While many tech geeks who fancy Verizon will be spending the majority of this week debating whether or not to pull the trigger on either the DROID or DROID Eris, today Verizon quietly started selling the LG Chocolate Touch, a non-smartphone with mass market appeal. Equipped with a 3″ touchscreen display and 3.2 megapixel camera, the Chocolate Touch also features support for VZ Navigator, V CAST Music/Video, Visual Voicemail and EV-DO Rev. 0 connectivity. Also of note is a convenience key that leads directly to social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as well as the inclusion of Dolby Mobile technology, something which is claimed to deliver “audio quality that rivals MP3 players.” Of course with only 1GB of internal memory and no microSD card in the box users will be forced to drop some extra cash if they wish to listen to more than 250 songs, but at $79.99 on contract after a $50 rebate, what do you expect?Read

Rogers Wireless was the first carrier to bring Android smartphones to Canada with the HTC Dream and Magic — two devices that weren’t exactly cutting edge — and now it’s trying to generate some excitement with the Eve, LG’s first Android offering. Pre-loaded with the Social Networks Manager app, an aggregate for Facebook, Twitter and Bebo, the Eve is being positioned as the “ultimate smartphone for social media enthusiasts”. There isn’t anything extraordinary going on spec wise, but the Eve should get the job done for most with a 3″ touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keypad, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and 7.2Mbps HSPA. All of this can be yours for $49.99 on contract or $399.99 without. You know, unless you want to wait until Thursday to see just how much the TELUS’s HTC Hero is going to set you back.Read

We don’t think we need to go over what an insanely huge day today is for Canada, but in case anyone is feeling particularly thick, we’re going to spell it out plan and simple — Rogers is no longer the only HSPA game in Canada. Bell’s 21Mbps HSPA network has at long last gone live. As with any network launch, a few awesome handsets, data cards and a few Canadian-style rip-off plans have come along for the ride. So hit the jump and check out what’s new.

Smartphones

• Apple iPhone 3G – $99.95 / 599.95 (3-year contract / no strings attached)
• Apple iPhone 3GS (16GB) – $199.95 / $699.95
• Apple iPhone 3GS (32GB) – $299.95 / $799.95
• BlackBerry Bold 9700 – $229.95 / $599.95
• BlackBerry Bold 9000 – $249.95 / $599.95
• Samsung Omnia II – $199.95 / $549.95

Non-Smartphones

• LG Xenon – $89.95 / $289.95
• Nokia 2730 – $27.95 / $119.95
• Nokia 6350 – $49.95 / $249.95
• Samsung Impact – $79.95 / $279.95

Data Sticks

• Novatel Wireless U950 – $24.95 / $174.95
• Novatel Wireless U998 – $74.95 / $174.95
• Novatel Wireless X950 – $24.95 / $174.95

SIM Cards

• $0 / $5

As for price plans, not all that much has changed (the $6.95 SAF is staying for now), but Bell did introduce some iPhone specific plans which are as follows:

Combo 45 for iPhone

• 100 anytime local minutes plus 50 bonus local minutes
• Local Fab Five: Unlimited calling & text to and from five local numbers of your choice
• 500 MB of data for personal email, Internet browsing
• Unlimited local nights & weekends (9 p.m. – 7 a.m.)

Combo 55 for iPhone

• 300 anytime local minutes
• Local Fab Five
• 1 GB of data for personal email, Internet browsing
• Unlimited local nights & weekends (9 p.m. – 7 a.m.)

Combo 75 for iPhone

• 400 anytime local minutes
• Nationwide Fab Five: Unlimited calling & text to and from five local numbers of your choice nationwide
• 2 GB of data for personal email, Internet browsing
• Unlimited local nights & weekends (9 p.m. – 7 a.m.)

Combo 95 for iPhone

• 500 anytime local minutes
• Nationwide Fab Five
• 2 GB of data for personal email, Internet browsing
• Unlimited local nights & weekends (9 p.m. – 7 a.m.)

Now to sit and wait for TELUS’ day in the sun to see what, if any, surprises it has in store beyond what we already know.

