Throw all iPhone/Blackberry-ish expectations out the window. This here is a budget mobile. Don't look away, though, because the full QWERTY keypad and the selling price of just P8,900 may make you think twice about getting one.
The LG KS360 looks nothing like a sub-10K mobile. In fact, it could easily be mistaken for a business-minded 3G smartphone.
We've got two hands...
LG markets the KS360 as a fashion phone for the young ‘uns who fancy two-handed texting/typing a la Sidekick. Apparently, that's the "in" thing nowadays (note to self: be more cool).
There's more appeal to two-handed typing than meets the eye. Quite a few grown-ups looked in our direction as we merrily used the KS360 at a nearby coffee shop. Unbeknownst to the onlookers, however, we weren't making use of the free Wi-Fi as we sipped on a cold Mocha Frappuccino, the cool kids' beverage of choice. We were actually surfing via EDGE. That's right, ye olde good-for-nothing EDGE.
It's a shame that the KS360 is limited to this agonizingly slow connection, especially since the keyboard and the screen allow for a much richer on-the-go Web surfing experience.
Texting, however, is a pleasant experience. You have an option to view SMS threads like instant messages. It's fun and easy to use, and undoubtedly targets younger users. The keys are soft, well spaced, and definitely feel more real than pressing on a flat touch screen.
For calls, an onscreen keypad with haptic feedback can be accessed while the slider is closed. Unfortunately, it's just good for one thing: dialing.
The KS360 is actually an impressive phone, but it's just not high tech where it matters. The logical explanation would be to keep kids from using too much "load." It's a decent second phone, otherwise leave it to the cool kids.