LG Venus at Telus

Telus late yesterday became the first North American provider outside of Verizon to offer the LG Venus. Called the Touch Venus by the Canadian provider, the slider remains unique in its replacement of the traditional directional pad in favor of a small touchscreen: while the main display is view-only, the input allows context-sensitive controls that reduce the need for a large number of single-purpose buttons. The phone is also more media-capable than most LG models with a microSDHC slot that holds up to 8GB and a 2-megapixel camera.

In its first Canadian guise, the LG handset will support most of Telus' 3G-specific network features, including its streaming Internet music and TV feeds, the carrier's online music shop, and assisted GPS mapping. The company hasn't yet set a price for the phone, but promises a release of the standard black version in mid-April followed by an adaptation of the pink version arriving later in the season. US pricing for the phone normally sits at $200 after signing a two-year contract.

By Electronista Staff