LG BL40 garners FCC approval, no US 3G in sight

Unlike HTC and Nokia, LG has a reputation for playing by the rules and submitting fully to the whims of US carriers, which means that if a carrier doesn't pick up a device for inclusion in its lineup, you're simply not going to see it with North American 3G -- the best you'll be able to do is an international import with EDGE. So far, we're not seeing anything to suggest that the mighty BL40 will be bucking that trend, unfortunately; it's just earned itself some FCC approval on GSM 850 / 1900 alone. Since Verizon essentially owns the Chocolate brand around here, that's not to say we won't see a CDMA version before too long -- but hopes for an unlocked version whose molasses-like radio doesn't make you want to gouge your own eyes out are fading quickly.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 16th 2009 9:36PM]

I have a hunch that this BL40 is a brand new "Black Label" series (hence the whole 4th generation thing in the promo video), which means it may or may not even hit the States. However I look at the BL42 (the slider with touch sensitive controls), and just think that it makes so much more sense to being the Chocolate 4, as the Chocolate family has never been really anything outstanding feature-wise besides being a music-oriented phone. I hope I'm wrong though, I have much more interest in the BL40

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 16th 2009 10:20PM]

It specifically said in the video that it was part of the black label series. The BL means black label. You're right though it probably will never make it in its current form to the US.

The assumption that VZW is automatically going to get it when they've only gotten one of the three black label "inspired" phones isn't a sure thing in my book.

[daseff Posted Jul 16th 2009 11:01PM]

I think Verizon will definitely be picking up some variation of the BL40 or BL42. I'm really hoping it's like the BL40, because the phone looks truly stunning. It's been pretty much confirmed that Verizon is going to be releasing a Chocolate 4, I guess it's just up to Verizon whether it's going to be high end like these phones, or a piece of crap like the other Chocolates Verizon released.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 16th 2009 11:59PM]

weve gone through this guys. telus has this coming for its upcoming hspa network. so there will be one for us 3g. u cguys posted the article urselves from the xml sheet

[Chris Posted Jul 17th 2009 12:07AM]

True, but that certainly doesn't mean it's going to be released (take the Secret on AT&T, for example). Also, it may never make it to a US carrier, and the odds of LG selling an unlocked version are virtually nil.

[Demo22 Posted Jul 17th 2009 12:36AM]

AT&T needs to get the Secret released ASAP. The Shine is really old at this point, and people go nuts for nice slider phones for some reason. I suppose that the Secret's specs are a little too high end for the average American user though going by the fact that we miss out on a metric buttload of awesome phones that never make it over to our country.

[Demo22 Posted Jul 17th 2009 12:38AM]

And yes, I realize the Secret is old at this point too, but its newer and better than the Shine.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 17th 2009 12:32AM]

well i will add that i have learned it is coming to telus also through internal sources. also the htc hero is coming and samsung 7500 or something. some android phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 31st 2009 12:02AM]

look great
http://www.zahipedia.com/2009/07/30/lg-bl40-chocolate-phone-features-and-tech-specification/