LG Chocolate VX8550 Phone, Maroon (Verizon Wireless, Phone Only, No Service)

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Product Features

• Lightweight multimedia powerhouse in red with new Trace Motion Light navigation wheel
• Supports both WMA and MP3 music formats for more versitility in music listening; Bluetooth stereo headset support
• Expandable memory slot compatible with optional 4 GB microSD memory card for storage of up to 2000 songs
• 1.3 megapixel camera with digital zoom; video capture up to 1 hour
• Up to 250 minutes of talk time, up to 350 hours of standby time

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 1.9 x 0.7 inches ; 3.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000TJT1BG
• Item model number: KPC680
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,680 in Cell Phones & Service (See Bestsellers in Cell Phones & Service)

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Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Slimmer, lighter and sweeter than ever, LG updates its Chocolate slider phone to the VX8550 with improvements including a new metal navigation wheel (which traces your finger's movement with a small light), vibrating touch keypad, and the ability to run the music player in the background while using the other features of the phone. But many of the much vaunted features of the original Chocolate remain: silky-smooth slider design support for V Cast Music, an integrated music/video player, a 1.3 megapixel camera/camcorder, stereo Bluetooth capabilities, and a microSD memory slot for up to 4 GB of storage. In addition to Verizon's V Cast Music feature, this phone is also enabled with the Get It Now service, which allows you to easily download ringtones, games, and applications. It runs on Verizon's CDMA 850/CDMA 1900 frequencies and EV-DO high-speed data network. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.)

Imaging and Entertainment

The LG VX8550 Chocolate comes in three delicious colors and features advanced music playback features--including the ability to play in the background while accessing other phone features.

The Chocolate's is a 1.3-megapixel digital camera features a flash, as well as 2x digital zoom, self-timer, night-mode functions, and brightness and white balance controls. Other features include an in-phone image editor (zoom, rotate, crop) and a mirror for self-portrait capability. The camera can also capture video clips--30 seconds for sending and up to 1 hour for saving to memory card--at a 176 x 144-pixel resolution. It's compatible with playing MP3, 3GP, and 3G2 video formats, and you can set a video as your screen's wallpaper (as long as it's under 5 MB in size).

A built-in music player with a dedicated music key for easy access, stereo speakers and an equalizer, MP3 and WMA playback, and the ability to hide the music player while still allowing the music to play on in the background. You can create and manage playlists right on the phone, as well as synchronize music between the Chocolate and your PC (using an optional USB cable and connecting with Windows Media Player 10 or higher). You can also take advantage of the Chocolate's Bluetooth wireless headset capability, allowing you to hook up a pair of Bluetooth stereo headphones.

Design
The phone features a seriously attractive open-faced design with an internal antenna and a vibrant 240 x 320 pixel, 262,000-color TFT/TFD display. A touch sensor click wheel, similar to iPod, and sliding design set the phone apart stylistically. Opening the slider reveals a numeric keypad, as well as the 1.3-megapixel camera and LED flash, which are housed on the rear of the phone. The new navigation wheel with Trace Motion Light allows for easy navigation through phone functions, as well as quick and simple functionality while browsing music and videos. The touch keypad provides an improved feel for quicker input.

Calling Features
The Chocolate boasts powerful calling functions, such as speaker independent voice dialing, which makes it easy to call contacts by simply saying their names. No prior voice training is required and you can even speak individual digits to the phone for quick dialing of numbers you know by heart. And because the Chocolate is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total handsfree operation. You can save up to 20 Bluetooth pairings, and it supports the following Bluetooth profiles: headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, advanced audio distribution, phone book access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar (accessories sold separately), file transfer, and basic imaging.

The Chocolate's internal memory can hold up to 1000 contacts for quick access to email addresses and phone numbers. Each contact can store up to five numbers and two email addresses. The phone lets you easily assign pictures as well as ringtones to your most common callers. In addition to vibrating alerts, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones, and a number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from Verizon's Get It Now service. Lastly, the Chocolate's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools

With Verizon's Mobile Email option, the LG Chocolate allows you to send and receive emails from MSN, Hotmail, and America Online, as well as access your address book and be alerted to new email.

