Despite a promise back in February at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009 to remain committed to Windows Mobile on their handsets, Korean phone manufacturer LG has unveiled some partial details about their upcoming GW620, which will be powered by Google Android. The GW620 will be the first phone from LG, the 3rd largest phone manufacturer globally, to feature the open-source OS from Google.
The phone is set for release at some point during Q4 in selected markets across Europe before being sold in other parts of the world. The scheduled release date could see it up against the Motorola DEXT, which will also be the first Android attempt from Motorola. At present it is rival Asian manufacturers HTC who are dominating the Android market with several phones already under their belt including the HTC Magic.
The LG GW620 will be aimed at ‘young professionals’, with an emphasis on internet services such as social networking, email and of course all that Google has to offer. Not a great deal is known just yet about the phone that was seen earlier this month at IFA in Germany under the name ‘Etna’, although it is known to feature a 3″ touch sensitive screen and slide-out QWERTY keypad. This will fit with its stated messaging-orientation and aside from a 5 megapixel camera not much more can actually be said about the GW620 just yet.
LG are insistent that they are still committed to Windows Mobile as their primary choice of OS, with three WinMo handsets to be unveiled in the upcoming weeks and around 13 planned for release at some point during the next 12 months. If successful the GW620 could persuade LG to make use of the Google OS on more of their future handsets although for the moment their minds are firmly focused on Microsoft.
Comments:
