LG F9100 and F7200, the new F9200 offers a more casual and relaxed design, offering rounded corners and angles rather than strict lines and edges. Measuring 110 x 50 x 25 mm and weighing 134 g, the F9200 is also slightly larger and heavier than the former models, leaning towards the bulky side, but neither abnormally large nor small by mobile standards. Part of the dilemma facing manufacturers is creating a typing device small enough to be easily carried around, yet large enough to type on comfortably. For most consumers, the F9200 should accomplish both.
The all-gray exterior is highlighted with a standard 65K-color LCD, displaying frequently-accessed information such as time, battery strength, and reception status. Below, a 5-Way Keypad is flanked by Send, Clear, End, and Left and Right Soft Keys for quick and convenient access.
Side Keys along the left control the ringtone and speaker volume during standby and calls. On the right, an ear microphone jack allows users to talk through a handsfree headset, while a dedicated Camera Key activates the VGA (0.3-megapixel) camera lens positioned on the back, capable of capturing photos up to 640 x 480 px in size. The Charger Port is located on the bottom.
With the push of a thumb, the F9200's true strength is revealed. Activating the QWERTY keyboard, two buttons directly right of the LCD suddenly becomes apparent, functioning as Left and Right Soft Keys when operating in landscape mode. Providing a 32-button layout, the QWERTY keyboard includes a Text Input Key (that toggles between Abc, ABC, and abc), a left-handed Shift Key, and right-handed Space and Return Keys, with buttons large and spacious enough for comfortable and quick text messaging on the road.
Out of the box, the LG F9200 comes with a standard 950 mAh Li-Ion Battery, AC Travel Charger, and User Manual.
Basic Features
Released for Cingular, the LG F9200 has dual-band GSM (850 / 1900 MHz) network support. Rating the 950 Li-Ion battery at 4.0 hours and 12.5 days (300 hours) of talk and standby times, actual times will be slightly less. Handset manufacturers and carriers often list talk-time and standby-time ratings with disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times.
Screen
The F9200 uses a 65K-color screen (128 x 160 px). Constructed with STN (Super Twisted Nematic) LCD technology, the display is not as vivid - compared to TFT (Thin Film Transistor) - as leading devices on the market are made of.
However, the consideration to use STN is not necessarily a drawback. The advantages of TFT over STN are faster refresh rates and brighter more vivid colors. However TFT uses more power and significantly shortens the battery life. Being primarily used for text messaging, the F9200 doesn't require fast refresh rates. Instead, prolonging battery life is more important.
Compared to other devices on the market, the F9200's screen is in the middle of the pack. Many multimedia-focused phones have LCDs that display up to 262K-colors. But for text messaging, the F9200's screen offers the best of both worlds, providing a screen that clearly displays text while offering prolonged battery life without unnecessary drain.
Audio
The audio capabilities of the F9200 are lacking as well. Able to play MP3 or 64 chord polyphonic ringtones, incoming calls are wonderful to hear. Unfortunately, the F9200 lacks modern high-end audio features such as built-in MP3 players or FM radio.
Fortunately, handsfree access is accessible with the push of a button. Able to let everyone in the room in on the conversation or to keep talking when busy working, the speakerphone is a loud and clear options for handsfree communication.
Messaging
Built for text messaging, sliding the hidden QWERTY keyboard out activates the its advanced messaging features, supporting SMS (Short Messaging Service), EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service), and MMS (Multimedia Message Service) for limits of 918 characters and maximum file sizes of 64 KB and each.