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We were just hit up by a new Verizon connect and it looks like the LG Chocolate Touch is on the horizon. We’re told that retail stores should be receiving stock within the next two weeks, which makes sense since it was featured in Verizon’s Holiday Lineup list. In case you missed the details, the Chocolate Touch will pack a 3.2 megapixel camera, EV-DO Rev. 0 (they couldn’t get with the times and get Rev. A?), Visual Voicemail and VZ Navigator. We’re not sure how we feel about the design, especially with LG offerings like the BL20 and BL40, you’d think this fresh new touch screen wouldn’t look like it was designed in the late 90s. It also looks like it’s packing the same tired OS which will look even more dead once Droid/s hit the scene, but with the right pricing we think this could do well with those who aren’t looking for full-featured smartphones. Hit the jump for a shot of the back.

We just got an an email from one of our connects and we’ve got some great new for all you iPhone-lovers. We’ve been told in just a couple hours, Canada’s TELUS will officially announce that its nation-wide HSPA network will go live on November 5th. Not only that, but on that very date, TELUS will start selling the Apple iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. The iPhone pricing structure for TELUS will be the same as it is for Rogers (and Bell, for that matter) with the 3G going for $99.99/$599.99 and the 16 and 32GB 3GS going for $199.99/$699.99 and $299.99/$799.99. Beyond that, TELUS doesn’t appear to be in any rush to come forward with specifics on its plan pricing and other handsets. All the presses hints at is “TELUS will offer a number of exciting new devices from HTC, Huawei, LG, Nokia, RIM, Samsung, and Sierra Wireless in time for the holidays, including some on an exclusive basis.” That’s more or less in line with the line-up we’ve already told you.

With employee HSPA training well under way, one of our TELUS connects hit us up late last night to let us know just what smartphone hungry Canadians can expect once its HSPA network overlay goes live next month. Apart from the obvious ones – iPhone 3G and 3GS — TELUS will be dishing out the BlackBerry Bold 9700, LG Chocolate BL40 and the Nokia E71 (odd, we know). Road warriors should also note that TELUS will be offering the Sierra Wireless 306 USB data stick which is capable of taking full advantage of TELUS’ 21Mbps HSPA network. Okay, fine, rumors about many of these devices coming to TELUS aren’t exactly new, but we’re the first to be able to confirm this 100%. Just one more thing…. We’ve been told that the HTC Hero is definitely in TELUS’ play book and it’s going to be the GSM/HSPA variant.

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While no details have been revealed beyond device names and tiny renders, Mobile-review has just revealed LG’s roadmap for early 2010. The name of the game appears to be attainable touchscreen devices for LG next year and we can look forward to several additions to already-popular LG lines. The Cookie is apparently due for an update in the form of — you guessed it — the Cookie2, and new additions to LG’s Wine family include the Wine2 and the Wine Junior. Beyond those, the Goya, Stage, Mini and Sweet round out LG’s probable early 2010 lineup where entry and mid-range touchscreen phones are concerned. Also revealed by Mobile-review is the wallet-friendly GX200, pictured after the jump, which will be a dual-SIM feature phone we’ll certainly never see on this side of the world.

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Today, LG announced the GD510 “Pop”, a handset that attempts to build upon the LG Cookie’s success as an entry level touchscreen designed to appeal to the masses. LG sold 7 million Cookies worldwide to date, so it certainly seems to have found the right mix of features and pricing. The Pop will feature a 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen display, 8GB of internal storage, a 3 megapixel camera and a brushed aluminum case with a single multi-function button and a narrow 4.8mm bezel. Sleek and simple, the Pop will become available mid-October throughout Europe with pricing set by each individual market.

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After its early debut on LG’s developer website last week, the New Chocolate BL20 has been officially announced by LG. A full product page, flickr slideset and an official press release all serve to confirm the existence of this handset, though we pretty much already knew all there was to know about this little guy. For those on the other side of the Atlantic, the sexy slider with a distinctive red keypad is expected to land at O2 UK in Q4 for €269 ($394USD). As for the rest of us, it’s still a waiting game we’re afraid. Hit the jump for the press release.

LG’s newest Chocolate flavour slides to market

Berkshire, September 28, 2009 – LG Electronics a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, today announces its second New Chocolate phone, BL20, featuring a sliding keypad. The newest addition to the Chocolate series follows the launch of the stylish New LG Chocolate phone (BL40) at the start of September.

Available in the UK in Q4 at O2, the BL20 features a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash in a slim casing measuring just 12.3mm in depth.

The handset also features touch-sensitive controls which are discretely concealed on the sides of the phone. Users can instinctively feel their way around functions such as volume control and camera zoom for quick adjustments.

