Phone Accessory - LG enV Phone (Verizon Wireless)

List Price: $399.99
Our Price: $126.96
Your Save: $ 273.03 ( 68% )
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Manufacturer: Verizon Wireless

Average Customer Rating:

Binding: Wireless Phone
Brand: LG
Color: White
Feature: Excellent multimedia features and innovative dual-face clamshell design that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard
Label: Verizon Wireless
Manufacturer: Verizon Wireless
Model: enV
Publisher: Verizon Wireless
Release Date: 2006-12-04
Studio: Verizon Wireless
Variation Description: White

Features

Excellent multimedia features and innovative dual-face clamshell design that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard
Access Verizon's V Cast Music and Video service via fast EV-DO data network; GPS-enabled for turn-by-turn directions
2-megapixel camera with video capture; Bluetooth for headsets and music streaming; microSD memory card expansion
Up to 4.5 hours of talk time, up to 460 hours (19+ days) of standby time; measures 4.64 x 2.08 x 0.78 inches (WxHxD)
Includes: handset, rechargeable battery, charger, quick start guide, user guide

Accessories

Body Glove Earglove Sport - 2.5mm Ear bud
Plantronics MX300 White/Black Retractable Mobile Headset for most phones with standard 2.5mm headset jack - Audiovox, Blackberry, Kyocera, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Tr?o
Plantronics MX505 Tan Windsmart Boom Headset with 2.5mm Plug
Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset with Multipoint Technology [Retail Packaged]
Cardo Systems SCALA500 Bluetooth Headset in Grey

Related Items
LG enV Orange Phone (Verizon Wireless) Wireless Technologies Three Piece Value Combo Pack for LG VX9900

Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: The enV Helped Me Make the Leap
Comment: I was late to the cell phone game, anyway. I rocked a beeper until at least 2001. After which I was a plain-Jane flip-phone user. Of course, my luck with such phones has left a trail of half broken hinges from New York to Seattle.

When it came time for my most recent phone upgrade I reluctantly decided on the LG enV. It seemed like more phone than I'd ever needed or would ever use. However, I have happily accepted I'm wrong.

Though I have a serious case of fat-thumbism, this phone works with me and not against me. The interior keypad is easy to use, though which buttons to push when and which order did set me back the first few times. I'm not a techno-idiot but I'm not as committed to maximizing the use or my understanding of my digital hardware as some are.

The camera feature is a breeze to use and takes excellent photos.

I love the notepad option as well. As a writer, I'm often want to capture a thought or observation when I don't have a pen and paper handy. This phone has had my back more than a few times.

The only pitfalls I'd personally caution against are a) the little raised portion around the ear piece, it always digs into my ear, and b) when using blue-tooth the front keypad does not automatically lock (or lock at all, but I can't be sure) so there are sometimes embarrassing hangups due to inner pants pocket pressure.

Overall, I have come to trust and enjoy this phone and would recommend it especially to those who are a) on a budget, of sorts, b) like to txt msg all the time, and c) generally like to use their cell phones for everything in between.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Amazing phone, but...
Comment: This phone has a lot of reviews already, but allow me to lend perhaps a different perspective to the issue. I am an electrical engineer who specializes in digital communications and hardware design so I have a little bit of background in what goes into making a good wireless device.

My Accolades:

- User Input. Obviously the "gimmick" of this phone is the full keypad, which supposedly gives one the ability to type quicker. Let me assure you that it does - I used to dislike texting and now frequently find myself reaching the SMS character limit without even realizing it. Also the keypad is great for browsing the web, posting on forums and browsing your uploaded music.

- The Camera. Once again, one of the phone's gimmicks, the 2.0MP camera performs far and away better than any camera I have seen on a cell phone. I like the way you hold it like a real camera, I like the way that it looks like a camera, and I like the way it takes great 4x6 shots. The flash is worthless unless you are taking a picture from about a foot or two away, but it still takes decent pictures even in low light (flash off).

- MP3 player back end. Many complain of the volume from the headphone jack, however I feel the opposite about the phones musical output capabilities, I love it. This is perhaps my favorite part of the phone - the good, strong, signal from the headphone jack is worlds away better than the vast majority of personal music devices I have tried. I mainly use it to play music in my car and at home, and in those places it blows my ipod out of the water for sound quality - I mean it isnt even a contest. And with flash memory being < $5/GB the vx9900 will likely become my mp3 player of choice.

- VZ Navigator. It is an incredibly useful and well built application (this is a surprise, more on that later) that functions perfectly like a car GPS. It even has features many upper end GPS units do not - like a bicycle mode, and the ability to actually SAY street names. Since it uses A-GPS it locks and tracks satellites way faster than any of the standalone units can; it takes about 5 seconds to acquire and lock and up to 10 to calculate the route.

My Gripes:

- The shutter. Does not stay closed very well,feels flimsy and I am pretty sure I will end up breaking it before I am ready to give up the phone. Still, its an effort most dont even bother with.

