LG Rumor - black (Sprint)
Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A. Part number: 260BLKSPT
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though the LG Rumor is not as fast as we'd like, it's still a great messaging multimedia device for those who don't need a lot of speed.
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Where to buy
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| eBay |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/01/2009 |
CNET editors' review
LG Rumor - black (Sprint) price range: $5.19
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 10/26/2007
The good: The LG Rumor has a lovely design, with a built-in hidden QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging. Features include a 1.3-megapixel camera, an MP3 player, Bluetooth, and more. It provides easy access to Facebook, plus it supports Sprint Navigation.
The bad: The LG Rumor does not have EV-DO, and surfing the Web can be quite slow. The screen has poor resolution, and the camera has no flash.
The bottom line: Though the LG Rumor is not as fast as we'd like, it's still a great messaging multimedia device for those who don't need a lot of speed.
The LG Rumor is Sprint's answer to those who want the convenience of a QWERTY keyboard without the complexity of a smartphone. A successor to the LG F9200 (which was for Cingular/AT&T last year), the Rumor is an attractive handset with a hidden slide-out QWERTY keyboard plus a few advanced features like a megapixel camera, a music player, and Sprint Navigation support. We really liked how easy it was to use, especially when sending text messages and e-mails. You can even access social networking sites like Facebook in just a couple of clicks. We wished the Rumor had EV-DO for faster Web surfing, as well as a better screen resolution, but the Rumor is still a great phone, especially if you're a messaging addict. The LG Rumor retails for $279.99, but you can get it for $79 with a two-year contract and a $50 rebate.
Design
At first glance, the LG Rumor looks like a rather bulky candy-bar handset. Measuring 4.3 inches by 2 inches by 0.7 inch, the Rumor definitely does not fit comfortably in a pants pocket, and at 4.13 ounces, it's heavier than most phones its size. But there's a reason for its heft; the LG Rumor has a hidden slide-out QWERTY keyboard. To reveal it, you have to slide the phone's front face to the left lengthwise, at which point the screen orientation switches from portrait to landscape mode. You can then reposition the phone horizontally so that you can thumb-type on the keyboard. The slider mechanism felt quite solid, and we opened and closed the phone with ease. Overall, the phone is quite attractive, with curved corners, clean lines, and a nice feel in the hand.
On the front of the Rumor is a generous 2-inch diagonal display with a rather disappointing 176x220 pixel resolution. Colors didn't really pop and images appeared a tad washed out, even more so under bright sunlight. You can change the backlight time as well as font size, but not the brightness or contrast. On the left spine is the volume rocker and dedicated camera key, while the headset jack and microSD card slot are on the right. The camera lens sits on the back.
The navigation controls of the LG Rumor consist of two soft keys underneath the display, plus a five-way navigation toggle that doubles as shortcuts to a new text message, the music player, the My Content folder, the calendar, plus the Menu/OK key in the middle. There are also two soft keys to the right of the display that act as the screen's soft keys when the QWERTY keyboard is slid so that the screen's orientation switches to landscape mode. To either side of the five-way toggle are a dedicated speakerphone key (it also doubles as a Recent Calls shortcut), a Back key, and Talk and End/Power keys. The overall keypad on the Rumor is vastly improved over the F9200. Not only is it much roomier, the capsule-shaped buttons are raised enough above the surface to allow for easy pressing and dialing by feel.
The QWERTY keyboard on the Rumor is also a lot better than the one on the F9200. The keys are much bigger, with a nice bumpy texture that makes it easy to thumb-type. Along with the QWERTY keys are a Symbol key, a function key, a shift key, a Back key, a small spacebar, and a Enter/Return key. The only thing we didn't quite like was that there weren't any dedicated keys for basic characters such as the period and the comma, so we had to press the function key each time we wanted to use them. Using the QWERTY keyboard to type out text messages is definitely easier than using the dialpad, though we do think a little more room to type would feel more comfortable. Another nice bonus is that when you slide the QWERTY keyboard out, the messaging menu immediately pops up on the display, letting you text with even more ease and speed.
