LG VERIZON VX8600 MUSIC CDMA CELL PHONE

Design
The VX8600 features a super-sleek clamshell design with a large 176 x 220 color display and support for a whopping 262,000 colors--plenty of room for V Cast content. A generous, full-color 160 x 128 full-color supplementary screen on the outside of the cover displays incoming call information, battery life, signal strength, graphics, photos, and more. Music playback control keys are also located on the front cover. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's backlit control pad. The VX8600 also features a MicroSD slot for expandable memory. Bluetooth support for handsfree devices and Bluetooth stereo headset support for listening to Music on the VX8600's advanced music player are also included. Meanwhile, up/down keys are located on the side of the unit, as is the memory slot, and a 1.3-megapixel camera unit is housed on the front of the clamshell. Lastly, USB data connectivity is built right into the phone.

Calling Features
The VX8600 boasts powerful calling functions, such as speaker independent voice dialing, which makes it easy to call contacts by simply saying their names. No prior voice training is required and you can even speak individual digits to the phone for quick dialing of numbers you know by heart. And because the 8600 is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total handsfree operation.

The VX8600's internal memory can hold up to 500 contacts for quick access to email addresses and phone numbers. The phone lets you easily assign pictures as well as ringtones to your most common callers. In addition to vibrating alerts, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones, and a number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone. More ringtones can be downloaded from Verizon's Get It Now service. Lastly, the VX8600's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools
The phone's support for multimedia messaging means that text, photos, video, and audio can be sent with ease (Verizon messaging charges apply). When used in combination with the VX8600's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. There's also a built-in Web browser for downloads and mobile Web browsing. Verizon's optional Mobile Web 2.0 package allows you to read and send emails, exchange instant messages, and view your favorite Web content on your phone. You can check your email, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings, and find directions to the theater. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

If desired, the onboard GPS feature can do more than give your current location to emergency personnel. The VX8600 is fully compatible with Verizon's VZ Navigator service, a feature that provides all the bells and whistles of an advanced navigation system on your mobile phone at a fraction of the price of other GPS devices and systems. The VZ Navigator service provides heads-up, voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions (with auto-rerouting if you miss a turn), local search of nearly fourteen million points of interest (POIs) in the United States, and detailed color maps that can be quickly panned and zoomed. With VZ Navigator, you'll know where you are, know what's around you, and know how to get there fast (additional Verizon charges apply).

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the VX8600 including a voice memo recorder that can record calls, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock. You can even set the alarm to wake you to your favorite music.

Imaging and Entertainment
The VX8600's 1.3-megapixel camera features a digital zoom, a self-timer, night-mode functions, and brightness and white balance controls. The camera also offers video capture capabilities, meanwhile, a built-in music player lets you keep your music playing in the background. You can also take advantage of the VX8600's Bluetooth wireless headset capability, allowing you to hook up a pair of Bluetooth stereo headphones.

Verizon's music service is another EV-DO-powered service that makes the VX8600 all the more desirable. With V Cast music, your phone is a music player, letting you jam out wherever you are. It's also a music store, and you can download songs instantly to your phone. Save your songs to a memory card with a capacity that's right for you. You can even pause to take a call without missing a beat.

With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, the VX8600 is fully compatible with Verizon's V Cast service. With V Cast, you can download and stream high-quality video. Need news and weather? Get the latest Accuweather forecast delivered right to your handset, or stream CNN news headlines. ESPN sports updates, entertainment news from E!, and even Sesame Street content for the kids, are all available. V Cast also serves as a portal for enhanced 3D games, making it possible to have more fun with a new breed of realistic games.