The Chocolate by LG is back and sweeter than ever. Decked out in traditional Black, the Chocolate will also sport two new colors, Black Cherry and Blue Mint, when it hits Verizon Wireless stores July 9. The leading wireless company with the most reliable wireless voice and data network and LG, the global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, today announced a new feature-rich successor to its popular music-centric best seller.
Slimmer and sleeker, the new Chocolate has a rich assortment of features, including a vibrating touch keypad and a new Navigation Wheel with Trace Motion light. The wheel allows for easy navigation through phone functions, as well as quick and simple functionality while browsing music and videos.
Perfect for V CAST Music customers who crave a fully-functional mobile music device, Chocolate by LG offers advanced multimedia features such as a microSD(TM) memory slot that supports up to a 4GB card, a music player, a powerful speaker for music and dedicated keys for easy access to stored music. Chocolate by LG is also V CAST-capable and perfect for use with Get It Now(R) applications, such as VZ Navigator(SM), the location-based service from Verizon Wireless that provides turn-by-turn directions to more than 14 million destinations and points of interest throughout the U.S.
The Chocolate by LG from Verizon Wireless offers the following features and capabilities:
* Music player for MP3 and WMA songs
* Powerful speaker for music
* Dedicated key for easy access to the music player
* Background music — music plays in the background while sending messages browsing the Web, etc.
* My Music — songs are automatically organized by artist, genre and album
* Music only mode (RF off except Bluetooth(R))
* MicroSD memory port to store pictures, videos, music and sounds, compatible with microSD cards up to 4GB
* 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder
* Camera resolution: 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 (default), 320 x 240 pixels
* V CAST Video — stream and download video clips
* Video recording time: 30 seconds for sending
* Video player for MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
* Set videos (under 5MB) as wallpaper
* Video resolution: 176 x 144 pixels
* Video format: 3G2
* Zoom: up to 2x
* Self-timer: three, five or ten seconds
* Image editor — zoom, rotate, crop
* Mirror for self-portrait capability
* Supported Bluetooth Profiles: headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, advanced audio distribution (stereo), phone book access, basic print (print and send user-generated pictures to a printer via Bluetooth),object push for vCard and vCalendar, file transfer and basic imaging
* Speaker-independent voice commands: call, send message to, go to, check, lookup, play, My Account
* TTY/TDD support
* Hearing aid compatible (M4-rating)
* Text, picture/video messaging
* Mobile Web 2.0(SM)
* Web-based e-mail, instant messaging and chat
* Flash user interface for clear images, text and fun animations
* Phone book with 1,000 contacts — each stores five numbers, two e-mail addresses and a picture ID
* Emergency contacts — enter three contacts and personal information, in case of emergency
* Frequency 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (digital dual-band)
* Data transmission high-speed EV-DO
* Dimensions: 3.85″ (h) x 1.87″ (w) x 0.67″ (d)
* Weight: 3.24 oz.
* LCD 262K color TFT, 240 x 320 pixels, 11 lines
* Standard battery: 800 mAh Li-Polymer
* Up to 250 minutes of usage time or up to 350 hours of standby time
The Chocolate by LG will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores from coast to coast for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new 2- year agreement. V CAST Music songs are 99 cents if purchased from the PC or $1.99 for two copies if purchased and downloaded over-the-air onto a V CAST Music phone. The second copy is sent to the customer’s PC account.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 60.7 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 66,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD).About LG Electronics USA, Inc.
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $48.5-billion (2006 consolidated worldwide revenues) global force in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a wide range of digital appliances, digital display and digital media products, and mobile phones under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) on Friday said it launched its high-speed wireless network in the Grand Traverse Bay area in time for the National Cherry Festival (July 7-14) and the 99th Annual National Governors Association Meeting (July 20-23).
Verizon Wireless customers in the area can now access the company’s high-speed wireless network and enjoy two prime services: BroadbandAccess, the company’s enhanced high-speed wireless service, with average user speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits, geared toward mobile professionals, business customers and vacationers; and V CAST, a consumer-oriented multimedia service that offers music and short content on demand, including cutting-edge 3D games, music videos, news, weather and sports.
Isle Of Capri Casinos Says It Opens New Casino In United Kingdom - Quick Facts [ISLE]
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (ISLE) on Friday revealed the opening of its latest casino, “the isle casino at Coventry,” in the United Kingdom. Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the development, ownership, and operation of branded gaming facilities, and related lodging and entertainment facilities in the United States and internationally.
Commenting on the casino opening, Bernard Goldstein, chairman and chief executive officer, Isle of Capri Casinos, said, “Guests at Ricoh Arena can enjoy the hottest casino action with the latest and greatest slot machines, action-packed table games and fabulous restaurants.”
Chrysler Group June U.S Sales Down 1.4% - Quick Facts [DCX]
The Chrysler Group (DCX) announced that its U.S sales for the June 2007 declined 1.4% to 183,347 units. For the second quarter, sales rose 1.5% to 575,844 units from 567,302 units in the same quarter of last year.
