Verizon Wireless to Challenge Apple iPhone with Voyager and Venus Handsets

6:30 am on October 4, 2007 | Category: Business, Cell Phones, Mobile Devices, Wireless

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Verizon Wireless unveiled three new cellular phones yesterday, including a high-end multimedia-enabled smartphone to compete with the popular Apple iPhone device, sold exclusively in the U.S. by Verizon’s leading rival, AT&T Wireless.

The forthcoming “Voyager” handset, manufactured by LG Electronics, has many of the same features as the iPhone, including a large touch-sensitive screen, and fully-functional web browser. It also comes with some key components that the iPhone does not, such as 3G mobile broadband capability, and an innovative hinged design with built-in QWERTY keyboard.

“We think it’ll be the best phone … this year,” predicted Mike Lanman, the Chief Marketing Officer of Verizon Wireless. “It will kill the iPhone.”

Many analysts seem impressed with the phone, but are taking a “believe it when I see it” attitude to Mr. Lanman’s bold claims.

“People who want a high-end media phone and want to stay with Verizon will certainly give that one a hard look, (but) I don’t know that it would pull anybody away from an iPhone,” commented Avi Greengart of Current Analysis.

Verizon Wireless also unveiled a Samsung-made phone, the Juke, which features an ultra-narrow, chocolate bar-shaped design, and has an integrated music player, but no 3G data link. It will go on sale on October 19, and is expected to cost around $100.

For users that desire a full range of multimedia and high-speed internet features, but don’t want to shell out $400 for an iPhone or Voyager, Verizon is also introducing the more middle-of-the-road LG Venus, whose keypad slides out from under a large, touch-sensitive screen.

The Voyager and Venus models will each feature a 2.0-megapixel digital camera, as well as an expansion slot to add up to 8-gigabytes of memory. Both devices are expected to go on sale by the end of November, giving the iPhone some tough new competition this holiday season.

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    1. Its a cool phone, but no where close to the iPhone. Cant even compare the two!

      Comment by Jessica — January 9, 2008 #

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