Camera

The Versa offers a respectable 2.0-megapixel camera and camcorder with flash. Creative types will be pleased with the multitude of photo editing options, but photo purists looking for a top of the line camera phone may not appreciate the weak LED flash.

Photos can be taken in varying image resolutions: 1600 x 1200 px (default), 1280 x 960 px, 800 x 400 px, 640 x 480 px and 320 x 240 px. In general, the camera takes sharp, vivid pictures with about a 2-second delay and up to 2x zoom, depending on image resolution. You can use the Versa's image editor to zoom in, crop, rotate, adjust contrast, sharpen, blur and brighten your photos. Use the included stylus to draw moustaches on your friends or write on top of your images. If that's not enough, you can also add fun frames and clip art to your creations and save them to your photo gallery.

Special camera features include face detection (to make sure your subject's face is in focus), autofocus, spot/average photometry, four shutter options (silent, shutter, cheese, ready 123), a self-timer and SmartPic technology, which can enhance images in low-light situations. The camera offers five white balance options (auto, fluorescent, sunny, glow, cloudy) and five color effects (normal, sepia, black and white and aqua).

Video quality on the Versa's built-in camcorder is also just as good. The Versa can record videos up to 470KB in three resolutions (176 x 144 px, 320 x 240 px, and 640 x 240 px) in VGA format and uses some of the same image settings as the camera, including brightness, white balance controls and color effects. The Versa can store up to one hour of recorded video and send videos of up to 30 seconds; it can play other video files in WMV, MP4, 3GP and 3G2 formats.

From a megapixel standpoint, the Versa doesn't match up to the LG Dare's 3.2-megapixel camera. It also does not have a vanity mirror or screen for self portraits. But touch-screen enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that you can swipe the screen to move from one picture to the next, "favorite" and drag your best pictures to the top of your home menu, and use the phone to play image slideshows.

Basic Features

Like many of Verizon's newer phones, the Versa offers visual voicemail, which, for $2.99 a month, assigns a visual interface to your voicemail inbox, letting you scroll through your voicemail and listen to messages in any order. The Versa also comes with basic features including a calendar, Ez tip calculator, alarm clock, icon glossary, drawing pad, text display in English or Spanish, plus an "extras" button for downloading new applications. To customize your phone, choose from variety of wallpapers and 26 unique polyphonic ringtones.

The Versa can store up to 998 speed dial contacts and 1,000 phonebook entries, each with up to five numbers, two email addresses, and a picture ID. Within the phonebook there are three slots for emergency contacts as well as space to note medical conditions and other pertinent information needed in case of an emergency.

Entertain yourself with three included demo games – Monopoly: Here and Now, Need for Speed: Undercover, and Pac-Man. Full versions are available for download.

The Versa uses a 1,100 mAh battery with a standby time of 430 hours and a usage time of 290 minutes.

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