Widget Hotkeys enable users to personalise the phone to directly access favourite features for weather, news or personal updates. A new feature includes Clear Memo Capture which captures text, handwritten notes and drawings with maximum clarity, offering a different way to record information.

Jeremy Newing, head of marketing, LG Mobile UK and Ireland says, “Boasting advanced new features such as Widget Hotkeys and Clear Memo Capture, the BL20 offers consumers a design alternative to the already successful BL40 with its widescreen display.”

The New LG Chocolate BL20 is referencing the original Chocolate’s design characteristics such as glossy black surface accentuated with red highlights but reinterpreted them in a sliding keypad handset. Notably, the handset has refined its red navigation keys – part of LG’s overall design language – which are revealed when the phone slides open. It has evolved from the iconic design of its predecessors combining enhanced interactive features with a sleek minimalist look aimed at style-conscientious consumers.

“Standing proudly alongside the BL40, the BL20 expands the Chocolate series with a beautiful but practical slider option reflecting our leadership in design,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The New LG Chocolate BL20 offers consumers another way to experience the luxurious style and high performance that is symbolic of the LG Chocolate series but at a more affordable price.”

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The recent resurrection of rumors that Sprint is working with Samsung on a WiMAX-enabled phone may have just been trumped by news from Korea earlier today. According to a report from The Korea Herald, KT is planning to offer a tri-mode Windows Phone built by Samsung that will operate on the KT’s WiMAX network. The most interesting part — KT supposedly claims it will be releasing this handset before 2009 is through. Dubbed the Samsung Prism, the phone will be a triple threat, operating on WCDMA, Wi-Fi and WiMAX networks. On the far less interest-piquing side of things, KT is reportedly also prepping the 3G-ready LG Lilac. Super. So what does all this mean for us here in the US? News that Samsung is partnering with a carrier to develop a WiMAX-enabled phone that comes straight from a carrier is far more interesting than previous guesses from analysts. Of course logic suggests dictates that Samsung will be among the first manufacturers to build handsets for KT’s WiMAX network, but the time frame is what interests us. A Korean release in 2009 could mean comparable handsets might reach our shores as early as 1H 2010.

[Via WMPowerUser]

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Windows Mobile fans take note — 30 new handsets powered by your mobile OS of choice will supposedly be debuting before you again sing a drunken version of Auld Lang Syne. Benjamin Tan, senior director of the GCR Mobile Team Unit at Microsoft China, let loose the rumor that an avalanche of new Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets from HTC, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Acer, Toshiba, HP and more will be released in the waning months of 2009. Carriers who have jumped on board this Window Mobile bonanza include AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, NTT DoCoMO, Softbank Mobile,  SKT, Telstra and Telus. Bottom line: no matter where you are located or what you prefer in a smartphone, there will apparently be a Windows Phone to suit your needs in 2009.

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LG’s latest and greatest Chocolate offering is shaping up to be the entry level BL20 touch-enabled slider. Shots of handset adorned with its red keypad have been bouncing around for a while but LG has been mum as far as details go. The silence has just been broken however — though it’s not an official announcement, the BL20 has made its first appearance on LG’s developer website with a full list of specifications including:

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz
• UMTS/HSDPA (3.6Mbps) 900/2100 MHz
• 2.4-inch QVGA display with 262K colors
• ARM9 processor
• 256MB Flash memory
• 128 MB RAM
• 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus,  flash and video recording
• Bluetooth 2.1
• FM radio
• MicroSD card expansion, up to 16GB
• USB 2.0
• Proprietary OS with SMS and MMS 1.2, Email (SMTP, POP3, IMAP4), WAP 2.0/HTML/XHTML web browser
• 106.9 x 50.8 x 12.3 mm and 115 grams

Most of what we already knew about the slider has been confirmed, so now we just need LG to get moving and make this handset official.

[Via Unwired View]

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Behold, Verizon Wireless subscribers — the upcoming Chocolate sequel you had been praying was the BL40. Unfortunately no, it is most certainly not the BL40. We’ve known the Chocolate Touch would be a previously unseen handset for a while now of course, so this shouldn’t come as too much of a disappointment. As these live images of the handset emerge however, we can’t help but feel a little sad to think of how great a subsidized BL40 on VZW could have been. Alas, the peculiar mid-range handset you see at the top of this post is what we have to look forward to in its place. Rumored specs include a 3.2MP camera, 3.5mm headset jack, HTML Web browser, some form of limited multitasking support, a music player and a WVGA touchscreen display. Hit the jump for another shot.

