Verizon snags LG Dare, Decoy and Chocolate 3

So, what do you do after announcing your intentions to spend nearly $30 billion on America's fifth largest carrier? Why, you announce a trio of new phones for the summertime, that's what. Verizon Wireless is trumpeting the launch of the Dare (pictured), Decoy and Chocolate 3, all of which are being provided by LG. As for the Dare, you'll find 3G, V CAST, VZ Navigator and a 3.2-megapixel camera, while the Decoy becomes the world's first handset with a Bluetooth headset integrated into its body. Finally, the Chocolate 3 goes all flip-phone on us and includes an FM transmitter, twin speakers, 1GB of internal storage, 2-megapixel camera and V CAST support. Unfortunately, VZW hasn't dished out official details on pricing just yet, but you can find out for sure when they go on sale later this month, June 16th and sometime in July (in order of mention).

[ryan @ Jun 11th 2008 11:01AM]

They jacked the iPhone/macs settings icon.

[bohsocks @ Jun 11th 2008 11:04AM]

Unless Apple patented the image of a gear (not out of the realm of possibility)....... not quite.

http://www.ilounge.com/images/uploads/settings.gif

I mean... I guess if you looked at it a certain.... well... wait, no.

[riggs @ Jun 11th 2008 11:06AM]

first! wouldve been better than your post.

[Darren @ Jun 11th 2008 1:50PM]

They jacked a lot more than that.

But this version of the iPhony is innovative because it jumbles the Springboard icons around. Outstanding.

[Christy McGrory @ Jun 11th 2008 11:02AM]

ooh. I might take a look see at these three phones before purchasing the 3G iphone. Seems fair, doesn't it?

[natels @ Jun 11th 2008 11:05AM]

Well you figure Verizon would stop selling LG's Chocolate after 2 horrible iterations. Frankly I wouldn't take an LG phone from Verizon if they handed it to me.

[jong118 @ Jun 11th 2008 11:11AM]

Actually I have a LG from Verizon and it's served me pretty well. I'm not going to be too sad to upgrade from it, and it isn't a Chocolate (the first generations did kind of suck) but for a lot of people the second ones weren't bad. I guess I just fail to see why Verizon should ditch an entire manufacturer because of one crappy phone.

[riggs @ Jun 11th 2008 11:18AM]

when i was with verizon all of my phones were LG (i kept upgrading with every "cool" phone that came out :( ) they served me really well and my lg 4400 still works to this day after all the hell i put it through.

[Bizam! @ Jun 11th 2008 11:25AM]

I've had an LG Chocolate 2 for about 6 months now, it's honestly a pretty great phone. It's got good reception, good speaker, good battery life. It also functions quite well as an MP3 Player. Other than Verizon's cripple-ware, I'm interested to see what LG will do with the Chocolate 3.

[Ricardo Torres @ Jun 11th 2008 11:34AM]

I don't know about that. The LG Voyager was a much better phone than the first iteration of the iPhone 2.5G.

I'm hoping for a slimmer Voyager 2.0, maybe with a bigger (or better) touchscreen.

[Warren @ Jun 11th 2008 1:44PM]

The older LG phones were good [ie VX7000, VX8000] I LOVED my VX8000 when I had it. But The newer phones are getting ugly. The 1st chocolate was ok...but Im not liking the look of any of these 3 so far...

im interested to see what those sensors are on the front of the Dare...you can barely see them next to the Verizon logo.

[sk8rpro @ Jun 11th 2008 1:48PM]

As soon as my contract expires, I'm hoping to switch carriers because they do not offer Bluetooth OBEX. I want to transfer files between my computer and my phone, and they have to act like I can't do what I want with the phone I purchase. This is when Verizon stops working for you.

[Scott @ Jun 12th 2008 11:18AM]

"The LG Voyager was a much better phone than the first iteration of the iPhone 2.5G."

Much better, eh?

-iPhone browser is about 10 times better than the "web optimized!" browser in the Voyager. Even the iPhone haters agree the browser is the best in the industry.

-Voyager has no WiFi which means you get to enjoy Verizon's mega expensive data plans.

-Voyager is $300 and comes with no internal storage at all.

[Anthony @ Jun 11th 2008 11:05AM]

Didn't Apple send out the memo in time?: Black/white's the new silver.

Also, lots of dead space. I don't know why more phones don't have screen to edge builds. It may cost more but looks so much better.

[natels @ Jun 11th 2008 11:08AM]

I also hope the icons are all cool and diagonal on the screen like that, I want to feel 14 again.

[klamer @ Jun 11th 2008 12:35PM]

2007 was that great?

[Das Boot @ Jun 11th 2008 1:06PM]

They all look like cool phones. I would get one of them if i didnt have the most amazing smart phone, the blackberry curve. iphone who?

