LG Shine CU720 Phone, Silver (AT&T) | 
| Brand: LG
List Price: $199.99
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $199.98 (100%)
Rating:  41 reviews
Sales Rank: 266
Color: Black
Media: Wireless Phone
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
Model: CU720
UPC: 652810719896
EAN: 0652810719896
ASIN: B000X1LZ4Q
Release Date: November 12, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Data not available Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| 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 |
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| Editorial Reviews:
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 I am happy with this phone! January 14, 2008
Shannon Kobashigawa (Burbank, CA)
40 out of 41 found this review helpful
I waited about 3 weeks for this phone but it was well worth it. I was overdue for an equipment upgrade via AT&T but I really couldn't find a phone with style and function until I came upon the Shine. It's not a very popular phone and I decided to take a chance.
I know it's hard to tell the size by just looking at pictures but to give you a comparison, I had the first gen black razor. The shine basically has the same width, and height dimensions only it's a wee bit thicker but not by much at all. I was so used to the compact size of the razor that I didn't want a bulky smartphone.
This phone has some weight to it, which by my standards gives me the feeling of a quality phone and not made of cheap plastic. Hopefully this will last me at least until my next upgrade.
Navigation with the joystick takes some time to get used to, but the good thing about it is, you do really need to give it a firm push downwards to select. I haven't come across an issue where I wanted to go left, right, up or down and the joystick input it as a mistake "push/select."
I wish you could come up with your own quick options with the joystick instead of what is pre-programmed already. i.e. toggle up and you get a new message for texting. That really doesn't make sense because you have to slide open the phone? Go right and you get your AIM/Yahoo Mess. log on options. I will probably never use this feture. Down is your phone book and left is "my stuff." You do have control to customize 12 quick access options with the soft key on the right which somewhat makes up for not being able to customize the joystick.
One issue I read was the mirror finish of the screen during the daytime. Yes, it is harder to see and to read your screen in direct sunlight but cupping your hand to shade the screen shouldn't deter one from such a flaw. I had the same visibility issues with my razor as well.
When your phone rings you don't need to slide it open, you can just press the soft key on the left that says "accept." The problem I have is after I finish with the call, I feel somewhat lost in a sense that I'm used to either 1. closing the phone to end the call or 2. pressing an 'end' button. The shine's display turns off after a few seconds and it's a mirror finish so when I'm done talking I look at the phone and think, "How do I end this call??" Basically, I have learned you just let the other person end the call and you do not have to do anything.
AT&T's media is okay but the screen's resolution isn't that great at all. I think it's a good option to have if you are bored in a waiting room or to kill some time, but the picture quality isn't anywhere near that of an iphone. It's very choppy. Browsing the web on G is pretty fast for checking sports scores. I found that it came in handy.
I would highly suggest a clearshield or some sort of cover/protector to prevent scratches on the screen and the back metal plate. I have heard that if you get scratches on the front screen it shows up A LOT with the mirror finish.
Ringtones absolutely SUCK. I find that ringtone volume is loud enough. The vibe feature is very strong. Cool feature -- you can opt to have a lady SPEAK the numbers dialed instead of beeps. Something a little different. The keypad is cramped and I do hit several buttons while texting.
Even though I pointed out a lot of small flaws with this phone, I still like it A LOT MORE than my razr. Would be awesome if it had a qwerty keyboard as well. Overall, a solid phone. Can't beat it for the price either.
 Sony Ericsson W580i vs LG Shine CU720 August 7, 2008
Joe Smo (New Zealand)
23 out of 32 found this review helpful
Background: Over the past two months, I have spent a great deal of time debating between whether to get the Sony Ericsson W580i or the LG Shine CU720. After making numerous threads at various forums regarding this question, reading countless reviews, watching many videos, looking at hundreds of pictures, and mapping out the pros and cons of each one multiple times, I have settled on the Sony Ericsson W580i. Since my family just got a family plan with ATT (3 lines/550 minutes shared) and one of my sisters got the Shine, I was able to do a comparison between the phones.
Battery Life: The claim that Sony Ericsson has poor battery life, in short, is complete bull ****. Those that say they had short battery life... you just got a lemon (or are trying to reason yourself out of the fact that buying a shine was actually a poor decision). My OTHER sister, who also got a Sony Ericsson, also gets great battery life with hers. Rather than the claimed "3-4 day charge" that many people on this forum and others are claiming, I have found that the phone will last over a week (11-13 days). The LG Shine, which is said to have poor battery life, disappoints: its battery life is indeed very short. The papers that the LG Shine comes with claims that battery life is around 3 hours of talk time, up to 240 hours (10 days) of standby time, is standard marketing bull ****: through a test of 10 different charges with three different batteries, the phone has lasted no more than 3 days before it required a charging.
SE: 10/10 Shine: 3/10
Durability: People say the LG Shine has a stronger build than the Sony Ericsson, but if you actually compare the two, you find that you cannot actually compare the two... Why? The SE is a plastic phone; the LG shine is a plastic phone with metallic components. One thing that is not usually noted is that the Shine actually has VERY little metal in its body; it's only the battery cover and some of the front. The LG shine doesn't really feel that much more durable than the SE. If you drop the shine, you will certainly damage the screen, and/or scratch the body, and/or break the phone. With something plastic, eg. Sony Ericsson, a drop will do no more than give a few scratches. Regarding the slider mechanism, the LG Shine's "snaps" when you open and close it, whereas the SE's slider is not as snappy. Due to the difference in the way that the phones slide, it isn't really accurate to say that one feels more durable than the other. Since the durability was one of my biggest concern in getting the phone, I did a test of each phone upon cracking open the box: I opened and closed each phone 300 times. Results: The LG Shine's slider remained the same; the SE's slider got smoother after the test.
