- Clamshell phone combines essential functionality with streamlined good looks; includes dual LCD screens
- GPS-enabled for turn-by-turn directions; downloadable games, ringtones, and applications
- VGA camera for still photos; Bluetooth for handsfree devices; speakerphone; voice commands; organizer tools
- Up to 5 hours of talk time, up to 440 hours (18.3 days) of standby time
- What’s in the Box: handset, battery, charger, quick start guide, user manual
Amazon.com Product Description
Combining essential functionality with streamlined good looks and user—friendly features, the LG VX5500 flip phone for Verizon Wireless is a great on-the-go communications partner. Use voice-activated dialing to call, then talk handsfree with the one—touch speakerphone or go completely wireless using the Bluetooth capability. This phone offers an A-GPS receiver, which enables you to access Verizon’s VZ Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions. Other features include a VGA camera for still photos (no video), access to personal email and IM chatting, organizer tools including calendar and alarm, and up to 5 hours of talk time.
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Verizon Wireless Service
With this GPS-enabled phone, you’ll be able to access the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps. And the Chaperone service lets you easily locate your loved ones from your Verizon Wireless phone or PC in real time. After defining a zone, such as an area designating a school or summer camp, you’ll be sent an alert via text message when the Chaperone handset enters or leaves the zone.
Getting on the Internet is easy using the Verizon Wireless Mobile Web 2.0 package, which allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. The Verizon Wireless Media Center wireless download service is also fully compatible with this phone. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Media Center service.
Phone Features
The LG VX5500 has dual LCD, with an internal 1.75-inch screen (176 x 220 pixels, 262K colors) complemented with an external 1-inch screen (96 x 64 pixels, 65K colors) that displays incoming calls as well as battery life, signal strength, and current time and date. Flipping open the phone reveals a standard alpha-numeric keypad that sits below a navigation area with five-way control pad, send/end keys, two soft navigation keys, and a dedicated volume key. The phone has a 44 MB internal memory which can’t be expanded. The internal phonebook can store up to 1000 contact entries, with each entry able to store up to 5 numbers, 2 email addresses, and a picture ID. You can also enter up to 3 emergency contacts.
An easy-to-use mobile communicator, the LG VX5000 features a handsfree speakerphone, Bluetooth connectivity, and a VGA camera for snapping still photos. |
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Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, and handsfree car kits. You can save up to 20 Bluetooth pairings and send contact and calendar events to other compatible devices wirelessly.
The VGA camera shoots only still photos, and it offers three resolution options (640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 pixels). It also features a 2x digital zoom, white balance and brightness controls, self timer (3, 5, or 10 seconds), and night mode for shooting under low-light conditions. The in-phone image editor enables you to zoom, rotate, crop, and resize photos as well as add fun frames.
Stay in touch with friends while you’re on the go using SMS text messaging. When used in combination with the phone’s built-in still camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. The phone also comes with a built-in web browser for downloads and mobile web browsing.
Other features include:
- Speaker independent voice commands: call, send message, go to, contacts, and My Verizon
- Organizer tools: Calendar, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, notepad, tip calculator
- Voice recording up to 1 hour (5 minutes during phone call)
- One-touch speakerphone
- T9 predictive text entry
- Bilingual Interface: English & Español
- Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4/T4
- TTY Compatible
- Speed dial: 999 entries with 1 voicemail default
- Includes 24 unique ringtones with support for real-music ringers
- Vibrate and silent modes
- Micro USB connectivity for charging from and transferring files to PC
- Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), HID (support for mice or joysticks), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PAN (personal area networking), PBA (transfer contacts), SPP (serial port profile)
Vital Statistics
The LG VX5500 weighs 3.05 ounces and measures 3.56 x 1.84 x 0.73 inches. Its 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 440 hours (18.3 days) of standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/1900 frequencies.
If you are looking for a basic phone with limited features and lacking support this is your puppy. If you want to easily back up your contacts or customize your phone for free, (ring tones or backgrounds) look elsewhere. Seems like Verizon nickles and dimes you to death.
Rating: 1 / 5
I own other LG products (tv, cell phones, etc) and they are wonderful. This phone is a dud. I am on the second battery. I returned the first one after two weeks since it only lasted a couple of days. Now the battery lasts around four days (I have had the phone around five months). It does not reliably receive calls when my friend’s Blackberry, on the same wireless network, is receiving a crystal clear signal. Sometimes it will not synch with my car’s Bluetooth unless I reset it(turn phone off and back on again). Periodically it will “BEEP” and drop my call. I am going to call my carrier and see what they can do for me to try to get rid of this mistake.
Rating: 2 / 5
I got this phone for my daughter and within the past two months, I have had to exchange it twice and I’m getting ready to do it again.
Within a month of receiving the phone, the inner screen went white which prevented her from being able to view her contacts, text messages, pictures, etc. I took the phone into a Verizon store where they promptly swapped it out. I went out into the parking lot and immediately, the outside screen went bad, showing a line through the middle of it. I immediately went back into the store and they were surprised to see me. I showed them the screen and they couldn’t believe it. They responded immediately and swapped it out giving me a third phone.
It’s been a month since that swap and as of last night, the phone’s inner screen went white, just like the first phone. Searching the internet, I’ve found that I’m not the only one with this problem. I’m taking it back in today to get a different phone.
Other issues include the following:
- Poor picture quality
- A constant, high-pitched whining sound from the ear-piece
I would avoid this phone at all costs. There is apparently a technical problem with this phone causing the screens to go blank.
Overall, my experience with Verizon and its employees at the store was great. They were very helpful and I have no complaints with the service. My complaints are with this phone which apparently LG has allowed to be released with known issues, so my complaint is with LG and not Verizon. However, I would hope that Verizon would start doing some kind of recall and stop providing this phone to its customers.
Rating: 1 / 5
I live near the ocean so cell phone reception is not usually good. The Verizon salesperson recommended the LG VX5500 since a friend of his said it worked in his basement. It works great! I get very good reception and the phone holds it charge. It is nice and compact without an antenna.
Rating: 4 / 5
Just picked this phone up a few days ago. After a full charge, the battery lasted less then 24 hours, on standby. Thinking it was a fluke, I re-charged. After another full charge, again less then 24 hours. I made two 5 minute calls, and the phone actually turned off on me. Not even my razr was this bad. I had read rave reviews for the LG VX5400 and thought the LG VX5500 was a sure bet. I was wrong and would exchange the phone it if I hadn’t already Mailed the UPC code on the box in for the rebate. So I will upgrade and pay full price just to get away from this phone. It really let me down.
Rating: 1 / 5