A new mobile smartphone from Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics includes an attachable QWERTY keyboard. The device, called the LG Versa, will be available beginning March 1.

Customers can personalize their LG Versa phones based on their messaging needs – either attach the QWERTY keypad to their phones or leave the keypad at home. The LG Versa’s home screen is transformed into an animated 3D interface and customers can quickly customize three different home screens with their favorite shortcuts. The built-in accelerometer rotates the screen automatically from portrait to landscape, and customers can use rotation movements to steer games. The Web browser includes Flash and RSS feed support, and customers can keep up to three windows open and switch from one window to the other to view pages.

Additionally, the phone comes packed with Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video services.

The LG Versa supports productivity tools – such as Visual Voice Mail so they can prioritize their messages – while Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator service transforms the phone into a navigation device at a fraction of the cost of most GPS systems, according to the companies. In addition, the LG Versa is compatible with Mobile Broadband Connect to allow customers to use their phones as a modem by linking their laptops to their phones to establish a broadband connection anywhere within Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband rate and coverage area.

The product costs $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new, two-year customer agreement.