- VZ navigator. Part of a much larger problem, but it just costs too much. At $10/month I will not use it once the free trial wears out. It just becomes too redundant if you have google maps and mapquest at your disposal for directions (both of which have mobile websites).

Miserable Failures:

- Verizon. I have no complaint about the service, my complaint has to do with software. Verizon's homebuilt operating system that they put on EVERY non-windows phone is also on the enV. Not a version designed to take advantage of the phone's unique traits, but a port of the same boring OS from every other Verizon branded phone. Because of this there are vital flaws: you cannot use the navigator or the browser when the MP3 player is on and the Vcast music browser makes you STOP THE MUSIC if you want to browse outside of the playlist currently playing. Also, the internet WAP address is locked and Verizon makes you pay $5 a month to use their proxy. Finally, despite the fact that I have several 2GB memory cards the browser often runs out of memory trying to load pictures - where is the option to set aside Flash memory for swap space? These are all the result of closed, locked down software. Were people free to develop software for BREW phones, these problems would not exist as they are simple, stupid examples of little things being overlooked and never fixed. Shame on you Verizon! OPEN UP BREW!

- Browser. Verizon has an upgraded browser that it puts on the VX10000 and the Glyde. This browser is far more advanced than the one on the enV but is not even available for download. Give us this browser! The single column one is pretty bad the way it reformats websites (though it works fine for the mobile web).

Overall: Another excellent piece of hardware engineering crippled by closed software. Verizon would attract many customers if they opened up their operating system to development. I am not sure where this notion of closed = profitable comes from, but it needs to re re-thunk.

Customer Rating:

Summary: enV
Comment: I got this phone about a year ago, it's held up pretty well. I've dropped it countless amounts of times and it's still working perfectly. (knock on wood)
The only complaints i have is that it's kind of big and sometimes it doesn't fit all the way in my jean pockets and falls out and occasionally the keyguard will turn off in my pocket and it will sometimes dial random numbers, but it's not a big deal. It's a good phone and the camera is great for a phone camera.

Customer Rating:

Summary: More hits than misses
Comment: I just picked this at the end of April and loved it. Not being much of a text message person, I am sure this will change seeing this QWERTY keyboard. I did compare it to the new Voyager and the camera on this stands out as it has flash and a protective cover. For the price of the Voyager now, shame on them. I do have to send it back as I experienced some freeze ups after doing simple tasks as text messaging and/or reading them, in the multimedia task such as Get It Now and EZ Navigator plus viewing the photos. It's being replaced this week but I want the green unit as the 'email' key is dysfunctional for me on this unit and can not be changed at all.

This phone, even though it is 2 years old, it awesome. It has a TTS (text-to-speech) feature that I found yesterday which reads all emails, text messages and other areas too. I am glad I found it I do not have to fumble with my glasses trying to read various information. I only wish the voice command worked better as I can not get it to match my voice. I love the EZ Navigator and bumped my package up to include this as an unlimited feature. Other than this, I have no problems with the phone as a whole.

Customer Rating:

Summary: biggest annoyance in my life.
Comment: Honestly, this phone does not even deserve the one star I am giving it. I switched from Sprint to Verizon in January 2007. Over the course of the year I have replaced my enV four times. No, I have not dropped it much, gotten it wet, or dropped anything on it. It is clearly a software issue. As with most common phones and other electronic products that come out, the ideas and products are there, but due to the push by companies to satisfy the consumer, the software is commonly a disappointment with many products now days.

But back to this phone..

Many people like this phone because of its unique keyboard (at the time it came out) and its nice screen, great camera, etc. But my problem was not the features of the phone nor the applications. Due to lack of software development, the current phone I have, my 4th enV, likes to freeze randomly and the buttons are not responsive half the time. I have had my 4th enV for 2 weeks and have not dropped it, etc, or do anything that would cause harm to the phone. My 3rd enV would turn on and off whenever it please, no matter if I was in the middle of sending a message or in the middle of talking with someone.

My recommendation is to steer clear of this phone. Go with something reliable, and don't buy it just for the "fancy features" because this phone is not to unique anymore.

More Reviews

Editorial Reviews:

If you're looking for the ultimate in features and high-speed wireless broadband content, look no further than the feature-packed LG enV. Packed to the gills with the latest technology, the enV features a hidden QWERTY keypad, Bluetooth, a 2.0-megapixel camera, a microSD memory card slot (for memory expansion up to 4 GB), stereo speakers, an advanced MP3 player, and more. It's compatible with Verizon's V Cast Music Service, which enables you to purchase songs through your phone and download them via Verizon's fast EV-DO data network. Other Verizon service options include V Cast Video with clips from major networks, the VZ Navigator GPS turn-by-turn directions, BroadbandAccess Connect for using your phone as a modem to your laptop, and the Wireless Sync always-on email service.

The enV fully supports Verizon Wireless' exciting V Cast service. Learn more about V Cast.

