Banter -- Engadget Mobile

Banter posts

LG Banter comes to US Cellular

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 15th 2009 @ 5:48PM

Quick: what has two keypads, changeable covers, and an LG logo plastered on it? The Banter, of course, which is shaping up to be a favorite for regional carriers everywhere. The low-cast text-centric device features both numeric and sliding QWERTY keypads (as anyone who scooped it up on Alltel already knows), a 1.3 megapixel camera, and microSD support up to 16GB; what it won't have is EV-DO -- but with a screen that small, users probably aren't going to care too much. Grab it now for $49.95 on two-year contract after rebate.

LG Banter gets priced on Alltel

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 23rd 2009 @ 9:14PM

We all know by now that the Banter is essentially a Rumor 2 clone for Alltel, which immediately makes it a desirable device to a whole battalion of folks looking for a cheap, relatively stylish way to get their text on. Just how cheap are we talking? Try $19.99 on contract after rebate, which by our rough calculations works out to a full $30 less than what Sprint is asking at the moment. Indirectly, you could call this a slap in the face to Sprint by sworn rival Verizon -- but then again, Alltel's launching this, not Big Red proper. How long until those two lovebirds merge their product lines?

Alltel launches the LG Banter

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 13th 2009 @ 5:02AM

Turns out Sprint's not the only carrier launching a low-cost texter from LG this week. In fact, it's archrival Verizon that's getting in the game, too -- sorta -- by proxy, anyway, through the boys and girls at Alltel. The Banter becomes yet another in a long line of questionably-named models (think Rant, Propel, Behold... we could go on for a while here), but once you get past the name, you find that you've got a solid low-end landscape QWERTY slider with a 1.3 megapixel cam, microSD slot, Bluetooth, and changeable front and backplates. Sounds like a dead ringer for the Rumor 2, doesn't it? The Banter should be in stores now; we don't have pricing info handy, but we're thinking it's going to be mighty cheap on contract.

[Via phoneArena]