US : Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, and LG Mobile Phones today announced the February 1, 2005 availability of the LG VX8000 phone, the first handset in the United States for consumers that runs on Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) 3G network. The VX8000, available exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers, will provide access to VCAST, the nation’s only 3G consumer multimedia service, allowing Verizon Wireless customers to be the first in the nation to use their handsets to view video clips from major news, sports and entertainment brands and play three-dimensional games.

The new 3G-capable VX8000 phone is the pinnacle of a visual entertainment handset, enhanced by the high-speed data capabilities of EV-DO technology and the new VCAST service, available to Verizon Wireless customers in 30 markets in less than one month, that allows them to view current news, weather, sports and entertainment video updates and play cutting edge three-dimensional games. The VX8000 features Video on Demand for playing video clips and Music on Demand capabilities for playing audio clips, when available. Movie buffs, music fans and everyone in between can download content on their mobile phones with just a few clicks, with clarity and sharpness never before seen on mobile phones in the United States. The VX8000 also features video messaging capabilities – customers can take up to 15 seconds of video with the VX8000’s integrated 1.3 mega-pixel camera and send their clips to any email address. With the VX8000, family and friends stay connected and share their experiences every day, as they happen.

For capturing the rapid-fire pace of life in the information age on video and in pictures, the VX8000 features the first integrated CCD 1.3 mega-pixel camera from LG Mobile Phones. The VX8000’s integrated camera features flash and a macro mode feature with four digital zoom settings for shooting close-up video and still images. Aspiring photographers and filmmakers can compose and view their shots with large internal 262K TFT color LCD screens, and share them with Verizon Wireless’ Picture Messaging service. In addition to next generation EV-DO access and mega-pixel digital camera, the VX8000 also includes all the must-have mobile phone features that users have come to expect from LG, including speaker phone, a 500 contact phone book that stores up to five phone numbers and two email addresses per contact, MIDI sound, personal organizer and more. Designed in a sleek silver clamshell, and weighing in at less than four ounces, the VX8000 has the accelerated style to match its advanced capabilities.

“The launch of the VX8000 signals the arrival of the next generation of mobile handsets,” said Mr. Juno Cho, president, LG Mobile Phones. “Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO network and its new VCAST service gives mobile phone users the power to bring the world to their phones with high-speed multimedia access, and the flagship VX8000 handset offers the advanced capabilities necessary to support this new world of instantly accessible entertainment and information.”

Additional features of the Verizon Wireless VX8000 by LG include:

All Digital (1.9 GHz, 800 MHz CDMA)
Dimensions: 3.76” (H) X 1.97” (W) X 0.93” (D)
Weight: 3.88 oz.
Standard Battery: Lithium-Ion Polymer, 1,100 mAh
Usage Time: 280 Minutes (Digital) / Standby 185 Hours (Digital)*
1X EV-DO for High-Speed Data Transmission
CCD Type 1.3 Mega-pixel with flash (Photo Cell)
4x Digital Zoom with Macro Mode for Extreme Close-Ups
Resolution Adjustment (160 X 120; 176 X 144; 320 X 240; 640 X 480; 1280 X 960)
Self Timer (3, 5 or 10 seconds)
Video Messaging – send and receive 15-second video clips
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) - send and receive messages comprised of a combination of text, sounds, photos and video clips
VCAST-capable, allowing customers to receive Video on Demand (VOD) of news, sports, entertainment, weather and much more
Video Clips Encoded in MPEG format (Qualcomm-based technology - file extension: .3G2)
Computer playback for clips requires QuickTime 6.5
Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) - send and receive text messages with graphics and sound
Two-Way Short Messaging Service (SMS)
Mobile Instant Messaging (IM) – AOL, MSN & Yahoo
External Color LCD: 262K Color TFT, 128x160 Pixels, 10 lines of text
Internal Color LCD: 262K Color TFT, 176x220 Pixels, 11 lines of text
Web Browser Openwave Wap 2.0
CMX MIDI for Polyphonic Ringers and Sound Capabilities
20 Unique Ringtones (Plus Vibrate & Silent Alert)
Multiparty/Conference Calling - Up to 3 callers
Call History: (Outgoing- 20, Incoming-20, Missed-20)
Auto Redial, Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Three-Way Calling
Innovative, Stylish Clamshell
Blue Backlit Keypad & 5 Way Navigation Key
Speed Dialing (99 Entries)
Personal Organizer: Calendar with Scheduler, 30 Voice Memos (up to 1 minute each), and Notepad
Tools: Alarm Clock, EZ Tip Calc, Calculator, and World Clock
Address book with 500 contact each stores 5 numbers, 2 email addresses and picture ID
Speaker Phone
External USB Capable
E911 Emergency Location Capable
Customizable Wallpapers, Theme & Font Colors
English and Spanish User Interface
TTY/TDD Capable
T9 Text Input
* Certain features may use more power & cause standby & talk times to vary.

The LG VX8000 will be available for $199.99 after $70.00 mail-in rebate with a two-year customer agreement at more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide, Circuit City stores, participating RadioShack locations or on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com beginning on February 1, 2005.