Features
Though the LG Rumor comes with a few multimedia features, its lack of EV-DO and Sprint Power Vision access means the Rumor isn't meant for power users. But before we go into that, let's start with the basics. The LG Rumor's phone book holds about 500 contacts with room in each entry for five phone numbers, e-mail and Web addresses, and a memo. You can save callers to groups, assign them a photo for caller ID, and pair them with one of 35 polyphonic ringtones. You can also assign one of 23 "text tones" for incoming text messages. Other essentials include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calculator, a currency and unit converter, a notepad, a tip calculator, a stopwatch, and a voice recorder.
On the higher end, you also get stereo Bluetooth, a wireless Web browser, e-mail, and instant messaging (supports AOL, Windows Live, and Yahoo). You even get instant one-click access to Facebook via the messaging menu. There's also an application called Social Zone, which gives you instant access to social network communities like Vox, LiveJournal, and Xanga. Bear in mind, though, that in order to subscribe to these communities via Social Zone, you'll have to pay a monthly charge of $2.99, which we think is pretty steep. Also, the lack of EV-DO makes surfing the Web feel pretty poky and slow, much like dial-up speed. The LG Rumor also features GPS navigation via Sprint Navigator, which provides full turn-by-turn directions with voice and a map display.
The Rumor has a pretty standard music player that is not much different from other Sprint music handsets. The interface is generic, though you can create playlists, and there's a shuffle and repeat mode. Of course, since you don't have Sprint Music access, you'll have to use Sprint's Music Manager software to download songs from the PC to the Rumor via a microSD card.
Another big upgrade from the F9200 is that the Rumor has a 1.3-megapixel camera instead of the F9200's VGA. The camera takes pictures in three resolutions (1280x960, 640x480, and 320x240), three quality settings, and four color tones. Other options include a self-timer, a brightness setting, white balance, and the choice of four shutter tones (plus a silent option). There's also a camcorder that can record up to two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96), with similar settings and options with the still camera. Photo quality was surprisingly disappointing for a 1.3-megapixel camera. Images seemed pixilated and overcast with dull colors. Video quality did not fare much better.
There are a number of personalization options with the LG Rumor. You can customize it with wallpapers, screensavers, text sounds, and more. If you want to kill a little time, the LG Rumor also comes with a few games like demo versions of Midnight Pool, Ms. Pac-Man, Tetris, Tornado Mania, and World Series of Poker. You can download more via the wireless Web browser.
Performance
We tested the dual-band LG Rumor (CDMA 800/1900; 1xRTT) in San Francisco using Sprint's network. Call quality was pretty good with most calls. Callers reported hearing us loud and clear, and we thought voices sounded natural with good volume. There was slight static every once in a while, but it wasn't that bad. Speakerphone calls could be a little better, as we occasionally heard some muffled noises and echoes.
Music quality was OK, but nothing to write home about. The sound was a little tinny, and there wasn't a lot of bass. We would recommend using a headset for better quality.
The LG Rumor has a rated battery life of 4.5 hours of talk time, and a tested talk time of 3 hours, 45 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SAR rating is 1.22 watts per kilogram.
User reviews
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What i expected.....
by naughten on October 23, 2007
Pros: Keyboard, small, sturdy
Cons: decent design
Summary: granted, i have only had this phone for about 3 hours but at the same time, i have not put it down ever since i opened the box.
So far ...Summary: granted, i have only had this phone for about 3 hours but at the same time, i have not put it down ever since i opened the box.
So far so good with the style and the phone is smaller than i expected. It?s quite sturdy without the frills but for $80 what more can you expect? Don't expect sprint power vision with this phone. For the most part I don't subscribe to that service and since I already have a blackberry for work I don?t need the internet since the Blackberry does a good enough job on the web. The quality of calls and the speaker phone have been very clear.