From April to June, the Chrysler Group sold 159,993 vehicles outside of the U.S., an increase of 10.2% compared to the same period of 2006.
The Chrysler Group’s worldwide vehicle sales increased by 3.3% during the second quarter of 2007 to a total of 735,837 units, compared to 712,521 units in the second quarter of 2006.
For the second quarter of 2007, DaimlerChrysler Canada said its sales inceased 10.7 t to 70,148 units from 63,380 units in the same quarter of last year. For the month of June, sales rose 24 percent to 22,029 units.
China One Closes C$0.8 Mln Initial Public Offering - Quick Facts [CHO.P.V]
China One Corp. (CHO.P.V) reported it closed its initial public offering of 8 million common shares for C$0.10 per share. The gross proceeds from the offer is C$0.80 million, which will be used to identify and evaluate assets of businesses for acquisition to complete a Qualifying Transaction’ under the Capital Pool Company program of the Exchange. On closing of the Offering, the directors and officers of the company have been granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 1.13 million common shares for C$0.10 per share, exercisable until July 6, 2012, added the company.
Common shares of China One have been conditionally approved for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange next week under the symbol ‘CHO.P’.
Boulder Growth & Income Fund Says A Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Withdrawn And Dismissed - Quick Facts [BIF]
On Friday, Boulder Growth & Income Fund Inc. (BIF) announced that the purported class action lawsuit filed on May 18, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado against the Fund and its directors, investment advisers and portfolio manager has been dismissed with prejudice.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit withdrew the complaint and promised not to pursue further claims against the Fund, its directors, investment advisers, and/or portfolio manager.
Boulder Growth & Income also said there were no settlement payments involved in the withdrawal of the lawsuit and the parties will assume their respective legal fees subject to any applicable insurance reimbursement to the Fund and the other defendants.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Verizon Wireless announced today that it has expanded the national rollout of its high-speed wireless network in the Grand Traverse Bay area in time for the National Cherry Festival (July 7-14) and the 99th Annual National Governors Association (NGA) Meeting (July 20-23).
The launch of the wireless broadband network (Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A)) means Verizon Wireless customers in the area can access the company’s high-speed wireless network and enjoy two prime services: BroadbandAccess, the company’s enhanced high-speed wireless service, with average user speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits, geared toward mobile professionals, business customers and vacationers; and V CAST, a consumer-oriented multimedia service that offers music and short content on demand, including cutting-edge 3D games, music videos, news, weather and sports.
The network expansion equips Verizon Wireless’ business customers, including attendees of the upcoming NGA Meeting at the Grand Traverse Resort, to experience a truly untethered mobile office experience, enabling them to wirelessly access their calendars, the Internet, email and critical business information residing behind their companies’ firewalls. Vacationers can surf the Internet and email friends and family members from the beach along the southern portion of Grand Traverse Bay or while tooling around the Cherry Festival.
With the added benefit of V CAST, consumers also now have access to the most comprehensive selection of downloadable music, high-quality videos and the coolest 3D games found anywhere.
BroadbandAccess
BroadbandAccess provides mobile workers the ability to get their corporate information as if they were attached to the information via a high-speed wired connection but with the freedom of true mobility. Developed with a range of users in mind, the service enables large enterprises, small to medium-sized businesses and mobile professionals to conduct business anytime, anywhere in the BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, true high-speed data connection.
Business customers, residents and vacationers can access information when they are on the road with BroadbandAccess. Customers in enhanced broadband wireless coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 Megabyte email attachment-the equivalent of a small PowerPoint(R) presentation or a large PDF file-in less than 15 seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 25 seconds. The enhanced coverage areas enable Verizon Wireless customers to download files approximately six times faster than customers of wireless service providers who use non-EV-DO technology. Also, customers who travel outside the enhanced BroadbandAccess coverage area with an EV-DO device will switch seamlessly to the company’s NationalAccess service.
“Our enhanced BroadbandAccess service gives our customers three key advantages in wireless communication-speed, mobility and security,” said Greg Haller, president-Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. “With these advantages comes an increase in productivity and bottom-line business benefits.”
V CAST
The company’s high-speed network also enables its V CAST multimedia services, offering customers the ability to download full song tracks, play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to the handset with top transmission speeds. With content updated daily, customers can watch dozens of on-demand videos, including breaking news, weather, sports highlights and the hottest entertainment clips.
V CAST Music, available to customers with V CAST Music-enabled handsets, is the world’s most comprehensive, over-the-air mobile music service. Customers with V CAST Music can download song tracks directly to their Verizon Wireless handsets or to PCs equipped with Windows(R) XP operating software. The V CAST Music on demand service includes access to a catalog of more than 2 million songs.