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One of our ninjas just blessed us with a look at a portion of AT&T’s Windows Mobile road-map for the rest of the year. Quickly glancing at it we can see that the AT&T Tilt 2 will obviously launch in October, and refreshingly, the Samsung Epix and Samsung Jack will be getting upgrades to Windows Mobile 6.5 courtesy of upcoming maintenance releases. What’s more exciting, however, are the HP Obsidian and LG Monaco launches. While not brand new to the world, it’s nice to know that these Windows Mobile business-focused handsets will finally see the light of day come November. We know October is going to be full of 6.5 handsets like the Tilt 2 and Pure, and November shows no signs of slowing down either. Here’s a quick refresher on specifications for the LG Monaco and HP Obsidian and a larger shot after the break:

HP Obsidian:

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz)
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Wi-Fi b,g
• QWERTY keyboard
• microSD slot
• GPS
• 3.5mm headset jack
• Windows Mobile 6.5

LG Monaco:

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz)
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Wi-Fi b,g
• Slide-out full QWERTY keyboard
• GPS
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera

Thanks, Feech!

We’re not exactly sure why “WIDEBOOK” has to be in all caps, but LG just took the wraps off its latest line of niche notebooks. Comprised of five models in total, LG’s WIDEBOOKS all feature LED-backlit displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio that LG has dubbed “cinematic”. Mmm hmm. Starting at the bottom we have the R380, a 13-incher that can boot in five seconds with “Smart On”. In the middle of the pack, the R460 and R560 tout 14 and 15.6-inch displays respectively, and then up at the top we have the like-sized R480 and the R580. The entire range sports Windows Vista or 7, Core 2 Duo processors, between 2GB and 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce graphics chips with up to 1GB of graphics memory, and display resolutions of either 1600 x 900 or 1368 x 768 pixels. The R580 also packs a Blu-ray drive to make that “cinematic experience” complete. Pricing isn’t yet available but the wait won’t be long — LG’s WIDEBOOKS will roll out this month in Turkey, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, followed by other countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America and last but not least, North America.

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While LG has never appeared to be particularly interested in offering Android smartphones, today the Korean company officially took the wraps off of its first Android device in the LG-GW620. A slider with a full-QWERTY keypad, LG made the strange decision to withhold most of the GW620’s specs in its press release despite having shown it off at a trade show just one week ago. But because of this recent appearance, we know that the GW620 also known as the “Etna” has 3-inch HVGA touchscreen display, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3.6 Mbps UMTS/HSDPA connectivity. You can expect to see the LG-GW620 in Europe sometime in the next quarter, although disappointingly there was no mention of a North American release. Hit the jump for some high-res press shot goodness.

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File this little guy under gadgets we need ASAP. VUDU has been tearing it up lately as the company wisely broadens its horizons beyond dedicated set top boxes. The HD on-demand content provider recently announced partnerships that bring its service to various LG and Mitsubishi flat-panel televisions, and now VUDU is taking things to a new range of products: LG Blu-ray players. It certainly makes sense — if you’re going to add an on-demand HD streaming service to a line of home theater components, why not make them Blu-ray players? The first LG model that will be graced with VUDU service is the BD390, which is available now with an MSRP of $399. VUDU will go live on the player via a free software update toward the end of the month, though CEDIA attendees will be able to get a preview of the VUDU-enabled player this week at the show. If you have a High Def addiction and you’ve given up fighting it long ago, the BD390 is definitely the 1080p fix you’ve been looking for. Hit the jump for the full release.

VUDU NOW AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY PLAYERS

VUDU Extends Footprint of Industry-Leading HD Movie Service

To LG Electronics’ Network Blu-ray Disc Player

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 9, 2009 – VUDU, Inc.’s industry-leading on-demand high definition (HD) movie service is now available on the BD390 Network Blu-ray Disc player from LG Electronics, giving consumers a whole new way to access the largest on-demand HD library of Hollywood movies in their living rooms, the company announced today.

VUDU continues to work with top consumer electronics manufacturers to become more accessible to customers who want to rent or buy major Hollywood movies in high definition.  The VUDU service, already available on flat-panel HDTVs, uniquely delivers the largest available HD movie library of instantly-viewable movies in 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and provides customers with VUDU’s superior user experience for finding and watching movies in high definition.