SE: 9/10 Shine: 6/10
Fingerprints/Scratchability: The claims that the Shine is a fingerprint magnet could not be more true. The Shine cannot stand to be touched at all. Walking around with the Shine put in my side jeans pocket for a day, the Shine went in looking stellar and came back looking pretty poor. The back plate had obviously been rubbed on, the front plate exhibited small, but noticeable scratches. I'm sure you could prevent the Shine from getting scratched by getting a screen protector and/or case, but the hassle of one is not something that I'd want to deal with (not to mention such protection would take away the "beauty" of the Shine). The Sony Ericsson, as one may predict, does not scratch easily. Same jeans, same walk, and the SE still looked great after. There was something that looked like a small scratch on the front screen on the SE, but nothing a wipe could clean off. Speaking of which, with the LG Shine, you cannot wipe the phone with any shirt; it will scratch if the fabric of the cloth/shirt is rough. A BIG reason people get the Shine is because it looks good. Well, if you don't take care of it like a newborn baby, it's going to look like **** and ipso facto, it was a poor decision to buy the phone for its looks.
SE: 9/10 Shine: 1/10
Keypad: People always complain about the keypads of the Sony Ericsson and the LG Shine and say how small they are and how difficult it is to text with them... Most of these complainers are complaining from hearsay (they repeat what they read/hear from others, not from their own experience). The problem of cracking keypads is also a huge concern for potential buyers of the SE. First, to address the keypad. The size of the keypad is very usable for texting and other usage. I have 6'2" and have large hands and I can still manage to comfortable use the phones' keypads. Texting with both is very easy (albeit not as easy as texting on a RAZR). The SE's keypad is not as responsive as the Shine's, meaning the click down are not as solid, and that the row of numbers are connected so that one press on a number slightly depresses the row, but nonetheless, it is very solid. The LG Shine's keypad is like a smaller version of the RAZR. Regarding the cracking keys on the SE, I performed a test to see if this rumor was true. Over a period of 2 days, I had the phone off and during my spare time (which is a lot since it's summer), I've been clicking away at the keys (with a good amount of pressure I might add), and the keys exhibit no sign of cracking. Clearly the cracking keys is an issue with older phones (which you could potentially still buy if the reseller of your phone has old stock).
SE: 9/10 Shine: 9/10
Navigation: Those that say navigation on the Shine is difficult are clearly retarded: physically or mentally. The joystick on the Shine takes no practice to nail. It is very easy to use, and is not too small. The SE, with no joystick, as imagined, is also very easy to use. My only caveat with the SE is that there's no dedicated end call button like my old Nokia. The numbered menus in the Shine are very easy to use.
SE: 9/10 Shine: 9/10
Reception/Sound Quality: I live in Northern California in a well populated city, and everywhere I go, I get 5 bars with the SE and from 3 to 4 bars with the Shine. I have found the number of signal bars that you get has a big impact on the call quality (as it should)... The Shine frequently echoes what the other person says, and a background static seems to be present in all calls. To ensure that I didn't receive a lemon shine, I tested a friend's shine and sure enough, it was the same. My friend told me they didn't notice the static (he probably got use to the poor call quality)... The SE's reception and sound quality it top notch. No complaints whatsoever here. Even with 3 bars (in a tunnel), the call was still strong.
SE:10/10 Shine: 5/10
Features: SE wins hands down. Read the features at each phone's respective website; I won't waste your time here. The LG Shine is the most basic of phones. The only thing its got over the SE is 3G. The Shine is all looks.
SE: 10/10 Shine: 2/10 (absolutely pitiful for a phone be so lackluster in features)
Other concerns and notes:
- The speaker on the SE kills that one which is on the Shine
- Both phones have ringtones are loud enough to be heard
- Both phones can [be modified to] receive games and , but with the SE, you have more options.
Nice device but short battery life December 15, 2007
S. Cowen (Tucson, AZ)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
The Shine is just plain sexy. Stainless steel, small, mirror screen, feels good. For me though function does sometimes trump great form. All the features of the phone are slick except the battery life. That is unfortunately a huge factor for me as I hate having to recharge all of the time. I get about 2-3 days between charges. My crappy old nokia 6100 got about a week between charges. I may switch to the Sony Ericsson 580i given its long rated battery life. If you don't care about battery life though, I do recommend the Shine.
 Phone turn itself off randomly December 10, 2007
Phonev (Iowa)
14 out of 21 found this review helpful
I bought this phone due to its stylish design. After one day's use, Unfortunately, the phone start turn itself off randomly even with newly charged battery, after this happened, i can not turn it on by pushing power-on button no matter how long you hold the button. The only way i can turn it on is to remove the battery and put it back in place, and then push the power button to turn it on. If you Google, this issue appears to be quite common. I had a LG phone for Verizon for 3 years, it worked great. This time, the LG shine disappointing.
AT&T ruined what could have been an amazing phone. July 16, 2008
L. Kern (Athens, GA United States)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
The Shine KE 970 that is made for the European marked blows this cu720 out of the water. AT&T left out so many features and the functionality is abysmal. They left out an entire protocol (FTP) to transfer files on bluetooth. It cant even connect to my computers as ALL my old phones and their bluetooth would. The speaker phone cuts in and out but its pretty loud..its just annoying. It looks sofisticated but it may as well be a fisher price phone for kids. The camera is flaky and leaves alot to be desired. Its very sad, such a beautiful phone, and I have to return it. If you dont care about anything else but making a call and texting and you get a good deal on it, great. The silver one looks better than the black one did to me.
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