I’ve been analyzing a black-and-silver cellphone featuring a large touch screen populated with an array of colorful icons against a black background. Tapping the icons launches functions like a music player, Web browser and text-messaging program.

That may sound like Apple’s heavily publicized iPhone, which runs on the AT&T wireless network, but it’s not. that phone is called the Voyager, and it’s made by LG and runs on the rival Verizon Wireless network.

Despite their superficial similarities, the two devices

are very, very different. In fact, Verizon’s public-relations society are at pains to say the Voyager isn’t intended as an “iPhone killer” or even a “smart phone.”

Still, the Voyager is worth a close look, whether only considering it is one of the first competitors that attempts to imitate Apple’s touch interface, and many of its functions overlap the iPhone’s.

The Voyager beats the iPhone in undoubtful respects. Unlike Apple’s product, it […]

Orginal post by Walter S. Mossberg