Verizon launches Chocolate July 31st

It's laid so bare at this point it's almost kind of an open secret, but contrary to what we'd heard earlier (which was a week off), we've got launch dates and prices for Verizon's LG VX8500 Chocolate phone. Starting July 31st you'll be able to snag the phone online, and come August 7th you can get it in stores. The price? Not too terrible: $359 without contract, $249 with 1 year, and $199 for two years committed to the carrier. Might be a little more than we'd originally expected, but outside the Q you're not likely to see a sexier EV-DO device on Verizon for a little while yet.

[Thanks, V]

[TeleCustom @ Jul 25th 2006 1:26PM]

well at least the PRS on the screen is awesome...

[Sp-----K @ Jul 25th 2006 1:30PM]

2nd.......It's a bad ass phone.

[Will @ Jul 25th 2006 1:38PM]

Thats actually one of its flash UI. Like the VX8300, it'll have the VZW UI when its first turned on, you have a few flash UI to choose from

[PPC @ Jul 25th 2006 2:21PM]

Crippled bluetooth?

[Taylor Alexander @ Jul 25th 2006 2:34PM]

Verizon always cripples bluetooth, it's pretty much standard for them...
-Taylor

[Dan @ Jul 25th 2006 2:40PM]

Anyone have dimensions?

[0ndsk4 @ Jul 25th 2006 2:43PM]

128mb flash memory and no sd slot?

What are they thinking?? How could this ever be a mp3 player phone? Look real nice, but take a few pictures and put 10 mp3 songs on the phone and the memory is full... Useless.

[Christian @ Jul 25th 2006 2:47PM]

When the crappy interace is gone and the bluetooth madness is over, i'll go back to the network. Verizon is like the mob. Ask them for changes they'll say have you tried our network. Ask about crippling bluetooth, and they'll say, you can go elsewhere, but our network is tops. Ask, where are the 7PM start times and roll over minutes and they'll look you square in the eye and say, "The Network Jabronie."

[timmy @ Jul 25th 2006 2:57PM]

0ndsk4, it has a microsd slot, like the Moto v3m.

[exstns @ Jul 25th 2006 3:24PM]

I got a chance to play with this phone in China.. and it felt pretty crapy and not realy solid. The sliding keybad was wobbling from side to side and the whole thing just looked and felt kind of cheep... It looks nice when its closed though.

[Deepak @ Jul 25th 2006 3:56PM]

So can I change the UI on this? I'd be so excited if i could!

[Doug @ Jul 25th 2006 4:06PM]

If one lives in a rural town, is Verizon the way to go over more sucky wireless carriers like Unicel?

http://techntalk.com/index.php?s=unicel

[Ed @ Jul 25th 2006 4:39PM]

Doug,
I get great reception from verizon in northern vermont. southern vermont is a different story, though.

[greenfly360 @ Jul 25th 2006 5:28PM]

So this is better that the UK version?

[marcin @ Jul 25th 2006 5:33PM]

ahhhhh, FINALLY Verizon gets a new phone that I like.

I can finally get a new freakin phone.

or should I wait and see if they offer any of the new Moto's that Engadget showed yesterday?

[oishi @ Jul 25th 2006 5:54PM]

Isn't this marketed for the ladies only. I'd laugh if i see a macho man use it, BROKEBACK MOUANTAIN!

[paolo @ Jul 25th 2006 6:05PM]

the bluetooth is probably crippled just like EVERY (except e815) crappy verizon phone.

@greenfly360
the phone uses a different radio (GSM) and the verizon version uses a CDMA radio.

i've acctually tried this phone in asia and like the other reader said, it feels very cheap but it looks good but still it didnt feel solid

[0ndsk4 @ Jul 25th 2006 6:33PM]

timmy -

No, it hasn't got a micro sd slot. It has zilch expansion. The measly no-good 128 mb is all you can ever get with the phone. Useless.

