LG Mobile's Chocolate hits shelves

By Brad Jamieson

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If you haven't already heard the hype, LG's much buzzed about Chocolate (KG800) is the latest fashion whirlwind in the mobile phone world. Entering into competition with Motorola’s über-popular RAZR, the hand-set is now available through Telus, with other providers to follow. LG chose Toronto's Windsor Arms for the Canadian launch of Chocolate, a mobile phone that offers a mix of video and music accouterments in the hope that digital-media junkies will salivate over it.

The Chocolate is already a hit overseas, especially in LG's home base of South Korea. While it offers nothing new in the way of features, its slick, slider design showcases a hot trend in the cell phone universe: a handset that’s part phone, part MP3 player, and part fashion accessory.

Sleek and simple-looking, the Chocolate handset has a rectangular shape, fittingly chocolate bar-esque. With its glossy black front and glowing red touchpad, the all-black frame has neither protruding buttons nor excessive design. Instead, all you get is a shiny black surface with a simple metallic-looking frame and a tiny opening at one end for the earpiece.

Peel the screen back slightly, discreetly, and a spring mechanism slides upward to unveil a number pad. Do you feel dirty? The stylish black-and-grey checkered keypad is patterned from alternating matte and gloss plastics. While the keys take some getting used to, the Chocolate is iPod-like with a circular, guitarist alienating touchpad and "OK" button in the centre.

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