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CTIA 2010

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Bluetooth HTC Evo 4G LG Kyocera  

At the LG booth here at CTIA Wireless 2010, LG was showing off a pair of distinctively low-end phones. Both of LG's newest offerings, the LG Remarq on Sprint and the LG Cosmos on Verizon Wireless, lack fast EV-DO networking, but as reps were quick to point out, this might have benefits for the phones' target audience.

LG Remarq

The LG Remarq is a squat, sliding QWERTY messaging phone for Sprint's 1xRTT network. The Remarq is an environmentally friendly model. The outer casing is made from just under 20% recycled plastic, and the entire phone is 87% recyclable. It felt a bit cheap in the hand, but not as flimsy as a phone like the unlocked Sony Ericsson Naite or the Motorola Renew on T-Mobile. Shipping materials will also be recyclable and more environmentally friendly than the usual kit.

The LG Remarq similar in size to the LG Lotus, with dimensions like a compact mirror, but it's a slider instead of a flip. Hardware features are decidedly low-end, like the 1.3 megapixel camera and the basic user interface. I like the One Click interface that Sprint uses on most of its 3G feature phones, including the LG Lotus, but the LG Remarq uses a more basic menu system that's similar in design aesthetic, but lacks the quick Internet shortcut and widget-like carousel of the One Click design. LG reps explained that One Click was left behind since the phone lacks a fast Internet connection.

The LG Remarq will go on sale May 9 on Sprint. The phone will be free with a contract agreement and mail-in rebates.

LG Remarq  

LG Cosmos

The LG Cosmos is nearly identical to the LG Rumor on Sprint. That is, the original, slower LG Rumor, not the improved LG Rumor 2. The Cosmos is also a 1xRTT device, on Verizon Wireless' network. As LG reps pointed out, Verizon Wireless is requiring that 3G messaging phones with a QWERTY keyboard come bundled with a data plan in addition to voice and texts. By keeping the phone on the slower network, LG also gives buyers the option of skipping the more expensive add-on. It's a sad day when a slower network is a beneficial feature for buyers.

Otherwise, the only real differences I could see between the LG Cosmos and the older LG Rumor are in the keyboard and the interface. The phone uses a basic Verizon Wireless menu system. The menus looked sharp and colorful, but the system was very basic. The numeric keypad was a bit nicer than I've on the LG Rumor, with a soft touch paint finish and a more stylish overall look. Typing on the full QWERTY keyboard, though, felt about the same. The keyboard is small, with stiff little keys that were not very easy to press.

The LG Cosmos will be available from Verizon Wireless this Thursday, March 25, for $30 with a contract agreement.

Cosmos  

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