May 4 launch for LG CU500v, for real this time?

Fool us once, shame on you, AT&T; fool us twice, well... we all know how that saying goes. Be that as it may, we're going to stick our necks out a little bit and say that AT&T's flubbing of the CU500v's launch last Friday was truly indicative of imminent availability. A source has provided us with a document indicating that AT&T's first Video Share device will finally be available "to all channels of distribution" starting this Friday, May 4. Other than that, there aren't any real surprises on the doc -- as expected, the highlights here over the CU500 are Video Share and the move to AT&T branding -- though can we just emphasize how silly it is that they're clinging to the "CV" branding for Cingular Video by changing it to "Cellular Video"? Click on for the full text of the doc.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

EQUIPMENT UPDATE

LAUNCH DATE:
ATT will be launching the re-branded CU500v starting May 4, 2007 which will be available to all channels of distribution.

Note: Official launch of the CU500v will be dependant on local market sell-through rates of the LG CU500 – once local market inventory is sold stores will start to receive the re-branded version.

OVERVIEW:
The ATT branded version of the CU500v will include the same features and functionality as the LG CU500. In addition to the original great services and features, the ATT branded version will be one of the first devices to support Video Share (VS). Information on how to Video Share and the requirements to use the service can be found in the Quick Start Guide and User Manual included in the device box and will also be posted to the Equipment Catalog in CSP. Additional software updates to the ATT branded version of the CU500v include the following:

ATT Branded CU500v Software and Hardware Updates
• Device branding change from Cingular to ATT
• Cingular Video name change to Cellular Video
• Cingular Music name change to ATT Mobile Music
• Cingular Mall name change to ATT Mall
• Video Share Client is available on the CU500v

Note: Only service names on the actual device user interface that referenced "Cingular" were renamed in the software update

The "v " on the end of the CU500v is used to indicate the Video Share version of the device

CRITICAL, MUST KNOW/MUST DO

ATT Branded SKU Information
Memphis 64629
ATC 652810719735

ACCESSORIES

The CU500v uses the same accessories as the CU500 – for a full list of accessories, please refer to the Accessories Catalog in CSP

Training

Device training information will be posted in the Equipment Catalog located – please reference the correct training materials based on the device branding due to software updates in the ATT version.

[(Unverified) Posted May 2nd 2007 1:37AM]

We've already have at&t branded 6102i gophones for 3 days at radioshack.

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2007 10:51PM]

Our store got 20 of these in on 4/30.

[(Unverified) Posted May 2nd 2007 12:32PM]

AT&T branding is nothing for us, that's been around for a month. But we were selling the CU500v last Friday. Not sure what's going on there.

[(Unverified) Posted May 2nd 2007 12:33PM]

will there be a software update for us existing CU500 owners? I have not recieved one OTA update notice, despite going to the self care page on cingy's page, and clicking on the link to a new software update.

[(Unverified) Posted May 3rd 2007 12:38AM]

I doubt this is a software update thing, only difference is the video sharing but I kinda don't think software can make it happen.

[(Unverified) Posted May 3rd 2007 2:11PM]

well, I thought there would be an OTA update, since the cu500 and cu500v are identical internally, nothing extra in the cu500v. it's all done in software, so an update would be in order.

I have also heard rumors that LG is having a hard time getting updates out, but I hope that is not true, as I paid alot for the cu500 when it first came out (and that includes renwewing my contract), and you can get a cu500 now for $30 with contract. A software update to change models would be nice, and in this day and age, it should be possible.

just my 2 cents.