Tech Shout!

Rumor has it that the stylish LG Prada mobile phone, also known as the KE850, is actually the smartphone that Verizon Wireless plans to use to fight AT&T’s Apple iPhone release. Could the KE850 be Verizon’s very own ‘iPhone killer’?

Apple unveiled its iPhone at the Macworld conference in January 2007. It features a 3.5-inch, 160 dot-per-inch color screen, a 2 mega pixel digital camera and a touchscreen that the company calls “Multitouch”.

iPhone is 11.6mm thick. According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, it can be said that the iPhone is thinner that typical smartphone.

Now Verizon Wireless’ counter-phone is the equally slim LG Prada or KE850 mobile phone. This sleek phone which measures half-inch thick and has a 3-inch touch-screen, also includes a camera, and can also play music and videos and allow for document viewing.

Apple’s iPhone when it launches in June 2007, will cost $500 in the US, while LG’s Prada mobile phone is expected to sell for around $600 in the US.

But here is what Verizon Wireless VP, Jim Grace had to say about all this, “We said no to [to the iPhone] offer. We have nothing bad to say about the Apple iPhone. We just couldn’t reach a deal that was mutally beneficial.”

Grace also added that Verizon has absolutely no regrets about turning down the iPhone, but he also said that “time will tell” if they made the right decision.

In February 2007, LG had accused Apple iPhone for copying its LG Prada concept.