LG preps lower-cost Chocolate phone

LG Mobile today unveiled a lower-cost alternative to the Chocolate slider that should offer most of the same features but with a lower price tag. The KG280 has the same stealthed buttons with a new directional pad, and shares key technical features such as Bluetooth; it also features a high-color screen and three hours of active talk time with 200 hours of standby.

The first version of the phone to ship should be available in Europe and Russia; a North American version has not been announced and would likely require changes to the phone's tri-band GSM radio to garner full support. Pricing is currently unknown but is likely to be dramatically reduced from the 300-Euro ($405) price of the original Chocolate when it sold as new. [via Mobile Review]