Overall, I needed a phone that could help me text quicker, could hold gigs of music in a microSD card and could take good quality pictures and videos. It seems like this phone does all of that so at the moment I am happy.
May be a bit geared for kids also....9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfection
by Ladyemerald on November 19, 2007
Pros: qwerty keyboard, beautiful screen, slim profile, smooth sliding action
Cons: i dont really know at this point
Summary: i got this phone yesterday, but then my mom took it and said i cannot use it until christmas, but she let me toy around with it for a while, ...
Summary: i got this phone yesterday, but then my mom took it and said i cannot use it until christmas, but she let me toy around with it for a while, and i absolutely adore it. ADORE. i dont need EV-DO so all this whining and stuff about it not being ev-do... i dont even know what that is, and for 30 bucks (its on sale w/ new 2 year contract until wednesday) its got alot of bang for the buck, i can tell you that. theres not a thing wrong with this phone. its smooth, sleek, classy, and perfect for texting. the keyboard goes away when you dont need it, its just perfect..its great for the average user, who loves the keyboard, but doesn't need all the features of a smartphone...its a good win-win situation. parents dont have to get their text-savvy kids a smartphone, and kids get to have their keyboard. i wanted the white one but sprint failed to note that the white one is exclusive to the sprint store (so you just might wanna know that...)and well, anyway, i love it...and i cannot wait to get to activate it on my number!!! 36 days left!!!
Updated
Well its after christmas and there are a few things i want to make note of:
1.) the ringer is VERY loud, not as quiet as some have been complaining about how quiet this phone is, but i have to keep it on level 1! level 5 makes the ringer so loud that its garbled adn its just SUPER loud!
2.) you are NOT forced to use the navigational keys on the front while the keyboard is slid out. on the web you have to, but when browsing through the menus, you can use the volume rocker to go up & down
3.)some have been saying the phone stores only 100 text messages and the only way to delete them is manually. this is not true. set your messaging to auto-delete...problem solved.
4.)i have nothing else to say.! : )7 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice phone, but not if you carry it in your pocket.
by pogoli on December 4, 2007
Pros: full qwerty keyboard, nice look and feel, bluetooth
Cons: cumbersome and confusing menus, seriously flawed keyguard feature, slow internet access
Summary: I have had this phone for a few days, and I love the look and the qwerty keyboard. I did not think I would need it as much since I ...
Summary: I have had this phone for a few days, and I love the look and the qwerty keyboard. I did not think I would need it as much since I am not going to carry a vision (internet access) plan after the first month, but it makes text-entry a breeze. The interfaces when using the text-msg and online programs are clean and intuitive. Everything I tried did what I expected on the first try. Unfortunately my praise for the interface and usability ends there. The menu system for accessing settings and content is cumbersome and confusing. There are individual volume settings for almost every sound the phone could make, but when it comes to customizing those sounds or tweaking other features of the phone, the options are surprisingly lacking. I upgraded from a Sanyo RL-4920, and I miss being able to change my startup/shutdown sound or set a shortcut key to lock my phone.
By far, my biggest gripe with this phone is with the keyguard feature. First of all the only way to guard your keyboard is with the "auto-keyguard" function. It will activate after a few moments of inactivity. You can not adjust the timeout and you can't shut off the 'auto' part without disabling keyguard altogether. You can manually activate it, but only when the 'auto' is also turned on. Worst of all, the keyguard shuts off if you slide the keyboard open by a fraction of an inch. I carry my phone in my pocket and so far it has deactivated my keyguard more than half the time when sitting down or standing up, and a few times while just walking around. In my opinion this shortcoming is probably going to be the deal breaker for me. Unless you willing to use a case, a really strong rubber band, or always carry your phone in your hand, I'd recommend getting a different phone or plan on having your pocket/bag make a lot of phone calls for you.