“Our goal as a company is to offer the best possible HD movie service to the broadest possible audience,” said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU.  “By adding the top-rated LG BD390 Blu-ray player to the lineup of VUDU-enabled products, we’ve made it easier than ever for customers to enjoy the VUDU experience.”

Some of VUDU’s key features include:

• Instant viewing experience:  unlike typical Internet and on-demand video streaming, VUDU movies start immediately, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with buffering
• Highest quality video:  VUDU’s unique HDX format delivers true 1080p resolution and TruFilm encoding enhancements, now available for the first time on an instant-start basis
• Immersive sound:  VUDU is the only on-demand service to deliver Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound at all video quality levels
• No monthly fees: customers can instantly buy or rent from VUDU’s extensive library of standard and high definition movie and TV titles without any monthly service charges
• Largest HD library anywhere: over 2,200 titles are available in HD or HDX format
• New releases: Newly-released titles from all major studios are available the same day as DVD release, typically months before they are available on subscription-based service.

LG’s BD390 networked Blu-ray player transforms and personalizes the home theater experience by offering a stellar array of entertainment options.  In addition to its broadband capabilities, the BD390 offers exceptional “Full HD” 1080p video performance and exceptional image quality from standard DVDs with 1080p up-scaling via HDMI output. The BD390 is also equipped for easy connection to the home network and has one gigabyte (GB) of built-in memory for BD Live functionality.

Model BD390 with LG’s “NetCast Entertainment Access” feature is available now at nationwide retailers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $399. VUDU connectivity will be available at the end of the month via a free upgrade.

It looks like Vodafone subscribers may be among the first to get their hands on LG’s virgin Android offering as the handset has reportedly just made its first official public appearance. Spotted at a Vodafone booth at the IFA trade show in Germany, the Etna appears to be a decently-spec’d Android phone, though all we have so far is a sliding QWERTY, 3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth and a 5 megapixel camera. This all strikes us as odd of course, considering “Etna” was the codename for AT&T’s LG Neon feature phone when it was first explored back in February. Maybe LG liked the name so much, it decided to reuse it as the launch name on its Android phone? We imagine the details will all be ironed out soon enough but in the meantime, let’s all just keep our finger’s crossed that LG’s Android phone finds its way to the US sooner rather than later — we could certainly use the variety.

[Via Phandroid]

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Yesterday we exclusively pinned the launch of Verizon’s HTC Touch Pro2 as September 11th with an extremely competitive price tag of $199.99. Following those juicy little tidbits, a tipster hit us with the new VZW rebate sheet hot off the presses. You know the disclaimer — a handset’s presence on a rebate sheet doesn’t necessarily mean it will launch during the sheet’s period of validity. At the same time, it certainly suggests a general time frame and supports our reported date. Beyond an appearance by the Touch Pro2 at the very end of the handset list, we also see the Nokia 7705 Twist, which is reportedly launching online on September 13th for $149.99, and then through additional channels the following week. The Samsung Rogue and Intensity are also present and accounted for, both set to launch on the 8th for $99.99 and $29.99 respectively. Hit the jump for a larger version of the rebate sheet.

Thanks, E!

Perhaps it’s the ultra-wide 21:9 touchscreen display or maybe it’s the revised LG UI, but something about the Chocolate BL40 intrigues us. The simple fact that this handset is decidedly different from anything else on the market could be what’s drawing us in. Whatever the case, LG has just officially announced that its new oddball Chocolate phone will launch sometime toward the middle of this month in Europe. According to the release, the rest of the world will get the handset in October, though specific markets remain unnamed. To refresh your memory and whet your appetite, this Black Label phone features a 4-inch 800×345 pixel touchscreen display, LG’s S Class UI, a 5 megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach lens, 7.2Mbps UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, Wi-Fi, and aGPS. The specs are there, the unique factor is there — the question is whether or not the market is there for a barely-pocketable feature phone with what will undoubtedly be a lofty price tag.

