I've had the 8600, it was a pretty good phone. The reasons they don't carry it anymore is probably because... 1. They had it a while, and like most carriers, will phase it out when a new model comes out or the popularity runs out. 2. Because they did release a new model, the LG VX8700, which can be found on their website. You can probably find the 8600 on sites like eBay, but you won't be able to buy it new from Verizon (unless they have connections haha). But I can tell you from having that phone that there are better ones than that. That phone had real low internal memory. Its a Vcast phone but it had like 20 something MB. After you download VZ Navigator, Backup Assistant, etc. you don't have much for Vcast downloads, and the batter...
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The LG VX8600 hasn't been available for probably about a year. The phone was out for a limited time as part of the "black label" series and then was replaced by the vx8700. You won't be able to buy a new one from Verizon at all. You can purchase one on eBay; however, you run certain risks. If the phone is damaged, water damaged, stolen, black listed, then you wasted the time and effort and have to go through the return process. There is a replacement slated, the vx8560, to replace the vx8700. This will incorporate the scroll wheel of the vx8550 and a larger screen on the outside and then flip open tlike the vx8600. The vx8350 is ok but it's nothing wonderfully special.

Yeah a lot of problems with it. The LG8350 is the cloest comparision

As mentioned before, the phone may be damaged or reported lost/stolen, so make sure you can return it. The only other major issue is that you will not be able to get it insured by Asurian (the insurance that VZW uses) because you didn't get the phone new from VZW or an indirect dealer.

I have one with a clear ESN and no damage if you want to buy it. The battery probably needs to be replaced, but the phone works fine.

I loved my 8600 but as someone said earlier battery life wasn't the best, I would get one day out of it and that's all but I am also always on my phone either texting or talking. I never had memory problems (I'm not in a VCast area though) but the reception was not that great, going from an 8300 to an 8600 you would definitely notice a difference if you go to poorer reception areas. If you are looking for a good phone similar to the 8600 I would get the 8700. I would guess the battery life is going to be similar to the 8600 but reception is much better. I bought that for my dad and a few guys I work with have it and none of them have ever had a problem, they say reception is great, battery is OK and camera is very good too. Hope this helps!

I would just get the 8700. The 8600 had a lot of reception issues. They work fine if in a good area, but get in a fringe area, and it is all over for the 8600. The 8700 works a lot better and for the most part is about the same phone. I know from experience. I had 3 8600's, 2 of them had reception problems. had them replaced with the 8700, night and day difference for reception. we went a whole year with crappy service because the phone was bad.

on a side note, verzon/LG screwed up dropping the 8300. The 8350 is nowhere close to what the 8300 is. I am sure verizon is the one that dropped the 8300. It always appears that when verizon gets a phone that works good and lasts a long time, they get rid of it, they want us buying phone...
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