The phone's support for multimedia messaging means that text, photos, video and audio can be sent with ease (Verizon messaging charges apply). When used in combination with the Chocolate's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. There's also a built-in web browser for downloads and mobile web browsing. Verizon's optional Mobile Web 2.0 package allows you to read and send emails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your email, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, the Chocolate is fully compatible with Verizon's V Cast service. With V Cast music, your phone is a music player, letting you jam out wherever you are. It's also a music store, and you can download songs instantly to your phone. Save your songs to a memory card with a capacity that's right for you. You can even pause to take a call without missing a beat. You can also download and stream high-quality video--get the latest Accuweather forecast delivered right to your handset, or stream CNN news headlines. ESPN sports updates, entertainment news from E!, and even Sesame Street content for the kids. V Cast also serves as a portal for enhanced 3D games, making it possible to have more fun with a new breed of realistic games.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the Chocolate including a voice memo recorder that can record calls, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock. You can even set the alarm to wake you to your favorite music. Also included with the Chocolate is Verizon's VG Navigator software, which allows you to get real-time, turn-by-turn audible directions as you're driving.

Vital Statistics
The LG VX8550 Chocolate weighs 3.24 ounces and measures 3.85 x 1.87 x .67 inches. Its l800 mAh ithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.17 hours (250 minutes) of digital talk time, and up to 350 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 850/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Product Description
Now slimmer and lighter than ever, the Chocolate by LG comes in three new sumptuous colors to satisfy the most sophisticated palette. Of course, you'll still be addicted to the silky-smooth design and high-end media capabilities. But you'll also enjoy indulging in a few new treats like the touch keypad with vibration feedback and an improved navigation wheel with trace motion light. The Chocolate. Now sweeter than ever.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little complicated, but this phone has everything you need, January 5, 2008

By	Alma "togethergirlonline.com" (New York Metro) - See all my reviews

I have to say that I'm happy I ignored negative reviews about this phone. These people are probably not as technically inclined as I am (sorry), but this phone is wonderful. There are two things that I want from a phone: style and good features. This phone has both. I love gadgets, and I own everything electronic. I personally do carry a wifi enabled pda (with a camera, calendar, and ability to play music and movies) and/or laptop (with GPS) with me most times, so it's not important that my phone has it all. Other than that, this phone has what I need and the features are so easy to use.

Here is a list of my favorite features of the phone:
1. Voice activated menus...that feature works flawlessly. Being able to use the feature to call up any song or any number or anyone on my contact list without programming is fabulous. I love it.
2. I love that I don't have to buy wallpaper or music espressly for this phone. I already had a micro SD card with music and photos on it, and I was able to transfer them very easily. Because the manual does NOT include it (which is suspicious), here's how to transfer music onto the phone very easy:
-You have to get a micro SD card and adapter...If you have a dell laptop, there is a slot expressly for SD cards. Otherwise you will need that USB cable that Verizon sells.
-On the phone, you will need to enter the mini SD card and format it for use with the phone. Go to the Settings menu and select memory at the bottom of the menu. Select save options, and choose sounds, then card memory. Your phone will be ready for file transfers from your computer to the phone.
-The phone will transfer mp3s and wma files. Insert sd into its adapter and either insert it or the cable onto the computer.
-Now your ready to copy your music files. You will copy it into the temporary drive for the SD card, into the "my music" folder. You can do the same for your pictures, in the "My Pix" folder. There is also a folder for your videos.
-When you are done, you will insert the mini SD card back, and go to My Music, the files will be there. Tada. It's not that complicated, but to do it right, follow these instructions. You don't have to buy their music and pics, just rip your CDs and turn them into MP3's and copy personal pics onto camera to use as wallpaper.
3. Good Volume
-After having a nextel motorola phone, which has an excellent loud volume on calls (unlike the Razr V3 which has horrendously low volume on calls), this phone has great sound. You don't have to strain, and the speakerphone is wonderful.
4. GPS Navigation is wonderful
-Although most verizon phones has this feature, it does work very well on this phone. I love the feature, and although my laptop has GPS navigation, it's not always convenient on the go. The navigator is very exact, audible and the turn by turn directions are great.

