LG to release more than 50 Windows phones by 2012
"As part of the agreement, LG will make Windows its primary operating system for its smartphones and will increase both the number of Windows phones in its portfolio and the total volume of Windows phones it distributes," according to a Microsoft press release.
Further, "this will create a tenfold increase in the volume of Windows phones available from LG in 2009 and bring up to 26 new Windows phones to market in 2012 alone. Overall, the agreement can result in more than 50 new LG Windows phones".
Besides a global joint marketing effort, the two companies will also be working together in R&D to create devices that integrate tightly with software.
Microsoft yesterday announced its new Windows Mobile (WM) 6.5 operating system that features a novel honeycomb user interface alongside a couple of new services. To learn more about the features in WM 6.5, click here.
To kickstart things, LG unveiled the GM730, a slim 11.9mm Windows phone equipped with the latest version of Internet Explorer Mobile. This will be available in the earlier half of this year running on WM 6.1 and will feature a 3D cube-based layout with four customizable home screens similar to the Arena. Dubbed the S-Class UI, the new interface will be used on all LG's high-end handsets, according to the Korean phone-maker.
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In addition, LG said it will add the WM 6.5 version of the GM730 to its portfolio in the second half of the year, although it didn't say whether existing WM 6.1 models will get the software upgrade.
The Korean outfit is also going green at the Mobile World Congress happening in Barcelona this week.
The company unveiled a solar-powered handset that will have enough power for a 3 minute call when exposed to the big AC mains in the sky for 10 minutes. The handset, together with the HFB-500 Bluetooth solar car kit, eco-friendly packaging and a commitment to reduce the use of hazardous substances make up LG's "Life's Good When It's Green" initiative that was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month.
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Still on devices, LG also showed off what it claims to be the world's first transparent design phone (GD900) and an early prototype smartphone with a built-in Long Term Evolution (LTE) chip. The latter is commonly referred to as 4G technology. Details about the GD900 are scant at the moment, but we do know that it will have a translucent keypad, a polished silver chassis and be released in the next quarter.
Last but not least, the GD910 Watch Phone that we saw back at CES has received more details. Orange will be the first carrier to bring the device to Europe later this year. When the GD910 ships, it will feature HSDPA connectivity, a 1.43-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, Bluetooth stereo, onboard speaker and video calls.
For a quick breakdown of the new devices, click here.
| Model name | In a nutshell |
LG Arena Read first take |
Availability: March 2009 (Europe) |
LG GM730 Click for more info |
Availability: H1 2009 |
LG GM310 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG KB770 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG KT770 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG KS360 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG Cookie KP500 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG GB130 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG GB102 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG GB250 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
LG GB220 Click for more info |
Availability: TBC |
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