As I had hoped, the attack of the iPhone killers has begun. Verizon has fired the first shot with its soon to be released LG Voyager. First, this is a nice looking phone with a buttload of features, but iPhone killer it is not. Indeed, I’m not really sure that is the true intention anyway. The LG Voyager has features that I think are designed to keep the Verizon faithful, well, faithful. As long as the interface works well, and the phone comes in at a price point less than the iPhone, it will make a lot of people happy. I’m just happy that the popularity of the iPhone is starting to grace the whole US market with better phones through competition. Now if we could just get rid of that nasty locked phone business and long term contracts, then we could all ascend to cell phone Nirvana.
In the meantime, if Verizon really wants to move this phone, they need to hit us with some really sweet deals. I, for one, just bought a new phone a few months ago. So by the usual rules of the game, switching phones for me would be an expensive proposition. I might be persuaded to go with a Voyager, with the right deal. I like the hidden keyboard, and if the web browser is good, the Voyager may be just what I’ve been looking for. But without some incentive, I’ll probably continue to wait for the next version of the iPhone, and hopefully a wider range of providers.
2 replies on “iPhone vs Voyager: Fight!”
I used to be a Verizon customer and switched to AT&T. I’ve had every service but the Helio (dumb phone service) and I got to say that Verizon has the best service. AT&T isn’t bad but it isn’t great when it comes to service. Sure they have slower internet speed and yea they don’t support 3rd party software with limited restrictions. When I heard about the Voyager and saw it myself, I was almost about to switch back to Verizon but after further research, I decided to stay with the iPhone. If you really think about it, the Voyager is just a BIGGER version of the enV with a touch screen on the front! Even the reviewer said its keyboard looks just like the enV. Also have you ever noticed that the Venus is another replacement to the failed Chocolate? Some reviewers said it is the replacement to the Chocolate (do the research and you’ll see why). The Juke is just a slim down version of the Helio phone (that quick slider Helio has). These “new” phones that are coming out are quickly and easily related to the current phones that are out in the market. The huge difference is that now they are integrating with touch screen. They pretty much slapped a touch screen on their current phone with updated interface. Going back to the Voyager, it’s NOT a smart phone which means you have to pay extra a month for the GPS, web browser, Vcast, and anything else that the regular plan doesn’t include. One major difference between the iPhone and the Voyager is that the iPhone is software upgradeable while the Voyager is left with the current version of the software with only able to download add-ons. Which brings out that the iPhone can always send an update to have the iPhone to receive 3rd party software, fix bugs, add software (current did with iTunes) and many more. One example about the upgrade compatibility iPhone has is that it can now use your purchased songs from iTunes into ringtones which no other provider offers and to get technical, they have an easy to use editing tool (in iTunes) where you can set the beginning and the end of a song. $0.99 you can make a ringtone that you’ve previously purchased from iTunes or for $1.98, you can get the whole song and make it into a ringtone! This is the major advantage of the software upgrade iPhone has and can be modified anytime they want and has done so and will be making more changes with free software updates. Who knows, they might just add games into the next upgrade! Also the iPhone has a built in 8GB HDD while the Voyager can handle up to 8GB, you’ll have to spend minimum of $100+ to get a SM card so you’re still paying just as much as the iPhone. $59.99 is the starting rate with AT&T which includes 450 anytime minutes, unlimited data, visual voice, 200 SMS messages, 5000 nights and weekends, rollover minutes and free mobile to mobile and Verizon starts with $79.99 which includes 450 anytime minutes, free mobile to mobile, BASIC voice mail, nights and weekends, but no rollover minutes, no visual voice, no 200 free SMS and the phone can’t make international calls because Verizon isn’t compatible in other countries. But like I said it’s not a smart phone so it’s $39.99 + extra to have every function to work on the Voyager. I’m on the $79.99 plan which upgrades my plans to 900 anytime, unlimited nights and weekends which at that rate Verizon will have other then the extra 450 minutes. This is what I’ve researched and it’s my opinion. I don’t hate Verizon or their Voyager but I don’t hate AT&T’s iPhone either. There are pros and cons to both service and phones and no one really will know which will come out the best yet. I wish Verizon didn’t turn down Apple’s offer which they were to first company to make a deal with the iPhone (it’s complicated and that’s another story). Some will go for looks, design, and killer app. And others will go for the service. It’s what you think is more important that will eventually make the final decision. I’ve also heard rumors from AT&T that they are building a better satellite and towers for better service and more coverage but its a rumor so don’t quote me on this. I might have been writing more favor to the iPhone cause the frustration of the ignorance of people who is even trying to compare a “cell phone†with a “smart phone†and some of them don’t even know what the iPhone is capable of and all you hear is I heard it from a friend or I think this and I think that. Let’s just give it some time and see what will happen next.
Thanks for the info J. I visited my local Verizon recently, hoping to get some hands on time with the Voyager, but they still are available to demo. It isn’t likely I’ll be going that way as right now it looks like the iPhone is developing into the mobile platform I’ve been waiting for.