Hot Music Phones Compete with MP3 Player, iPod

Music phones are some of the hottest electronic gadgets on the market. It wasn’t long ago that music lovers had to carry their cell phone plus a separate MP3 player or iPod if they wanted to enjoy their favorite tracks while on the go. But the newest music phones have changed that. Cell phones like the Verizon Wireless’ Chocolate by LG, the Sony Walkman W810i for Cingular and the Sprint Fusic LX550 by LG deliver versatile music capabilities plus futuristic wireless features—all for much less money than many dedicated music players (when ordered with a wireless service plan).

The LG Fusic for Sprint

The LG Fusic for Sprint PCS embodies the innovative leap made by music phones in the last few months. Besides downloading, storing and playing stereo MP3 tracks, the Fusic is the first cell phone offering the technology to stream music to either a stereo Bluetooth headset or to a nearby FM radio. This means the Fusic can broadcast tracks without wires to stereo headphones, or to a car or home stereo. With the Fusic, music lovers can enjoy their MP3 tracks while being able to answer their phone at the touch of a button. Besides this music-playing versatility, the LG Fusic for Sprint is capable of high-speed downloads and features a digital camera, dual color screens, a speakerphone and—most importantly—expandable memory to store extra music tracks.

The Sony Ericsson W810i Walkman Phone for Cingular

The Walkman has been synonymous with music portability since the days of cassettes. Continuing that tradition into the digital age, the Sony Walkman Phone W810i for Cingular is a self-contained music powerhouse that offers the ability to download, store and play tracks either through a stereo headset or the W810i’s remarkable built-in MegaBass speakers. Also living up to the Walkman reputation is this cell phone’s FM-stereo radio with eight programmable stations. The Sony Ericsson W810i cell phone also features a 2.0 Megapixel camera, placing it well above the resolution standard of most cell phones currently on the market. Lastly, the W810i completes the entertainment experience by offering two-handed gaming capability, a 1.9” color display and expandable memory.

The LG Chocolate for Verizon Wireless

The LG Chocolate for Verizon Wireless is another music phone that stands out for innovation and usability. The Verizon Chocoloate is the first cell phone that can play downloaded VCAST tracks as well as PC-transferred music files. Its thin, futuristic shell features an external music equalizer that gives the user control of the bass, middle and trebles with the versatility of a home stereo system. And like the LG Fusic, the Chocolate also offers the benefit of transmitting music tracks to a stereo Bluetooth headset, letting you listen without wires. Besides its value as a portable music player, the LG Chocolate for Verizon Wireless sports 1.3 Megapixel camera, high-speed data downloads, advanced voice-driven menus and expandable memory, making it a versatile and useful do-it-all cell phone.

A viable alternative to the iPod?

So does all this mean it’s time to get rid of your dedicated portable music player? That depends on your priorities. If maximum built-in memory capacity and simpler controls are important to you, you might still prefer a dedicated MP3 player or iPod. But the differences are not as great as they used to be. Cell phones like the Fusic, the W810i and the Chocolate are proving that it’s possible to have great sound quality and advanced music features and in a single, multipurpose device.

To find out more about the LG Fusic, the Sony Ericsson W810i, the LG Chocolate and other cutting-edge music phone, please visit wirefly.com.

About Wirefly

Wirefly (www.wirefly.com) is the online leader in one-stop comparison shopping for cell phones, wireless service plans and wireless accessories. Wirefly is an authorized dealer for every major cellular carrier in the U.S. Wirefly also offers discounts and services not available in retail wireless stores, including real-time online order status and tracking, and the guaranteed lowest price – online or anywhere else -- on cell phone devices from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, LG, BlackBerry and many other cell phone handset manufacturers. Wirefly.com has been named Best of the Web by Forbes magazine as the “best all-around number portability portal” and “Best in Overall Customer Experience” by Keynote Performance Systems. For more information on Wirefly, its wireless products and its services, visit www.wirefly.com.