5. I love the navigation wheel on the phone. I did change the speed to medium, because it moved too slowly.

6. The tip calculator seems really cool. I never had one before.

7. The phone's appearance is beautiful and sleek. Its very small considering my old phone, but I love it. It's shiny, easy to use, and comfortable to carry. I'm very happy about the color, which is slightly irridecent and very glossy.

8. The phone charges rather quickly. I was think about getting the car adapter, but I've seen it charge within an hour.

9. The photos come out very sharp, without much effort. It has the ability to change the picture into sepia, black and white...that's pretty cool. The videos come out okay, but I must admit, I can't figure how to get better volume.

I'm happy. For those who want to text and pay all that money to have access to the internet..this ain't the phone for you. I have a PDA/laptop that picks up wifi (which they have at school and every Panera), so I don't need to get the data plan and blackberry. This is the phone for people that use a phone expressly for a phone, and want to play some music from time to time--and it looks cooler than talking into a square block phone.

My minimal gripes...
-The music feature's playlist organization should be easier. I assume if I chose to buy that software, it will make it easy to organize my files.
-The phone should come with the USB cable and memory card, but I understand why. Not everyone cares about the music/photo/video transfer feature.
-The phone's keypad is not friendly to those who heavily text--I personally don't like texting, but I can see why it may not be the best choice for that stuff. If you do some occasional texting it's fine.
-You have to buy specific earphones and accessories for this phone. I thought I could use my old hands free earphones--no. You must buy the ones to fit the chocolate.

Have fun with your chocolate phone.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One Man's Treasure..., August 17, 2007

By	S. L. Potter (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently upgraded to the LG VX8550 (the new LG Chocolate) from a pretty cheap old motorola (no camera, small screen, etc). This phone is great if you're primarily looking for a phone that takes great pictures, has a Micro SD slot for music and pictures, is bluetooth and A2DP capable, and looks stylish. You can transfer wallpapers to your phone from your computer with the SD card, and text ringtones to yourself too, so no more paying for those extras! It also gets pretty good reception up in Vermont even outside of Burlington, which is a major plus. I talk and text on my Chocolate pretty often, and I'm highly satisfied with the general wireless functions regardless of all those extras.
However: be prepared to utilize warranty services, as this model tends to have some manufacturing faults. My first model overheated and only got about 12 hours of *standby* time on one charge, and couldn't handle phone calls over 25mins long. Went to Verizon the next week and traded her in for a new one, only to find that the slider and navigation wheel were loose right out of the box. This last bit is a common issue among Chocolate models, so the techs were ready to switch out for a third model (A+ service from Verizon, btw). Finally, the model I have works like a dream: I get hours of talk time, days on standby, and great sound/call/ringtone quality. I've had it for a month and the slider and nav wheel are still working great.
So:
Excellent Extras + Some well known manufacturing glitches = a phone for the stylish and patient who do more than just business calling.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Benefit of the doubt..., September 14, 2007

By	gillian pilgrim "catfish_melvin" (the beautiful low country) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This phone is absolutely gorgeous. Calls are clear and sharp. The speaker phone is plenty loud and clear. It has more fun to play with bells and whistles than any reasonable person could ask for, and they all work beautifully. The camera, both still and video, is amazingly good.

Now, on to the doubt part. I got the phone day before yesterday and I'm currently getting about 2 hours of talk time per charge. Also, it refuses to stay paired with my bluetooth headset. I'm taking it back to my verizon store tomorrow and hoping they'll exchange it.

I will update this review after I've had the replacement a couple of days. I really am hoping for the best, because I can easily see myself truly loving this pretty pretty little phone.

Okay! I swapped out the phone and played with it until the minimal charge it came with was used up then gave it a full charge. I then made 2 long (45 minutes plus) phone calls, played with it some more, and listened to around 5, 5 and a half hours of music before it needed recharging, which I think is perfectly acceptable.

It's almost official - I love this phone!