LG to release the Chocolate 3 on July 14

LG Chocolate 3

(Credit: LG)

PhoneArena has reported that LG and Verizon will introduce the third version of the coveted candy-name music phone, dubbed the LG Chocolate 3, on July 14. The VX8560 model will be the first ever Chocolate clamshell, available in both black and light blue (Though we bet there will be additional colors in the future). Some of the expected features include a microSD card slot, a 1GB of internal memory (which sounds quite impressive), a 3.5mm headset jack, a 2-megapixel camera, stereo speakers, stereo Bluetooth, and an integrated FM transmitter. The full retail price is expected to be $299, though you can get it for $129 after a $50 rebate and a two-year service agreement ($199 after a $50 rebate and a 1-year agreement).

[fcg1502]

I have the VX8600 and I thought that was technically considered a "Chocolate", and that's a clamshell. It actually looks a heck of a lot like this phone, but with a smaller screen on the front and no dial on the front.

[ImSpartacus]

I was considering the Razr2 V9M, but this might be a little cheaper and maybe even a little better. I'm liking the 3.5mm plug and 1GB of memory. The stereo speakers might end up cool too. I hope the dial on the front works ok.

[Skiermax-223703366467890529777]

Well... I always thought the Chocolate's were sliders. Oh well, maybe it will be a winner, unlike the first Chocolate

[pc4400]

built-in FM transmitter?

Sweeet!

[ReasonableGuy]

The biggest problem with this phone is that it, like all Verizon phones, has Verizon's substandard firmware on it. Verizon makes everything harder. This phone has a usb port on its side -- but the Verizon firmware won't let you use it to transfer pictures to a computer. You can sign up for Verizon's Pix Place, and transfer files -- ONE AT A TIME. And Pix Place can only hold a small number of pictures, UNLESS you are willing to pay for more storage.

With Verizon you can do it their way . . . or you can't do it at all. I'm sure that LG and Qualcomm (which makes the main chips) did not cripple the firmware so that the phone cannot sync with calendars or contacts on computers, or sync or transfer pictures. But you cannot do any of those basic things with this phone.

Verizon will tell you that you need a pda and a data plan, but that, again, is only because they want it that way. There is no reason why you need a special pda phone. This phone, like others, has a calendar, and has contacts, but can't be synced with a computer -- UNLESS you pay for another Verizon service.

In short, while this LG may be a good phone, the Verizon version is stuck with Verizon's greed-headed limits.