Coverage
Verizon Wireless’ expansion of BroadbandAccess and V CAST coverage includes much of the Grand Traverse Bay area, including downtown, the Grand Traverse Resort, Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City State Park, Acme, Bates, Grawn and Grelickville. It also includes the following major roads:
– US Route 31 between Grawn and Yuba
– Michigan Highway 72 between Williamsburg and County Road 616
– Michigan Highway 37 between Michigan Road 113 North to the south end of
Old Mission Peninsula
“Traverse City is a vital market with dynamic, tech-savvy businesses and vacationers who want to stay connected,” Haller said. “The launch of our broadband network here provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology.”
The multi-million dollar expansion entailed installing high-tech wireless hardware and software in wireless transmission sites throughout the region. It is part of an ongoing network investment by Verizon Wireless that has totaled $39 billion nationally in the last seven years-$5 billion on average every year since the company was formed-to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $915 million of this investment was spent in Michigan.
Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. Traverse City is the latest markets to be added to Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO network coverage area, now available to more than 210 million people. In Michigan, Verizon Wireless’ broadband network is also available in southeastern Michigan; the greater Flint area; the greater Lansing area; and West Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Holland and many surrounding communities.
BroadbandAccess is available for $79.99 monthly access with a new one- or two-year customer agreement. For a limited time, Verizon Wireless customers with an existing voice plan can receive unlimited BroadbandAccess service for $59.99 monthly access. A new two-year customer agreement is required. BroadbandAccess service also is available as an integrated option on select notebook and laptop computers.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
DESPITE BEING described as more like a home entertainment device than a serious business tool, proud owners of Apple Iphone have discovered it ships without any games.
Brit mobile content specialist, Player X, claims it is rushing to fill this gap.Games for the Iphone will almost certainly be converted over to Java.
“Cingular (now AT&T) only has a content/games delivery system for Java. They don’t use [Qualcomm’s] Brew. So I’d guess they’ll be looking to OTA (over-the-air) delivery of games using Java.
Player X has just struck a deal with AT&T’s arch rival, Verizon Wireless. It will be delivering its family orientated entertainment channel, Zapper TV, as streamed mobile.
The service will only be available to those who own handsets capable of supporting Verizon’s V CAST video-on-demand service. Which basically means EV-DO capable handsets.
The content on Zapper TV is a mixture of Brit stiff like Wallace & Gromit and US shows like Miami Vice.
Tony Pearce, Player X’s CEO, claimed that Zapper TV has been especially created for the North American market. He said, “We firmly believe content dedicated to the mobile media is what the consumer is looking for in mobile video.”
One source claimed the reason why AT&T hasn’t moved on Iphone games yet is that it is, “currently in a state of turmoil.” He also claimed that the big games houses will be going the Java route “because everyone expects Vodafone to offer the Iphone in Europe.”
Once again, Vodafone isn’t an operator than favours Brew. The only Brew friendly European operator the INQ knows of is TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile).
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
LG will launch The Chocolate in traditional Black and two new colours, Black Cherry and Blue Mint, at Verizon Wireless stores on 9 July. The new Chocolate features a vibrating touch keypad and Navigation Wheel with Trace Motion light. Chocolate by LG offers advanced multimedia features such as a microSD memory slot that supports up to a 4 GB card, a music player, a powerful speaker for music and dedicated keys for easy access to stored music. Chocolate by LG is also V CAST-capable and can be used with Get It Now applications, such as VZ Navigator, the location-based service from Verizon. The Chocolate by LG will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores for USD 99.99 after a USD 50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year agreement.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Verizon Wireless announced an agreement with Wind-up Records to offer the independent label’s complete catalog via the operator’s V Cast Music over-the-air service. Per terms of the deal, Verizon will distribute premium ringtones, ringbacks and full-track downloads from Wind-up acts including Seether, Drowning Pool, Scott Stapp and the Stars of Track and Field-the agreement extends to a series of content exclusives including ringers based on current singles like Evanescence’s “Sweet Sacrifice” and Finger Eleven’s “Paralyzer.”
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Verizon proudly announced a new service called V CAST Song ID, which subscribers can use to recognize music that they hear playing by holding their phones at the sound source and letting a server listen-in. The server runs a “digital fingerprint” application which matches the notes being heard against a database of over 4 Million songs. The BREW applet then launches the V CAST store where the customer can buy the full song, a ringtone, ringback tone, or other media associated with the musician. VZW is promoting it with TV, print ads and a big media spend, going so far as to jibe at the competition: “…At a time when some of our competitors won’t even allow you to download your music over-the-air, Verizon Wireless is pushing forward by offering Song ID for free. We’ll help you find the music you love, then make it easy for you to buy.” said the VZW Chief Marketing Officer. OK, we get it, this is a pretty cool app, but let’s not get carried away here: Didn’t we see exactly this same app from AT&T Wireless in 2004? Didn’t Motorola embed it in phones in 2005? Virgin Mobile already has the app, too. As an industry, we need to do better than blow our own horns for launching a product just three years after the fastest competitor!
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Chocolate Gets Even Sweeter the Second Time Around, Exclusively at Verizon Wireless