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In case you were wondering, yes, the flood gates are open. Windows Phones — or handsets running Windows Mobile 6.5, for the marketing impaired — are raining down left and right since Microsoft’s official announcement that Windows Mobile 6.5 is set for takeoff on October 6th. LG promised three Windows Phones right off the bat with 10 more to come in the near future, and now the second piece of the puzzle has fallen into place. If the GW550 wasn’t your cup of tea, perhaps we can interest you in a slightly stronger brew dubbed the GM750. This full touchscreen handset features WinMo 6.5 of course, along with LG’s S Class UI, a 3-inch display, 5 megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi and an accelerometer. While pricing hasn’t yet been made available, the GM750 will launch on October 6th in seven Vodafone markets (Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK).

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What better way to get our attention early on a Thursday morning that with a press non-release? LG has announced that it will take the wraps off of three upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5-powered Windows Phones in the coming weeks and that 10 more will be made available throughout 2010. An attempt to cut leaks off at the pass? An open invitation for bloggers to start digging for dirt? The thing is, the GW550 and the caption about it being one of the first three to drop, we have no idea what we’re in for. Of course, seeing as the GW550 is already known to us as a Windows Mobile 6.1 device, we can’t help but think we may see more shenanigans that involve claiming a phone with an updated OS is as good as new. Still, we’re definitely looking forward to having LG tells us just what the full-touchscreen handset and QWERTY slider that will join the GW550 are all about. So, LG… Make with the goods!

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The Viewty name has always been reserved for LG’s megapixel heavyweights, so seeing it associated with the unannounced and previously unseen GW300 has us seriously confused. One theory floating around is that the GW300 will bolster up the low-end of the Viewty line, but that still doesn’t make much sense considering even the most basic phones these days are pushing well past the 2 megapixel mark. Here we have a phone with a full-QWERTY keypad, QVGA display, Bluetooth, 10MB of internal memory and a microSD slot, and it’s going to sully the Viewty name instead of launching as a budget messaging phone? Of course it is possible that this just an early internal name and the GW300 will be given some random name like the LG Daguerreotype at launch. Actually, that would be rather fitting for a phone with a 2 megapixel camera, would it not?

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We love useless gadgets as much as the next person, but this whole Dick Tracy-like obsession with the LG GD910 touchscreen watch phone is completely lost on us. Sure it can compose text messages and place video calls, but is it really worth running that the risk that your unkempt nose hair might offend a key business client? If so and you happen to live in the UK, then pack a blanket and a snack and get ready to camp outside the Orange’s Bond Station Stop on the night of the 26th/27th — as soon as the store opens in the morning, the GD910 can be all yours for £500 ($828 USD). Orange won’t have many units on hand so in the event you can’t get the time off work/have a prior commitment, more will be made available online in mid-September. As for that 899€ the French are being asked to pay for the GD910, well, that’s what you get for being French. Heyo!

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Well what have we here? Our ninjas know better than to think they can take weekends off and one of our more diligent and trusted Best Best Mobile moles just hit us with a very interesting screen cap. Sunday, August 23rd is shaping up to be a hell of a day for the mobile mega-retailer and in turn, it’s going to be a hell of a day for phone fans in general. Let’s have a look at what’s in store:

• Samsung Gravity 2 (berry) — T-Mobile
• Samsung Solstice — AT&T
• LG Xenon (red) — AT&T
• Global AirCard (G2) — Verizon
• Samsung Rogue — Verizon
• LG Chocolate Touch — Verizon
• Samsung u450 Intensity — Verizon
• Samsung Omnia 2 — Verizon
• BlackBerry Tour — (new shipment, Sprint)

We can also see an “M330″ at the top of the screen listed as coming on September 8th and we’re guessing it’s not the clunky Samsung beast from 2002 or the Mitsubishi phone from 2003. All we know for the time being is that it’s a Samsung handset headed for Sprint, along with the Samsung Reclaim can be seen just off screen at the very top. We can’t make the date out but we know it’ll be sometime in August. Whatever… We’re to busy thinking about the possible BL40-like Chocolate Touch and Sammy’s Omnia sequel to worry about the Reclaim.

UPDATE: Hit the jump for a better shot of the list along with Best Buy location details.

