Sprint today announced the upcoming availability of the LG Rumor, an affordable wireless phone with a full QWERTY slide keyboard for easy text, email and instant messaging. Operating on the Sprint Vision network, the Rumor provides quick access to instant messaging services including AIM, MSN and Yahoo! as well several popular social networking communities, including Facebook and Xanga.

LG Rumor More Photos View Specs

Available in two color options, white with silver or black with blue, the Rumor offers one touch access to messaging through a softkey from the idle screen and it automatically populates the messaging menu when the slider is opened. It also provides easy access to Sprint Mobile eMail to check and send mail from multiple accounts through familiar providers including Yahoo! AOL, Gmail and Microsoft Live.

Sprint offers a variety of messaging options beyond text including Voice (SM)S, which allows customers to record a voice message and send it to any mobile phone, email address, or landline phone just like a text message, and text to landline, which allows Sprint subscribers to send a text message to a landline phone where it is automatically converted to a voice message.

To personalize the text messaging experience, the Rumor offers the ability to assign "text tones" to address book entries for audible identification of text message senders. Preloaded with Sprint Navigation, Rumor by LG provides full-feature GPS navigation including voice and on screen turn-by-turn driving directions and more than 10 million business listings.

The Rumor offers essential features including a 1.3-megapixel camera/camcorder with a 2x digital zoom, Bluetooth technology and an MP3 player. It works with Sprint Music Manager, available through an easy software download, to give users the power to quickly transfer unprotected songs from a PC to the handset and manage songs on a PC through an intuitive interface. Music-lovers will also value the Rumor's microSD memory card slot with 4 GB card capability.

Measuring 4.3" x 2.0" x 0.7" and weighing just 4.13 ounces, the LG Rumor will be initially priced at $79.99 with a two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate. It will be available online in late October and in stores on November 4.

- LG Rumor Specs