Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #278 in Cell Phone Accessories
• Color: Black
• Brand: LG
• Model: CU720
• Released on: 2007-11-12

Features

• Quad-band slider phone with high-speed 3G network connectivity for multimedia streaming
• Innovative multi-angle vision LCD stays hidden when inactive; brushed stainless steel body
• 2-megapixel camera with video capture; MicroSD expansion; Bluetooth connectivity with music streaming
• Up to 3 hours of talk time, up to 240 hours (10 days) of standby time; measures 3.93 x 1.99 x 0.59 inches (WxHxD)
• Includes: Battery, Charger and User Manual

Amazon.com Product Description
Combining glamorous form with advanced multimedia function, the LG CU720 Shine is available exclusively from AT&T. It can access AT&T's tri-band HSDPA/UMTS high-speed 3G network, which makes it easy to download music purchased from AT&T Mobile Music, stream tunes from Napster and eMusic, and watch video streamed from CNN and Comedy Central via AT&T's Cellular Video. It also supports AT&T's Video Share service, which offers a one-way video stream during a mobile-to-mobile phone call. This elegantly minimalist slider phone has a unique, reflective mirror finish that activates into a brilliantly colorful LCD screen and a brushed stainless steel housing. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, MicroSD memory card expansion, Bluetooth connectivity for both communication headsets and stereo music streaming, mobile email and instant messaging, and quad-band GSM network capability for global roaming.

AT&T Service

The stylish LG CU720 Shine has a brushed stainless steel body that slides up to reveal a blue backlit keypad.

The large 2.2-inch screen is hidden when inactive and offers multi-angle vision technology for easy viewing.

This AT&T phone can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network, which is available in most major metropolitan areas. The AT&T 3G network uses the dual-band UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900 MHz network (also known as WCDMA), making it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services with speeds up to 3.6 Mbps. It also gives AT&T the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services.

In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it's fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go. You'll also enjoy quad-band GSM connectivity, which allows you to make calls in more than 190 countries and access data applications in the more than 135 countries where AT&T offers international data roaming.

With 3G connectivity, you'll be able to access AT&T's Video Share service, which enables you to send a live, one-way video stream to another compatible phone during a standard voice call. The service also allows you to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call. (Customers must be in an area served by the company's 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone.)

It's packed with multimedia streaming and download capabilities. AT&T's Cellular Video (CV) service features content from CNN, The Weather Channel, iFilm, Comedy Central and exclusive premium content from HBO and much more. And you get access to AT&T Mobile Music, which enables you to buy tracks while on the, access the Napster subscription music service, stream music video, discover what's playing with Music ID song-recognition software, and find out what's hot with The Buzz music news portal.

The handset is XM Radio Mobile-capable, so you can enjoy streaming live digital radio as well. It's also MobiTV capable, which enables you to stream or download video content from providers ranging from MSNBC, ABC News Now, and CNN. MobiRadio lets you listen to more than 50 channels of digital radio. (A MEdia Max subscription bundle is recommended for accessing AT&T's Internet, video, and music services.)

The phone has a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. AT&T's MEdia Net service enables you to receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more.

Phone Features
The centerpiece 2.2-inch screen is hidden when inactive, a key feature to save battery life or when keeping a low profile is a must, and it has a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and 262K color support. The multi-angle vision technology enables you to view display contents from all different angles. A five-way navigation joystick and is found just beneath the screen, and it's joined by two softkeys. The top of the phone smoothly slides up to reveal the light blue backlit numeric keypad. The unit's advanced camera lens and flash can be found on the backside, just above the battery cover.

The CU720 shines as a mobile digital music player, with compatibility for MP3, WMA, AAC, and AAC+/eAAC+ files, customizable equalizer, playlist creation and management, and large capacity storage via MicroSD memory cards (up to 4 GB in size). Synchronize music from your PC (including music files from online services such as Napster and eMusic) via USB 2.0. The phone also offers USB mass storage capabilities for storing your most important documents and files.

This phone provides Bluetooth version 1.2 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, object push, file transfer, and audio/video remote control. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server. Send contacts, calendar events, and pictures/videos/voice memos wirelessly. The phone stores up to 20 Bluetooth pairings.

The two-megapixel camera on the back of the phone has a flash and includes a 2x zoom, in-phone editing capabilities, and video capture for saving or sending via MMS.

