Verizon expected to offer 1.3 megapixel LG camera phone for 1xEV-DO network

When Verizon Wireless launches its 1xEV-DO network in multiple cities this summer, a 1xEV-DO camera phone from LG could be part of the launch. I learned from Engagdet of an article in RCR News reporting that the Federal Communications Commission has approved the LG VX8000 for the high speed CDMA network.

The LG VX8000 is a clamshell device with a 1.3 megapixel camera and also includes support for video and 3D graphics but not Bluetooth.

Engagdet notes that without Bluetooth "you'll need a cable to hook it up to your PDA or laptop (and you'll be lucky if Verizon doesn't specifically prohibit you from doing that)." This is an important point.

Tranferring large files

How do you get one megapixel photos out of your camera phone? A good way is to use a memory card, but I don't know whether the LG VX8000 has a memory card slot.

If it does have have a memory card slot, will you be able to use it to save photos? As I wrote a little while ago, a cellular operator that uses BREW (such as Verizon) might disable the memory card capabilities. This is just speculation -- not confirmed.

Verizon already offers the LG VX6000 VGA camera phone for its 1xRTT network. As I've written before, the VX6000 is a nice phone, but the photo quality compared to other camera phones is mediocre at best.

Phone as a modem

It also would be very useful to be able to connect a cable from the phone to a computer to use it as a 1xEV-DO modem. But many cellular companies are leery of this because they typically charge one tariff for accessing the Internet from a handset and another for access from a computer.

There is software allowing you to use the Treo 600 as a modem over the Sprint PCS network but this is prohibited unless you have subscription plan for computer -- not handset -- access. Legalities aside, it can be very useful.

(I am sending this from my BlackBerry handheld and reading information from the Web using my Treo 600. I'll add more links when I'm at back at my computer.)

Comments

[robert kim]

well... at http://lg-vx8000-evdo.com you'll find all the broadband specs for the video phone and settings... BUT... i dont know if i'd move quite yet... http://blackberry-phones-evdo.com will announce when the Blackberry RIM video phone is on the market...