The LG Voyager offers something of a compromise for people interested in touch screen phones: It doesn't force you to give up the comfort of a QWERTY keyboard to get the slick touch-screen technology. LG has updated the look of the Voyager with a new Titanium case, while also adding two new features: support for Verizon's Visual Voicemail and Rhapsody music services.
Design
The LG Voyager makes a great first impression, with its sleek, polished look. When closed, you see the 2.8-inch touch screen on the front of the phone, and a few basic navigation controls beneath it. But when you turn the phone sideways and flip it open, you get a full QWERTY keyboard for typing and a second internal display.
PROS: The QWERTY keyboard is surprisingly spacious; it's one of the roomiest keyboards I've seen on a smartphone. Both the external and internal displays are crisp and clear. Like the touch screens on the Samsung Glyde and the LG Dare, the screen on the Voyager vibrates slightly when it registers your touch, which makes using it a bit easier.
CONS: The Voyager's touch screen was not as usable as I would have liked. Even after I used the calibration wizard to adjust its sensitivity, the screen did not always register my taps. I also had an issue with the Voyager's dual displays: The internal display is not a touch screen, but it's the only display that's usable when the keyboard is exposed. That means you can't use the touch screen and the keyboard together, as you can on the Samsung Glyde.
Making Calls
PROS: Verizon's Visual Voicemail service clearly shows the influence of the Apple iPhone: iPhones have shipped with this feature since day one. But it works well here, too. It lets you see a list of your messages, and select which one you'd like to listen to first.
CONS: Voice quality was only so-so on my review unit; I often noticed an echo and an occasional fuzziness to calls. I also found the Voyager a bit bulky to hold, and at 4.6 ounces, it's noticeably heavier than some other smartphones. And while the Visual Voicemail service can save you time, it won't save you money: Verizon charges $3 per month for the service.
Browsing the Web
PROS: Like the Glyde and the Dare, the Voyager supports Verizon's 3G EvDo network, so surfing is speedy.
CONS: The Voyager lacks Wi-Fi support. Also, when surfing the Web, it would be nice to be able to use the keyboard and the touch screen together. You can view a Web page on the touch screen, and then flip open the phone to use the keyboard, but it would be nice if you could scroll on screen some times, while using the keyboard for other tasks.
Messaging
PROS: Like the LG Dare, the Voyager lets you select one of Verizon's available e-mail and instant messaging services for use on the phone.
CONS: The IM app is free, but the e-mail apps are not. Verizon's Mobile Email app costs $5 a month; Verizon's Wireless Sync Email service, which supports business accounts and is wirelessly updated, costs $20 per month.
Software
PROS: In this aspect, too, the Voyager is very similar to the LG Dare: You can take your pick of the applications that are available from Verizon, and you'll find some good ones, such as VZ Navigator, a GPS app that provides excellent turn-by-turn directions.
CONS: You won't find a ton of business or productivity apps. If you're looking to edit Office documents and fine-tune presentations from your phone, the LG Voyager is not the phone for you.Multimedia
PROS: The include 2-megapixel camera took some good snapshots, and is easy to use. You also get Verizon's V CAST Music with Rhapsody; this is a music service that works both on your computer and your phone. On your computer, you can stream songs from Rhapsody's library of tunes, and transfer them to your phone. (You have access to the songs as long as your subscription to the service stays current.) You also have the option to purchase songs to download, either to your PC or directly to your phone.
CONS: The music service can get very pricey: The monthly fee is $14.99, and downloads cost extra: $1.99 when sent to your phone or 99 cents when sent to your PC.
The LG Voyager in Titanium is available from Verizon Wireless for $150 when signing a new two-year contract. It's a user-friendly phone with some excellent multimedia features. It's just too bad that so many of its features cost extra.