The bad news: it’s €899. Subsidized. On contract. Seriously. Orange has finally made LG’s highly anticipated GD910 Watch Phone official, confirming it will be the phone’s exclusive carrier in Europe. The sleek 3G touchscreen handset wristset is available immediately in France and the aforementioned price is tied to “an Origami star, first, jet or Origami plus package (12 or 24-month contract).” Unsurprisingly, no contract-free pricing is listed. We’re really interested to see where this thing goes to be honest. Here’s our conundrum: If you have €899 (about $1,300) to spend on a phone, you should already be rocking a pretty solid watch, no? Not necessarily anything too crazy per se, but a solid timepiece that you probably spent at least a few grand on. In fact, odds are good you have several nice watches to choose from each morning. Now you’re going to replace them with a Watch Phone? One that you have to wear each and every day — because it’s your phone — unless you swap the SIM constantly? Sorry guys, we’re just not seeing it. If you are seeing it however, and you think $1,300 on contract is a fair price, it’s time to pack up your things and move across the pond as we can’t imagine that this little guy is going to make it to the US any time soon — FCC approval or not.

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Just one day after it was officially announced by LG, a super special variant of the incredibly sexy BL40 surfaced on the FCC. Dubbed the BL40g, it contains absolutely no surprises save for two of the things we love most in life — the 850 and 1900 MHz bands of UMTS. Now before any of you get jumping to conclusions such as “holy crap, it is coming to AT&T” we should remind you that the BL40 has long been known to be TELUS-bound in time for the launch of its HSDPA network. You know, seeing how it runs on the same bands as AT&T and Rogers… You get the idea.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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Way back in April before anyone outside of HTC knew what it was all about, a poster over at the xda-developers forum claimed that Sprint would be carrying a device known as the Hero on October 11th, mere days after the Fall edition of CTIA kicks off. The claims were pretty much brushed aside and/or soon forgotten, but now the poster is back with some evidence in tow. Well, kind of. The evidence that the poster has brought to light isn’t in the form of a fancy internal slide deck from Sprint but instead, a close up of a piece of paper that lists release dates for several upcoming Sprint handsets (more on them in a moment). Now normally we wouldn’t read too much into these sort of things but the fact is this guy called it from a long way back. Unless he just spit out a name from the huge 2009 HTC leak we’d say that has to count for something. Plus, he’s certainly not the only person who has suggested the sexy Android phone is Sprint-bound. On the very same day, it is also said that Sprint will be launching another Android device by Samsung, the Q (hello Moto?), but at the moment nothing is known about it. Perhaps it’s just Sprint’s internal name for the Galaxy.

Back to those other devices; The BlackBerry Curve 8530, which we already know to be headed to Verizon, is said to be launching on November 1st alongside a few numbers from Kyocera — the Pro 410, Pro 910 and perhaps the 3810 as well. Then we have the LG Lotus 2 (LX610) dropping some time in 2010. Yeah, we’re much more interested in the Hero, too.

[Via Engadget]

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LG officially unveiled the latest addition to its Black Label series, the BL40 Chocolate. A bit of deja vu as this handset has already starred in its own photo shoot and made its unofficial YouTube debut. The red-trimmed handset has a 4-inch wide screen 800×345 pixel display with a unique 21:9 aspect ratio, 5 megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach lens, 7.2Mbps UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, Wi-Fi, and aGPS. As far as release details, unfortunately all we know about this sleek and sexy handset is that it will debut in Q3 2009 in 54 countries worldwide. All else aside, we can’t wait to see how typing on this bad boy works out considering how long and thin it is. Hit the jump for a few more press photos.

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Well it looks like LG Electronics came through in a big way this past quarter as the company reports a very, very solid performance. Maybe its bid to take over the world isn’t so crazy after all. Let’s start with a couple of records — sales rang up at $11.229 billion, a remarkable 13.8 percent jump YoY, and operating profit came in at $878 million. The company also reported a 7.8 percent margin, up 1.1 percent YoY, while margin for its mobile business exploded to 11 percent from 6.7 percent in the previous quarter. On that note, let’s look briefly at LG’s two biggest businesses — discounting a typo that suggests its Business Solutions sales came in at $787 billion (!). Mobile Communications recorded $7.981 billion in sales, an insane YoY jump of 25.8 percent, and operating profit came in at $422 million with a margin of 10.6 percent. LG’s number two was Home Appliances, which did $1.812 billion in sales. Also noteworthy is the fact that LCD TV shipments increased 45 percent YoY to 4.28 million units as LG’s Home Entertainment business recorded a profit of $174 million on $3.492 billion in sales. As far as projections, LG’s sales are expected to rise about 10 percent this quarter but profits are expected to remain relatively flat — not the most exciting outlook but it leaves plenty of room for a pleasant surprise when LG reports Q3.

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