The 2-megapixel camera on the back offers an LED flash, self-timer and 2.5x digital zoom as well as up to 1 hour of video capture (saved to memory card).

Verizon Service Options
With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon's multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.) The V Cast Music service enables you to download songs instantly to your phone, or purchase music through your PC and transfer the files to your phone. If purchased from your phone, you'll receive two copies of the song: a Windows Media Audio Pro Plus format at 64Kbps stereo is sent to your phone, and a Windows Media Audio 9 format at 160Kbps stereo is sent to your account in the V CAST Music online store for downloading to your PC. V Cast Music offers nearly 2 million songs, with more being added all the time.

The V Cast Video service enables you to stream or download video clips to your phone from a variety of news, entertainment, sports, and weather channels, including CNN, ABC News, E!, CBS Sports, The Weather Channel, and VH1.

Getting on the Internet is easy using Verizon's Mobile Web 2.0 package, which allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with this phone. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service.

With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access Verizon's VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps. And Verizon's Chaperone service lets you easily locate your loved ones from your Verizon Wireless phone or PC in real time. After defining a zone, such as an area designating a school or summer camp, you'll be sent an alert via text message when the Chaperone handset enters or leaves the zone.

With BroadbandAccess Connect (subscription required), you can use your smartphone as a modem for your notebook when you connect the two using a USB cable--or open a Bluetooth connection--enabling you to access the Internet or your company intranet. The tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check email, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with BroadbandAccess Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices.

Verizon's Wireless Sync always-on email service (subscription required), you can stay connected and get the job done while away from the office--without a delay and in a secure environment. Email is delivered to your device in real time across the National Enhanced Services Rate & Coverage Area, and you get the ability to forward large attachments via email as well as access both your personal and corporate emails on one device. Wireless Sync offers strong security with AES encryption (Advanced Encryption Standard) technology so that unauthorized parties cannot access or alter application data transmitted over wireless networks.

Slim and powerful, the enV keeps you connected and entertained. See it in 3D. Check out the phone in detail: front and open.

Phone Features
The front of the enV features a large, 65,000-color screen with 128 x 160 pixel resolution and a standard dialpad complete with a five-way control button. Flip open the horizontal clamshell, though, and you're presented with a crystal-clear, 240 x 320, 262,000-color landscape display and a full QWERTY keyboard. Dialing function buttons are also duplicated on the internal touchpad. A pair of stereo speakers reside on either side of the display, and a microSD card slot is provided on the side of the device for additional memory expansion. There's a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets, while the rear of the device houses the 2.0-megapixel camera. Lastly, an internal antenna keeps the enV sleek and compact, and the provided USB data port ensures convenient connectivity.

The enV's built-in address book can store up to 1000 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers and e-mail addresses. The phone comes with built-in polyphonic ringtones plus a vibrating alert. More ringtones can be downloaded via Verizon's Get It Now service. The phone lets you match pictures with callers to identify them, and the enV's voice recognition software supports voice commands from any user, not just a pre-programmed user's voice. What's more, many of the phone's functions can be controlled by the sound of your voice, thanks to advanced voice recognition technology. Text-to-speech technology enables the enV to read emails and text messages to you, if you so desire. A powerful speakerphone unit means you can easily talk hands-free, while Bluetooth allows you to use your favorite wireless headset.

While the enV is a great platform for watching V Cast video content, it can also capture video that can be shared with your friends and associates via video messaging. The video unit records in MPEG4 format and can capture clips up to 15 seconds in length. Of course, you can also use the camera to capture still pictures, too. In addition to megapixel resolution (1280 x 960), the camera features an LED flash, macro and night modes, a self-timer, and brightness and white balance controls.

The enV has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging, too, with support for sending and receiving text, picture, and video messages. There's also a complete e-mail client on the device for POP- and IMAP-based accounts. And of course, the QWERTY keyboard makes it a snap to type your messages.

The enV ships with a number of handy tools, including a calendar and a voice memo application. An alarm clock and calculator are also included. Use the enV's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth headset accessory or to connect to a computer or handheld device to exchange and synchronize data.

The enV supports V Cast 3-D games, as well as other 2-D-based games, which are available from Verizon's Get It Now service. You can also customize the phone's wallpapers and screen savers to give your phone a look that suits your style. And if music is your thing, with the built-in memory card slot and the enV's advanced MP3 player, you'll never be at a loss for something good to listen to (memory cards sold separately).

Other features include:

Bluetooth version 1.2 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), HID (support for mice or joysticks), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures)
Flight mode for listening to music and watching videos with the phone functionality turned off
13 unique ringtones; vibrate and silent modes
One-touch speakerphone
Speaker-independent voice-activated dialing
Voice memo recording
Music format support: MP3, WMA

Vital Statistics
The LG enV weighs 4.60 ounces and measures 4.64 x 2.08 x 0.78 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.50 hours of digital talk time and up to 460 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/1900 CDMA/EV-DO frequencies.