On a side-note I really wish Sprint had more than zero non-(flip/PDA) phones, or that Verizon had a 7pm night and weekend minute start time option.6 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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No Stereo Bluetooth (contrary to review)
by tntmnm on February 6, 2008
Pros: Slider keyboard & form factor
Cons: Needs option to smooth sending (read review)
Summary: The CNET review says, "On the higher end, you also get stereo Bluetooth..." and, as far as I can tell, is wrong. The phone displays what Bluetooth profiles it supports, ...
Summary: The CNET review says, "On the higher end, you also get stereo Bluetooth..." and, as far as I can tell, is wrong. The phone displays what Bluetooth profiles it supports, and A2DP / AVRCP are not there. Beware!
There is a feature that auto-locks the phone after the display times out and shuts off, which is great. BUT it only works from the home screen... Many times I pull the phone out of my pocket to find it unexpectedly unlocked, because I did something and forgot to return to the hone screen first. This is especially true when sending a text message... I would like to hit Send after composing my message and have that be the last key stroke (but the unit stays within a menu at that point...) A "send one at a time" option would be great.
Quick tip: Slide the keyboard part way open and back to quickly unlock the phone. Faster than holding down BACK.
I miss being able to use voice tags or voice recognition, so my basic BT headset is less functional.
But I DO like the phone!4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I use this phone mainly for talking, texting, scheduling my time, and pictures occassionally.
by AML1234 on December 10, 2007
Pros: Good battery life, nice size keypad for typing. I love the fact that it has a microSD slot.
Cons: No flash on camera, feels a bit slippery when (I read reviews and it says the phone has a rubbery feel to it, it might only be for the black one instead of white; I purchased the white).
Summary: I talk about 2 hours a day and it lasts me about 2 days without charging.
Importing and exporting files, pictures, etc from your microSD is so easy. Simply drag ...Summary: I talk about 2 hours a day and it lasts me about 2 days without charging.
Importing and exporting files, pictures, etc from your microSD is so easy. Simply drag and drop, I love it.
I gave it a 9 instead of 10 because the phone slips out of my hand very easily, but I haven't dropped it once yet (knock on wood)!
Also because the camera doesn't have flash, but it's a phone, not a camera so it's a bit understandable, but it feels like it should have a flash on here since technology is changing so rapid I thought LG would've noticed to add it.
Other than that, this phone is great!4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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What can be said but AWESOME!
by ResDunn on October 23, 2007
Pros: Style, Screen, easy to personalize
Cons: Yahoo Go is not a go!
Summary: Had all day to try this phone and loved every min I spent personalizing it..Screen is good size happy with the slide out keyboard..keys don't seem to ...
Summary: Had all day to try this phone and loved every min I spent personalizing it..Screen is good size happy with the slide out keyboard..keys don't seem to small for me.I upgraded from an LG PM-325 and I don't miss my old phone one bit!
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Everything I wanted
by WhyNotV2 on May 28, 2008
Pros: Slider, Micro SD, Size, Bluetooth, Simplicity
Cons: Menus, Speaker phone
Summary: I've now owned this phone for around 8 months, long enough to give it a fair review (that I still use it is a glowing endorsement as it is ...
Summary: I've now owned this phone for around 8 months, long enough to give it a fair review (that I still use it is a glowing endorsement as it is
). For the past almost 10 years of being with Sprint, I've changed phones regularly, gradully getting more advanced each time. I flipped back and forth from 'candy bar' phones to flip phones and then settled on "smart phones". The Treos were great, but got 'tired' then I switched to the Mogul and was out of my league. After much consideration I realized what I wanted was small, a qwerty keyboard, ruggedness and token apps. The Rumor has all that.
Some have said the phone opens in their pockets. I've not experienced this at all. Pants/shorts pockets or shirt pocket, the phone stays closed.
Others mention the camera is lacking. I replied to one reviewer that they should buy a camera if they want to take pictures and not a phone.
Some say the menus are a pain to navigate and I agree whole-heartedly. They are at that, though once you are familiar with what is included and what you need, it's not much of a problem.
Screen resolution...again, it's a phone. That it does more than display in a single color and more than the number you are dialing is a plus.
