BASKING RIDGE, N.J.-Verizon Wireless is using the launch of the new Chocolate phone to tout upgrades to its Vcast Music service.
The highly anticipated handset from LG Electronics Co. Ltd. makes its U.S. debut this week after gaining substantial traction in South Korea and Europe. The new Verizon Wireless model will be targeted at mobile music fans, featuring dedicated keys to access playlists, removable memory and the ability to send messages or browse the wireless Web as it plays music.
The sliding-style phone, which is available online and is scheduled to hit retail shelves next week, will sell for $150 after discounts and a two-year agreement. “This is a lifestyle device that reflects the discerning taste of a customer who relies upon the Verizon Wireless network to stay connected,” said Chief Marketing Officer John Stratton, “but wants a device that speaks to the innovation and personalization that can be achieved with music.”
The phone will be available through Verizon Wireless, which is touting changes to its Vcast Music service in an effort to lure new users. The carrier eliminated the $15 monthly “Vpak” charge to access the music service, allowing users to buy tunes a la carte without the additional subscription. The carrier also added the ability to listen to songs in MP3 format on the Chocolate in addition to Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Media format, which remains the standard for other Verizon Wireless Vcast Music-enabled phones. The carrier originally was criticized for requiring users to convert MP3 files into the Windows Media format.
And in an effort to close the gap on sophisticated, portable music players, the operator is offering 2-gigabyte microSD cards that can hold up to 1,000 songs.
