Verizon poised to launch LG VX8550?

It looks like Verizon and LG are gearing up to release to their latest addition in the Chocolate lineup, the VX8550. This round, the VX8550 is sportin' two new colors than before -- this time "black cherry" and "blue mint" will make your mouth water, and lets not forgot the traditional black. The device is expected to hit the street around around July 9 and cost $100 with a two year contract. There's even talk about reducing the cost of the music essentials kit that includes a microSD card, data cable, Bluetooth headset, and a gift card for music. Could this be Big Red's attempt to persuade consumers away from AT&T's music phone for their own latest addition? We hope not.

[Thanks, HTC Kid and SC]

Verizon baking up more Chocolate for July 9?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2007 11:37AM]

Still expecting a real 2.5mm Headphone jack?? That'd be freakin awesome! Any other specs to share? Battery Life? Max SD Card Memory? Camera Improvement? Does it have a speakerphone (or will we have to wait a month for a software update like the original Chocolate?)

I've been waiting for a new LG phone for a while (and bad reviews of the speaker on the VX8700 have kept me away from that one...)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2007 11:47AM]

One of the touch keys is a speaker phone button. Max is 4GB so far. The idea is $99.99 and $149 4 gb card = 1/2 the price of a 4 gb memory card

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2007 12:53PM]

According to info posted over at Howard Forums:
MicroSD Removable Memory up to 4GB
2.5 mm headphone jack
1.3 MP camera (although it's supposedly an improved 1.3 camera over the original chocolate)
250 minutes digital usage (compared to 210 for original) and 350 hours standby (compared to 384 for original)
Speakerphone

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2007 2:12PM]

Sounds much improved! Were there any other major complaints of the first Chocolate that we've yet to hear about?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2007 5:00PM]

This is the Chocolate that should have came out the first time. MUCH improved touch navigation, better buttons, slimmer, and yes... it comes with speaker phone already. I played with it already... this thing is slick.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 4th 2007 3:06PM]

ok so i got to play with a dummy at the verizon store yesterday its kinda in the shape of an oval my favorite part was that the center worked exactly like an ipod the camera is sadly still a 1.3 but the back mirror to see yourself is bigger one thing i noticed is u kinda have to hold it to keep it slid up all the way but hopefully thats just a prototype error

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 4th 2007 3:53PM]

Yep, pretty much hits the nail on the head. Nothing that will blow you away, but a solid phone none the less and definitely a good improvement over the original Chocolate.