The CU720 Shine is also great as a digital camera/camcorder, with a 2-megapixel resolution for still images (including five resolution settings ranging from 160 x 120 to 1600 x 1200 pixels). Other imaging features include a 2x zoom, integrated flash, brightness and white balance controls, multi-shot capability, self timer, and an in-phone image editor (for resizing, cropping, rotating, and adding color effects). You can capture video in two resolutions--320 x 240 (QVGA) and 176 x 144 (QCIF)--and the phone can record small files up to 42 seconds for sending via MMS or as long as you have capacity on an optional MicroSD memory card for saving.

In addition to voice calls, text messaging, and MMS capability, the phone is also compatible with mobile email from services including Yahoo!, AOL, Windows Live, AT&T Yahoo!, and BellSouth, as well as instant messaging (IM) from AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo!. The CU720 also comes stock with a built-in web browser for downloads and mobile web browsing via MEdia Net (with WAP 2.0, WML, iHTML, xHTML, and WCSS compatibility). T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for entering text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Other features include:

• One-touch speakerphone
• Speaker-independent voice commands
• Voice memo recording (MMS and general modes)
• 10 unique ringtones, vibrate and silent modes, and music ringtone support
• Address Book with 500 contacts--each stores 5 numbers, 2 e-mail addresses, & a picture ID
• Flight mode
• USB charging via PC
• Tools: Alarm Clock, Calendar, Notepad, Calculator, Tip Calculator, World Clock, Tasks, Stop Watch, Unit Converter, Date Finder, D-Day Counter
• Java 2.0 support for application and game downloads

Vital Statistics
The LG Shine weighs 4.28 ounces and measures 3.93 x 1.99 x 0.59 inches. Its 900 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of talk time, and up to 10 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as 850/1900 WCDMA (3G) frequencies.

Customer Reviews

DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE
This is an awful phone. My son has had it only 3 months and the screen has already cracked! Had we done our research we would have read many reviews of unhappy customers with the same exact problem. The company is aware of the problem and unwilling to help dissatisfied customers. It seems to frequently occur just a few months into ownership! If you were to look at my son's phone you would think it was brand new so it's not an issue of being dropped or mishandled - it's defective. He's 13 and paid for it with his own money and has taken really good care of it. Go online, do some research and see for yourself. Do not buy this phone!

Great Stylish Phone
Bought the LG TU720 SHINE (the Canadian version of CU720) for my wife. Before I handed over the phone to her, I spent a few days exploring the phone capabilities. I came to the following:

Pros:
Great looking phone that is very attractive
Great sound quality
MicroSD card expandable memory
Simple and easy to use
Solid feel, particularly the slider snaps and doesn't feel flimsy
Above average camera with simple editing tools

Cons:
Though this phone has a solid feel, it does need delicate handling. If you intend to use this phone for rough usage, it will easily catch scratches
Average battery life
Soft keys are not programmable and cannot be customized
So far, unable to add my own *.mp3 ringtones
Maximum ringer volume could be louder

Overall, me and my wife both love this phone because it does what its supposed to do very well. However, a word of caution for those who intend to give their phones a rough ride, the LG TU720 won't be able to handle it.

Not a fan after having it for a week.
I purchased this phone directly from AT&T Wireless over the telephone. I first went to a local retail store and handled the phones a little bit, thought this one looked nifty and had nifty features, so I decided this would be a good choice for me.

The navigation button is AWFUL. I don't find it just slightly annoying or something that I need to get used to. It's just oversensitive, or when you got to navigate something, you'll accidentally press the button (i.e. when you're texting and you mean to put a space, you will SEND the half finished to text). That's another problem I have -- the phone doesn't have any warning about sending a message. You press the navigation button and it's sent, period, off into the universe of half finished texts.

Another problem I have is the camera. This phone has been advertised as taking great pictures. Sure, the pictures are ok if you're taking them in absolutely, precise optimal coniditions. If you want to zoom, you have to turn the picture quality down to 640x480. The flash is useless. It lights up, yeah, but as far as lighting the area you need for the picture, it just makes eyes glow and the picture look grainy. These pictures will absolutely not be printable from this camera if you are not outside in the sun without clouds. Then they're quite lovely.

I'm also not a big fan of the keys. I find myself constantly pressing the wrong keys. I am petite and have petite hands to go with the rest of me. I have to be very aware of which keys I'm hitting when I'm pressing the buttons on this thing.

It _is_ an attractive phone. I actually appreciate the weight on it, it feels like it has substance and feels well built to me. I love the screen. I don't mind the menu (though navigating it with the button pisses me off).

I will be returning this phone for the Blackberry Curve. My husband has one and it's just a better phone. it doesn't take video, but I never take videos anyway. The Blackberry's photo quality is better, the navigation button FAR EXCEEDS ease of use compared to this LG Shine. I find that the Blackberry Curve far outSHINEs this SHINEy annoyance.