Versa (VX9600)

Your Price: $39.99 with service

The Versa also boasts an incredibly cool animated Flash user-interface with three customizable home menus. Additional features include a 2.0-megapixel camera/camcorder with LED flash, full HTML web browsing, built-in multidirectional accelerometer, stereo Bluetooth capability, microSD memory port and access to Verizon's VZ Navigator, VCAST video and music services.

With the additional purchase of a game controller module from Verizon, you can also turn your phone into a portable pocket-sized gaming device. Plus, there's the prospect of future modules (like external speakers and GPS navigation) that are being developed for the Versa, so that with some crafty accessorizing, you can make your phone fit your individual needs even more.

By and large, this is a phone for people who enjoy mobile messaging, and the Versa definitely provides several ways to get your message across. As with many phones in the touch-screen market, there's a small learning curve when it comes to mastering the Versa's touch-sensitive display. Typing on the virtual touch-screen keyboard is fine once you get the hang of it, and there's always the attachable keypad to fall back on if you don't mind the extra weight.

Design

As far as design goes, think of the LG Versa as the thinner, equally hip twin brother of the LG Dare. At 4.17 inches long, 2.07 inches wide and 0.54 inch thick, the Versa exudes high style with its modern chrome-framed display and slightly rubberized battery cover. But attach the keypad module, and the Versa takes on a distinctly retro façade swathed in somewhat outdated brown, pebbled faux leather. Aesthetics aside, the module's vinyl cover should be very good at protecting the handset from spills and scratches. The LG Versa weighs a relatively light 3.81 ounces, and the attachable keypad module on its own weighs about 2.01 ounces.

The front face of the LG Versa has a 3-inch-long touch screen that is similar to the LG Dare, but slightly narrower. Along the bottom of the display are large icon buttons for Call, Clear/Voice Command and End Call/Power; each one is highlighted in a dull off-white backlight. On the phone's left panel are some more key components: a 2.5mm headset jack, camera/camcorder shortcut key, side volume keys that also double as a zoom control in camera mode, a sliding latch key for attaching modules, and a USB/charger port. On the phone's right side panel is a microSD card slot and on the top panel is a Lock/Unlock key to put the touch screen on standby mode and prevent accidental dialing. To the left of the earpiece is an innovative light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the LCD screen to conserve power and extend battery life. The camera lens and LED flash are located on the back.

When the keypad module is attached, Versa's built-in accelerometer will automatically rotate the screen from portrait to landscape mode when the phone is turned horizontally. Close the module cover and you can answer calls using the external Send and End Call keys located under a petite 0.96-inch monochrome OLED screen that's just big enough to display caller ID, signal strength and battery life. To make a call, users have the choice of dialing on the QWERTY pad or using the touch-screen alphanumeric pad, which includes one-touch keys for speakerphone, voicemail, voice-activated calling, and shortcuts to your contact list and recent calls. You can also hit the Save key to copy a contact's new number to your phonebook.

For those who feel their current phone is lacking in customization options, the LG Versa would make a fitting upgrade. You can customize up to three home screens – one screen with application shortcuts (calendar, tip calculator and VZ Navigator, for example), another screen for your favorite contacts and a separate screen for favorite pictures, videos, songs and Web bookmarks. In addition to choosing wallpapers for each screen, you can use the gear icon on the right hand side of each menu to organize the screen placement of your favorites, or drag and drop old favorites into a virtual trash can.

When a module is connected to the phone, a fourth "module" home screen will appear. For instance, with the keypad module attached, links to text-intensive actions like email, mobile IM appear on its own home screen. These links are non-customizable. To navigate between home screens, simply swipe a finger across the display and the menu will flip to the next screen as if you were flipping over the faces of a cube. At the bottom of each menu are touch soft keys for Messaging, Call, Main Menu and Contacts.

The LG Versa bears a highly responsive touch-screen with tactile feedback that can give the user extra reassurance of control. Feedback vibrations can be modified to short, double, or long vibrations; low, medium, high vibration; or four sound effects and silent mode.

Typing without the clip-on QWERTY keyboard can be done the old-fashioned way with an alphanumeric keypad and the help of T9 predictive text software. The Versa also offers handwriting recognition. Just use your finger or stylus to draw on the touch screen and your message will be converted into text. The software can be a bit unreliable at times if not enough pressure is applied to the touch screen. You'll still need to select between uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols mode while you type since the software isn't advanced enough to differentiate between a "g" and a "9," for example.

Messages can also be typed using a virtual touch-screen QWERTY keyboard. To activate it, just rotate your phone horizontally while you're in the "new text message" screen. On both the virtual and module keyboards is a dedicated key for @, .com, and arrow keys. The module keyboard is the ideal size and its plastic chiclet-style keys offer a good tactile feel when typing, as opposed to the somewhat cramped touch-screen keyboard which takes a bit more practice and patience to master.

Out of the box, the LG Versa comes with a standard Li-Ion battery, QWERTY keypad, travel charger, stylus, user guide and quick reference guide. The phone's stylus is covered in the same leather-look material as the keypad module and can be attached to the handset like a cell phone charm or hand strap.

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