LG's VX9900 caught in the wild?

Ok, you know the drill by now. HowardForums has a purported shot (on left) of the thinner, sexier successor to the VX9800 communicator, the LG VX9900 we first trolled from the FCC (pic on the right) back in May. We're still hoping for this QWERTY clam to roll on Verizon sometime this month as reported by our own Boy Genius or sometime between September 29th and October 13th according to the rumor jockeys ridin' the HoFo. Hell, let's just say any day now and leave it at that mkay?

[Thanks, Scott and Sunny]

[Sam @ Sep 14th 2006 10:11AM]

Now the cat is out of the bag, I hope Verizon/LG will be willing to release more pictures of the phone. Specifically, I'd like to see how "thin" the new version will be. In the past 2 years, I've had the v710, a Treo, the e815, the Samsung i730, the XV6700, the LG vx9800, the RAZR V3c, and now the Motorola Q on the Verizon network, and the LG was the best phone by far. I'll be really anxious to see if LG heeded the complaints of the VX9800's bulk without killing its functionality.

[Nathan @ Sep 14th 2006 10:49AM]

I can't wait to get rid of the 9800, I hope the 9900 will be smaller. Insurance here I come. Get me new 9900 ready.

[grimace @ Sep 14th 2006 12:01PM]

sweet i cannot wait to see ful pics of this bad boy, especially to see how much thinner it really is compared to my 9800! that's the only thing that bothers me about it is the damn thickness. and they can take as long as they want, as long as it's before xmas, cuz that's when i can renew for another 2 years & get this

[Pat @ Sep 14th 2006 10:08PM]

Is it just me, or does the phone seem really ugly?

[Senor Pimp @ Sep 15th 2006 5:49PM]

I agree, the housing could use some work, I may keep the bulk just because the 9800 looks nicer. My question is, are the side buttons the same, because a) if not then they are different phones, and b)I sure as heck can't tell.

[9900admirer @ Sep 15th 2006 8:03PM]

are u crazy? That thing looks perfect. The shape is more rectangular than the 9800. The send and end buttons are easier to press.The overbite thing on the 9800 is gone. Also there is a 2 megapixel camera which is much better than that puny 1.3 megapixels on the 9800. Plus the key board is laid out better. There's no ugly speaker grills. The black on the inside is beautiful. Add all this to a classic design (reminds me of a Motrola A630)and a flash UI plus 1/2 the thickness u have just about the perfect phone.

[Dave @ Sep 15th 2006 10:01PM]

I am so damn sick of all the variations of Chocolate that they're relasing... I can only hope this phone comes out soon

[Firewings @ Sep 16th 2006 1:22AM]

Ok everyone, I talked to a LG rep today and here's what he said. QUOTE: They do not know the specification on the phone yet so they cannot finalize it. Their summer line of phones are out and they are not planning on bringing out any new ones untill around Christmas or soon afterwards. Now to me, my own personal opinion I tend to believe him. When have you heard of a company suddenly just dropping a new hot item on the public without them advertising a good product to death to get big sells. So for the LG9900 to come out September 29th is a unrealistic dream, just hopeful thinking.

[Famoussmiff @ Sep 16th 2006 12:12PM]

Don't believe everything you hear from Verizon reps. They really don't know. You could ask three different reps the same question and get three different answers.....I can tell you this; about a month before the phones show up for sell, there is an inventory report that includes their SKU but shows no inventory on hand. Right now, that report shows the vx9900 and the vx8600. So that means that it is very imminent. Hope this gives a little relief to you phone fiends.

[daniel @ Sep 16th 2006 7:51PM]

yes the verizon reps and the lg reps both will tell you different things every time cuz i have called each like 10 times and everytime get somthing different i dont think it will come in september tho because the picture of the chocolate was out for a wile before they relased it so im thinkin nov

[shawn @ Sep 17th 2006 6:58PM]

I work for solecton (im a tech with verizon) and i just found out this existed today..... So basicly verizon employees have no idea about this thing. It does not show up in our list of upcoming phones which leads me to believe that this thing wont be out until at least oct. nov.

[rcm @ Sep 18th 2006 9:16AM]

I hope you are wrong, but there is no way this phone is coming out in september.

[justin @ Sep 18th 2006 8:11PM]

if this phone dosnt take continious video it will be the most upsetting thing evvvver!!!!

[bg @ Oct 1st 2006 1:52PM]

I work for a direct Verizon retail store and I will tell you that the average employee does not know when new phones are going to be released. Now, there is a report that comes out to a select few and they know the date of release for any new phones. I am such a person and no, the LG-VX9900 is not going to come out in Sep or Oct. I will say unofficially to start looking for it and asking for it in November/December..... a few new phones are scheduled to hit the stores for Christmas.. so yeah you have to wait a little longer but by then you will have a few choices of phones..

[C @ Oct 12th 2006 10:44AM]

Yes, i agree. i Also work for a direct Verizon retail, and i found this report about the unofficial release date. mid nov-dec looks like the apparent release date....

[suz @ Nov 19th 2006 8:51AM]

I was told that the LG 9900 will be available in stores tomorrow the 20th . But you are correct the average Verizon employee doesn't even know this info . I left the store with no answers but called 611 and was informed of the date . Lets see if she was right.

[G.C. @ Oct 14th 2006 7:14AM]

It appears (or so I've heard) that this phone will have the ability to open some Microsoft files. Such as Word and Excel files. Probably for embedded email attachments and such. I think the O.S. on this phone is going to rock! Also, it looks like the new speakers are going to be better quality too. I really like the way the keys light up on this thing. The blue is really cool! And the ability for Bluetooth stereo is awesome! My only wish is that you can listen to your MP3s and use the phone features and games at the same time. That would sink the put for me!!!! :-)