[John @ Jul 25th 2006 6:55PM]

Man, they screwed up the chocolate's simple, minimalist lines with that ugly circle controlpad in the middle.

[Michael E @ Jul 25th 2006 7:01PM]

0ndsk4

How can someone be wrong twice with google @ your finger tips?

Yes, It has a micro slot. haha

[Paul @ Jul 25th 2006 9:37PM]

0ndsk4,

It does have a microSD slot,mp3 player, stereo bluetooth. Don't confuse the Verizon chocolate with the Euro version, there are differences.

[yumyum @ Jul 26th 2006 3:46AM]

wah~ that's not the chocolate phone sold in Europe, Asia and elsewhere!
Definately should lose the circular pad.
Check out the original chocolate phone;
http://www.t3.co.uk/reviews/communication/mobile_phone/lg_k800_mobile_phone

[G. Snyder @ Jul 26th 2006 10:02AM]

Maybe the winds are changing. You all are bitching about Verizon crippling bluetooth...sounds like ALL OF YOU forgot that Verizon released an update to the CDMA RAZR that enabled OBEX.

[Jake @ Jul 26th 2006 10:39AM]

G. Snyder: But of course. And then they released the RAZR V3m that not only disabled but removed the parts of the code which enabled OBEX. I think our lack of faith is justified.

As far as this phone goes, unless it's completely uncrippled it's far too expensive. $150's the most I'd pay for it.

[edgar @ Jul 26th 2006 6:27PM]

I hate crippled Verizon phones. I have the V.

[mochocoa hot chocolate @ Jul 28th 2006 1:11PM]

anyone currently on verizons network would have to be smoking something to NOT buy this phone. compared to verizons outdated cheap phones, this is of a whole diffrent calibur, in the upper eschelon of entertainment and looks. ill admit that verizon has many problems, mainly technical. They believe that becasue of their arge network they can get away with anythings, and its working.

[Geoff @ Jul 28th 2006 4:28PM]

Does it have USB 2 or 1.1 ?

[Thagenral @ Jul 29th 2006 5:19PM]

Does this thing go dead when its closed, does it retain its touch sensitve characteristics as the original? (AKA completely black, no lights, like the original chocolate phone), if not, that sucks, verizon just took a wonderful idea and blew it to sh*t.

[drmrboi @ Jul 29th 2006 8:31PM]

so lets get this straight.. the differences between the verizon version and the uk one..it does have an expandable micro sd slot like the v3m correct? its bluetooth is crippled(also like the v3m) and they changed the front from a square to a circle..are there any other changes?(besides the shitty v-cast service) like to the camera, or involving the touch sensitivity control?

[mike. @ Jul 30th 2006 12:14AM]

Would still need to read some more and actually hold it in my hands to decide for sure, but if you ask me, LG or Verizon or whoever it was that okayed the redesign really dropped the ball on this wall.

Look here: http://www.gadgetell.com/2006/07/peep-show-verizon-lg-vx8500-chocolate-phone/

You can see that they really crapped up the minimalist design with the huge white arrows and "OK" that are visible even when the phone is "off".

This almost completely negates any of the "coolness factor" that this phone had to begin with. No longer sleek, no longer minimalist, no longer sophisticated. The first and only thing people will see is a gigantic, cheesily-labeled button staring them in the face.

Also, I haven't seen any specs or size comparisons for this US version yet, but the pics certainly make it look substantially chunkier than the phone's Asian and UK counterparts.

Chunky + cheesy = good for soup, bad for phones.

It is certainly Verizon's best-looking phone, but my contract is up so there's no reason to stay if I decide against this phone. Pity, though, as I've been waiting for it forever.

[SpectralFx @ Jul 30th 2006 5:39PM]

I just played with one of these at a local verizon kiosk, and it is pretty slick. Feels nice, micro sd card slot up to 2gb, you can actually change the verizon skin (5 or 6 pre loaded). Only complaint is no speaker phone. They are talking $149 after rebate