Other's have experienced issues with the phone freezing/locking up...I believe there was a patch for that and it resolved the issue (I've not as of yet encountered any freezing or the need to reset the phone). Also some have noted that they are having problems receiving text messages from other carriers. I've not experienced this on the scale some report. I've not received a text or 2, but it's not been isolated to any specific carrier as it's happened to me Sprint to Sprint (sending and receiveing both) on occassion.
The speaker phone is lacking. Most often when I use it, the folk I'm talking to have no problem hearing me, but I have issues with hearing them (and no, it's not my hearing ). I'd like to see LG work on this area in the future.
The QWERTY keyboard and Micro SD slot make this phone a great device. It allows for easy texting, entry of addresses and other contact info as well as important dates and reminders through the calendar. The SD slot is terrific for those times when you don't feel like carrying your MP3 player of choice around.
I gave the LG Rumor an 8, because there's always room for improvement and the navigation as well as the speaker phone could be improved (though with those areas improved, I'd give it a 9...there are no perfect 10's).
I hope all that read this review find it usefull, it is my first so be kind
Updated
I did have one issue and someone's post remind me...I had a period where I received a bill from Sprint for downloading. It seems that the Rumor likes to connect to the internet for whatever reason. I spoke to Sprint and after a bit of time, the charges were removed from my bill and I asked them to please disable that function on their end (which I have done with most phones...need internet? get a computer ). Sprint did try to tell me I was downloading at all different hours and did try to suggest that someone in my home was doing it when I wasn't aware. I have no kids, and my wife was beside me sleeping as well so that left the cats. With how difficult it is to navigate the menus to get to the area to connect, I found that my cats stepping on it (while 'locked') would be nigh impossible.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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It's simple but it's also pretty useful.
by crash.override on October 25, 2007
Pros: size, decent QWERTY keys, simple menus and reasonable features
Cons: No EVDO, not a smart phone, a bit buggy in the software-just a bit
Summary: Well, I switched from my battery-hogging Centro (see my reviews) to this little number the other day. I will be up front that I am a Sidekick nut, so this ...
Summary: Well, I switched from my battery-hogging Centro (see my reviews) to this little number the other day. I will be up front that I am a Sidekick nut, so this was the next best thing since Sprint is the better service in my neck of the woods. So, here is my take:
Size/Screen: This phone is a good size, not too big nor too small and the keypad, unlike the Centro's keys, the RUMOR is actually usable! The screen is decent, though it is not super high-res. The screen rotates when you slide the QWERTY keys open and it opens the messaging menu. All in all, it is not too bad for a sub-$ 100.00 phone.
Software/Experience: That screen rotation feature with the QWERTY keys, opens the messaging menu as mentioned-which includes text, picture mail, email, IM and a shortcut to a slimmed down Facebook portal to your "wall". Despite being a "regular phone" with no EVDO high-speed data, these features work reasonably fast. The media and audio is nice and plays up to a 4 gigabyte memory card of various video and audio files. The sound quality is good and the screen is usable though it's no video IPOD or ZUNE. All in All, it plays many formats in a simple interface. The speakerphone is decent though the microphone has a limited range to pick up voices well. The AIM messenger/I.M. software was a bit slow and was JAVA-based. It doesn't seem to alert you to messages when you exit the AIM application screen which, unlike the Sidekick is a bit of a drag. I am investigating a fix for this. The other features: bluetooth, menus and camera-are fine though unimpressive.
Battery/Reception: The battery seems to do well with extended talk and texting/email over an average day. I have not had to plug it in, which I appreciate. The call quality seems to be good though the reception is not the best with Sprint (as with a Sanyo handset) it is not troublesome either. The ringers that are voice or audio/music file needed a tad higher volume, but were easily heard when turned up. The vibrate works fine.
