LG to launch 'Android' phone this year

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's LG Electronics Co. said Monday it will
launch a smartphone featuring Google's operating system this year, reinforcing
its smartphone line-up.

LG Electronics said its first Android-powered smartphone will be initially
released in Europe in the fourth quarter of this year.
"(The phone) will appeal to first-time smartphone customers by offering a new and
different kind of user experience," said Ahn Seung-kwon, president for LG's
mobile business. "Our objective is to provide a wide selection of smartphones to
satisfy the diverse preferences of today's consumers. This Android phone is just
one of many smartphone models we plan to introduce worldwide in the years ahead."
The new Android phone will feature a 7.6cm full touchscreen and slide out QWERTY
keypad, company officials said.
In addition to the Android model, LG announced in early September that it will be
introducing a minimum of 13 new smartphones over the next 16 months that utilize
Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system.
Three of them will be introduced in the next few weeks, according to the company.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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