Entertainment

The LG VX9800 features standard PIM (Personal Information Management) applications found on most devices including a Calendar, Scheduler, Alarm Clock, and Notepad and tools such as World Clock, Calculator, and Ez Tip Calc.

Also incorporating mobile email, users can access Hotmail, AOL and Yahoo! email and third party accounts through POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols.

Unfortunately with the lack of an OS, the VX9800 is mostly limited to preinstalled software. Fortunately though, the VX9800 supports downloadable Java-based applications through BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless).

Using BREW, users can transfer and install games and applications from the web or PC. Created by many third party developers, an abundance of programs are already on the web.

With Verizon's EV-DO broadband service, consumers can also take advantage of 3D games reminiscent of 90s consoles. Available through Get It Now, games cost about $10 for a 3-month subscription.

Currently a few games in a wide range of genres are available including EverQuest: Hero's Call, Frogger, JAMDAT Bowling, Name That Tune, NBA Basketball 2005, Suzuki Motocross Challenge, SpongeBob Darts.

Internet

Able to use Verizon Wireless' 3G service, EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) allows consumers to theoretically browse the Internet on the VX9800's Openwave UP 6.2.3 browser, stream videos, and transfer high-resolution photos at DSL speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps. However, realistic rates are more around the range of 300 to 500 kbps.

To fully unleash the VX9800's multimedia capabilities, users will need to subscribe to Verizon's VCAST service. Unlimited access to more than 300 daily video clips is accessible for a $15 monthly fee. Pairing EV-DO transfer rates with VCAST video streaming service, consumers can watch mobile television anywhere on the go.

Providing live and prerecorded TV programs, VCAST allows users to stream clips from news and entertainment from such programs as ABC News, CNBC, MSNBC, the Weather Channel, the News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox studio, and Viacom Inc.'s VH1 and Comedy Central cable channels. Also capable of Video-On-Demand, by selecting preferences for favorite shows, subscribers can receive text messages alerting them when new videos are available for viewing.

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