All in All this phone is the average texter's dream. If you don't "need" EVDO, this phone will serve you well and is snappy. Sometimes, though rarely, the phone gets "stuck" and restarts. In the end, it's a great deal for what you get.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Phone is great, Sprint is another issue
by sidewalk_bends on March 10, 2008
Pros: Design, keyboard, call quality
Cons: Sprint customer service, poor picture quality in low light, slow camera
Summary: This is best summed up by saying this is a great phone, but Sprint customer service sucks.
Pros:
The call quality is great. I have not had any problems with ...Summary: This is best summed up by saying this is a great phone, but Sprint customer service sucks.
Pros:
The call quality is great. I have not had any problems with dropped calls or clarity. The keyboard is awesome. I don't text much, but when I do it is easy to use. It comes in handy with even just entering phone numbers and names into my address book. The design is great. My wife has the white model. I have the black model. The black model has rubber grip around the back which is nice because I tend to drop my phones often. I haven't dropped this one yet. There is the option for a microSD card which is nice for transferring photos and mp3s.
Cons:
Sprint customer service is horrible. I did not transfer my phone number from Cingular/ATT until after the phone was received. This turned into a nightmare. I had to call multiple times to get the issue resolved. On multiple occasions I was told different stories. I was also hung up on while on hold after having waited for more than 20-30 minutes on some occasions. The issue is now resolved and hopefully I will never have to speak with another customer support person again.
The camera is slow and also takes poor picture under artificial/low light conditions.
Additional Thoughts:
I did not buy this phone for it's camera or mp3 capability. That's what my camera and mp3 player are for so it's not really a bother for me if the picture or sound quality are just ok/good as opposed to excellent.
I recommend the Rumor and suggest if you are transferring your phone number from another service that you do it automatically when purchasing the phone and wait the 10 days.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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HORRIBLE -DO NOT BUY
by sassywildcat on November 13, 2008
Pros: The idea of this phone is GREAT. The slide action is fun, and the keyboard is fairly easy to use. The programming is smart and knows what you want when you want it.... but that assumes you can get anything to work on it
Cons: The hardware is another story. We've replaced this phone three times now. EVERY time it's for multiple reasons, including but not limited to: screen freezing, differing keys ont he keyboard not working, random blank text messages, and many more!
Summary: We will never even consider this phone again. When we were trying to turn in our phone for the fourth time there was someone standing next to us with the ...
Summary: We will never even consider this phone again. When we were trying to turn in our phone for the fourth time there was someone standing next to us with the same problems from the same phone. We both made the comment that they should stop selling this phone. IT IS THAT BAD. It may look fun, but after your 100th blank text message sent to a friend... and they get annoyed... it becomes not so fun. Not to mention the constantly frozen screen. PLUS the keyboard that randomly doesn't work. And it's never the same keys that don't work... always different ones. We are fair people, we've given this phone three different chances. No more! I can't warn you enough about this phone. DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A.
- Part number: 260BLKSPT
- Bottom Line: Though the LG Rumor is not as fast as we'd like, it's still a great messaging multimedia device for those who don't need a lot of speed.
General
- Product Type With digital player
- Service Provider Sprint Nextel
- Width 2 in
- Depth 0.7 in
- Height 4.3 in
- Weight 4.1 oz
- Body Color Black
Cellular
- Technology CDMA
- Wireless Interface Bluetooth
- Additional Features Built-in camera, QWERTY keyboard, TTY compatible, World clock
Phone Memory
- Phone Book Capacity 499 names & numbers
Messaging & Data Services
- Messaging Services MMS, AOL Instant Messenger Service (AIM)
- Supported Email Protocols POP3, IMAP4, SMTP
- JAVA applications Yes
- Messaging / Data Features Text messages
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3
Battery
- Technology - Lithium polymer
- Talk Time Up to 270 min
Product series
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Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A.
Specs: Up to 270 min, With digital player, 4.1 oz
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Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A.
Specs: CDMA2000 1X 1900/800, Up to 270 min, With digital player, 4.1 oz
Manufacturer info
- LG Electronics U.S.A.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse LG Electronics U.S.A. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://us.lge.com/
- Address:
1000 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
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