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July 17, 2009 3:33 PM PDT

LG Watch Phone clears FCC

by Kent German
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The story this week is that the wacky LG Watch Phone from CES has cleared the Federal Communications Commission. That's right, the feds have given their approval to one of this year's conversation piece products. Of course, the conversation we have is, "Why would you buy this?" Also in FCC land, the Nokia E55 and E72 passed the test and we discovered an Alcatel phone called the Miss Sixty A. No, we don't get it either.

Because the FCC has to certify every phone sold in the United States, not to mention test its SAR rating, the agency's online database offers a lot of sneak peeks to those who dig. And to save you the trouble, Crave has combed through the database for you. Here are a selection of filings from the past week on new and upcoming cell phones. Click through to read the full report.

LG GD910 Watch Phone

(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET)

Alcatel Miss Sixty A
Alcatel OT-303A
Haeir HC-C2070

Haier HC-C2076
Huawei G5730
LG BL40
LG BG190a
LG GW525f
LG GD910 Watch Phone
Motorola
Motorola
Nokia E55
Nokia E72
Pantech P7000
Samsung GT-M328W
Samsung GT-S3100
Samsung GT-S7350i

Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent.
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by DarkHawke July 20, 2009 4:56 AM PDT
"Of course, the conversation we have is, "Why would you buy this?"" Um, mebbe 'cause is REALLY FREAKIN' COOL?!? It would help if it worked, 'course, but why let trivial things like function get you down when we're on the cusp of this level of coolness?

Seriously, though, is it really that bad, or is it just that its functionality is limited? I know folks (and you and your colleagues in particular) expect a LOT from a phone in this day and age, but geez, if the thing can make a half-way decent phone call AND do so effectively from one's wrist, how bad can it be?
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by ellunchboxo July 20, 2009 6:22 AM PDT
i predict it shows up in the next james bond movie.
by kalel130 July 20, 2009 12:36 PM PDT
@ellunchboxo

Except it's not Sony so clearly Daniel Craig will never don one ;] ... prob Sony will make one now, however
by renagade89 July 20, 2009 6:25 AM PDT
I would just hope that it supports bluetooth. You might look like an idiot holding your wrist or watch up to your ear. Otherwise, I would agree it is really cool.
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by UKStory1355 July 20, 2009 7:01 AM PDT
'Bluetooth' and 'cool' should never be used in the same comment unless the word 'not' is used between them. I love my Jawbone II but I only use it in the car or when I am trying to scare women away.
by deathxxshark July 20, 2009 9:56 AM PDT
You know, the word Bluetooth doesn't refer to just headsets. A lot of people think that and even call bluetooth headsets "bluetooths," which annoys me.

Bluetooth is what gives my PS3 & Wii controllers wireless connectivity, so I for one think that Bluetooth IS cool :)
by rich12313 July 20, 2009 1:01 PM PDT
@deathxxshark
finally someone who sees that. god i hear people saying "lemme just turn on my blurtooth" i wanna punch them haha
by Firehazel July 20, 2009 1:58 PM PDT
it does. doy.
by play7 July 20, 2009 9:52 AM PDT
This is not the first time this phone was released...........Saw i model just like this a few years back........Nothing new about it.
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by QA_Tester July 20, 2009 9:57 AM PDT
Yeah and people thought that calculator watches were cool too. But Texas instruments and HP made and keep making money on real calculators because they were practical and have functionality to do the work people really need. And where are calculator watches now?

Cellphone watch hybrid is another gimmick. Considering how small it is LG would either charge a lot of money for high capacity battery to be able to actually make more than one phone call or it would be good for people who rarely use cell phone functionality. Either way there will be a premium for the form factor
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by lordnykkon July 20, 2009 11:14 AM PDT
Alright! Now Scott Stein has a good reason to upgrade his Casio!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10287438-1.html?tag=mncol;title
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by July 20, 2009 11:19 AM PDT
Miss Sixty... Well .. its an apparel brand http://www.misssixty.com , much like the Prada from LG.
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by BallingerMike July 20, 2009 5:56 PM PDT
I think it's very cool. I guess Kent German thinks his opinion is everyone's opinion. Not true.
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by Nakarou July 21, 2009 6:59 AM PDT
That LG watch is cool, if it comes with a standard bluetooth headset and txting I'll buy it
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by prince_f_swords July 21, 2009 10:21 AM PDT
Please don't buy the LG Watch phone, coz i bought one from asia and it died after its first call.

TRUE STORY
i inserted the sim and turned it ON, screen lit up the LG logo and then comes the home screen and i am thinking 'Cool'. Then i tried to call myself from another cell and guess what the 007 ring-tone starts and I am on seventh cloud. we tested the voice for some time and everything was damn cool. But then we disconnected the call and a timer appeared " This message will be destroyed in 5 4 3 2 POOF!
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