The 32 button keyboard offers only the essentials in functionality to conserve space. Aside from the standard 26 letter layout (which double as symbols), the 6 additional buttons include a Shift Key (Left), Text Input Key (Left) to toggle between Abc, ABC, or abc, Space Bar (Right), Enter Key (Right), and Backspace Key (Right). Left and Right Soft Keys located under the screen are activated as well, offering quick access to prompts appearing in the soft boxes above them. Allowing users to quickly type text messages, the QWERTY keyboard is large enough to offer comfortable typing, while small enough to carry around conveniently.Using EMS, consumers can format text with attributes such as style, size, alignment, and paragraphs, while MMS goes one step further, offering consumers the option to add photos, sounds, videos, and time-based sequencing. Combined with the built-in VGA camera, users can not only compose greetings, but capture impromptu moments for multimedia birthday cards or snap a quick photo to attach as a vacation postcard messages. The F9200 gives users the versatility of merging multimedia with text to say more than with just words.Consumers can send and receive email to and from up to 10 accounts using third party services through POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols, or connect to Hotmail, Yahoo!, and AOL email accounts. But for real-time access to friend and family, the F9200 also supports the latest instant messaging platforms. Letting users log into AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and ICQ, consumers can hold up to 10 simultaneous conversations and type away as if they never left their computer.
As the main attraction of the F9200, the QWERTY keyboard provides unparalleled features for users who communicate just as much with their thumbs as with their voice. Able to type faster with T9 and a full keyboard, and communication options to keeping in touch with friends and family, the F9200 offers a robust text messaging experience with comfort and accessibility second to none.
Internet
Running on GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Class 10 technology, users will be able to surf the web at speeds of up to 48 kbps.
As many multimedia devices advance into video streaming, carriers have upgraded their networks to allow 3G broadband connectivity. Unfortunately, since the F9200 is not built for multimedia, but rather low bandwidth text messaging, the F9200 cannot run on Cingular's new 3G EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) network, so GPRS is as fast as the F9200 will get. For text and instant messaging, this shouldn't be a concern.
Storage
The F9200 can store up to 255 contacts in the Phonebook. With 24.0 MB of free storage space, users should find the F9200 has more than enough memory to store thousands of text messages, and plenty of applications and games. Rather generous compared to other handhelds which offer only 5.0 MB, users that manage to fill up all the memory will need to delete some files; the F9200 doesn't come with an expansion card slot.
LG F9200 Features
* Large color screen rotates 90 degrees for IM, text messaging, and address book functions (landscape with slide open; portrait with slide closed)
* Sliding QWERTY keyboard for fast and easy text messaging
* One-touch embedded mobile instant messaging using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, and Yahoo! Messenger
* Built-in VGA camera with 4x zoom, multi-shot, and self-timer capabilities
* GPRS Class 10 for high-speed data transmission
* Java 2.0 support for application and game downloads
* Personal organizer with Calendar, Scheduler, Alarm Clock, and Notepad Tools including World Clock, Calculator, and Ez Tip Calc
* Voice Memo Recording for up to 3 messages of 30 seconds each
LG F9200 Specs
Technical Specifications
Network: GSM 850 / 1900
Form Factor: Slide
Dimensions: 110 x 50 x 25 mm
Weight: 134 g
Antenna: Internal
Navigation: QWERTY Keypad / 5-Way Keypad
Battery Type: 950 mAh Li-Ion
Talk Time: 4.00
Standby Time: 300
Memory: 24.0 MB
Expandable Memory: No
Imaging
Main Screen: 65000 colors (STN)
128 x 160 px
External Screen: No
Camera: 0.3 MP / 640 x 480 px / 4X Zoom / Multi-Shot / Self-Timer
Audio
MP3 Player: No
FM Radio: No
Speakerphone: Yes
Push-To-Talk: No
Multimedia
Wallpapers: 128 x 160 px
Screen Savers: 128 x 160 px
Ring Tones: 64 chord / MP3
Themes: No
Games: J2ME
Streaming Multimedia: No
Messaging
SMS: Yes
EMS: Yes
MMS: POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP / AOL / Hotmail / Yahoo!
Email: Yes
Chat: AOL / ICQ / Yahoo!
Predictive Text: T9
Applications
Phonebook Capacity: 255
Calendar: Yes
To-Do List: Yes
WAP: 2.0
Voice Commands: Yes
Calculator: Yes
Connectivity
Bluetooth: No
Infrared Port: No
High-Speed Data: GPRS (Class 10)
Wi-Fi: No
GPS: No
PC Sync: Yes