[Buckly @ Jun 11th 2008 11:23AM]

The press release says that additional information on the Dare will be available later this month. It doesn't specify when it goes on sale.

[bob @ Jun 11th 2008 11:26AM]

Ive seen that settings icon somewhere before hmmm,

[natels @ Jun 11th 2008 11:27AM]

I've seen that post somewhere else.... Hmm.

[bob @ Jun 11th 2008 11:37AM]

was it on another product that couldnt be bothered to design stuff and just ripped it off instead?

[Jason @ Jun 11th 2008 11:27AM]

No Diamond....
No Raphael....




NO CARE.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 11th 2008 5:15PM]

Precisely.

[KYOOL @ Jun 11th 2008 12:18PM]

The Decoy sounds kyoool... And I am sure Apple would soon follow the suit with an iBluetooth phone.... ;)

[jake @ Jun 11th 2008 12:45PM]

I have always liked my LG phones compared to other brands. I am really looking forward to the Dare. Apple elitist need to stop with the trash talk and see if the i-phone can really handle some good old quality competition.

[jinushaun @ Jun 11th 2008 12:35PM]

I hope they seriously don't intend for their home screen to have crooked icons... Nevermind how ugly the icons and UI are.

[Andrew @ Aug 25th 2008 6:33PM]

you're soooooo jealous aren't you!!!

LOLOLOLOL!!!

[El Taco @ Jun 11th 2008 12:49PM]

Dangit! I hate this! I get my first cell phone in July, and I was set on the LG Venus, but now I don't know!

I still kinda like sliders, so I was a little disappointed that the chocolate 3 will be a flip phone. I still might consider it, but I'd have to look at the pricing. It will probably be like $200.

[ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 11th 2008 1:01PM]

I'm definitely considering the LG Dare. I ultimately didn't get the Voyager cuz I knew for a fact that the 3G iPhone would be out soon. However now that the 3G iPhone is slowly fading in terms of "wow" factor I'm very open to other touchscreen phones.

Right now it comes to these...

1) LG Dare
2) HTC Touch Pro
3) Samsung Omnia
4) iPhone 34 (Although right now the chances of it being my phone are very slim).

[Eric @ Jun 11th 2008 1:20PM]

I just noticed that icon with the gears is an obvious rip-off of Apple's system preferences icon in Leopard.

[Pepsipoint @ Jun 11th 2008 1:24PM]

wow. maybe you should read the comments before typing something crazy. Maybe you and the next ten people could all say "i just noticed they jacked/riped off/stole from/apple system preference icon" ...

[Eric @ Jun 11th 2008 8:25PM]

Wow, maybe Pepsipoint needs to drink fewer caffeinated drinks?

[Warren @ Jun 11th 2008 1:47PM]

And the phone icon is green with a white 'phone'! OMG iPhone ripoff. VZ Navigator is a compass! OMG iPhone/Safari ripoff.

[sarcasm]

[ulle53 @ Jun 11th 2008 1:49PM]

almost looks like the KDE gear set, wonder if Apple stole it from KDE so that LG could steal it from Apple?

[Jay @ Jun 11th 2008 2:20PM]

what the hell.....ditching the slider chocolate?
that's like its distinguishing feature
.....coming from a guy who only just jumped from a chocolate 1 to an env2

[xB Owner @ Jun 11th 2008 5:36PM]

For those complaining about the home page look of the dare...

"phone's don't have multiple UI's, but most do have different themes like the Dare does," from an insider on HoFo.

[Tim Sanchez @ Jun 11th 2008 5:44PM]

Who gives a shit?

[Andrew @ Aug 25th 2008 6:33PM]

You do, because you're jealous!

[Rick Cain @ Jul 1st 2008 10:58AM]

Don't you love corporations who have enough power to waste your phone's user real estate on putting large and useless "Verizon" and "LG" logos to remind you every day what you already know.
Apple puts their logo on the back, where it should be.

[Andrew @ Aug 25th 2008 6:33PM]

If I had an iPhone and crappy AT@T I yould want the logo on the back to hide that I have a crappy service, but with verizon I like to show off that I have the best service!!!

[Zach Stemerick @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:32PM]

That's true but i love verizon so i like to boast it. I'm excited for the chocolate because i really want a slim flip phone and every phone thats not an LG really doesn't seem to work- i mean sure, the first chocolate was a crap-shoot, i had one. But look at Motorola's Razor. HORRIBLE! Besides, if my LG phone breaks, they give me a new one- simple as that.

[integraguy2001 @ Jul 11th 2008 7:49PM]

Best phone on the Verizon Wireless network, to discuss more about the LG Dare, visit w w w. LG-Dare .c o m