LG’s latest QWERTY keyboard phone, the VX 9800 has been revealed in the FCC database today. The phone has an external numeric keypad with a 128×160 screen, and flips open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, stereo speakers and a 320×256 screen. The VX9800 is a CDMA handset and features EV-DO high speed data, a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash, Mini SD and MPEG4 video streaming. It is not a smartphone, but it can handle e-mail, music on demand and video on demand through EV-DO high speed wireless networks.

Verizon has announced the availability of the LG VX9800 by the end of the month.

Tags: LG, VX9800, Verizon

LG has annoounced a new 3G (EV-DO) phone which looks like Nokia’s Communicator. It has a full QWERTY keyboard, 262k colors LCD screen, a 0.3 megapixel camera and supports high speed EV-DO networks. It has a pair of big speaker beside the screen to support multimedia functions like video and mp3 playing.

Among the crop of new phones that LG is displaying at CTIA is the 8100, a small, dual-band (800/1900) CDMA handset that packs in two very desirable features - support for high-speed EV-DO data networks, and Bluetooth.

The 8100 is an update to the VX8000, and features the same clamshell design with dual color displays, but in a smaller, sleeker package. The 1.3 megapixel camera is backed by a generous 512 MB of on-board memory and a miniSD card slot. The extra memory would be a boon to anyone using the 8100’s various multimedia features, which, in addition to the camera, include video capture, a voice recorder, and a stereo MP3 player with built-in stereo speakers. There is also speaker-independent voice dialing and 3D graphics for gaming.

As an EV-DO phone, the 8100 is likely to appeal to users looking to take full advantage of the capabilities of high-speed networks, and support for streaming video and picture messaging are included. Carrier support has not been announced yet. Considering that Sprint is nearly ready to roll out their new EV-DO network, it is conceivable that the device could end up there, but our bets are on Verizon and their currently available EV-DO VCAST service.

The device measures up at 91mm x 48.8mm x 26.1mm (3.58″ x 1.92″ x 1.03″), and weighs 118g (4.16oz). The 1000mAh standard battery should be good for up to 3 hours of talk time and 9 days of standby time. There will also be a 1700mAh extended battery available. Maximum camera resolution is 1280×960, and video clip recording is limited to 15 second clips. The 8100 supports speaker-independent voice dialing and has a hands free speakerphone function. The main display is a 262k color 176×220 TFT unit, and the external sub-display is a 65k color 128×128 unit.

No word yet on when the device will be officially launched with carrier support, nor what it might cost.

LG Electronics has recently made another successful test-run of its 3.5-generation HSPDA (high speed downlink packet access)-enabled mobile phone in North America following its previous test in Europe, and is now pushing to penetrate the global 3.5G mobile handset market.

LG Electronics announced that it has made a successful demonstration of 3.5G high-speed data transmission at CTIA Wireless 2005 using Lucent Technology’s 14Mbps download-supportive WCDMA system, as well as its own-developed commercialized HSDPA-enabled mobile phone.

LG Electronics successfully demonstrated HSDPA mobile handset’s downloading of DVD video and large-capacity multimedia-feature music in a Web server-based 1.4Mbps transmission environment, as well as other innovative services available in a 3G mobile infrastructure.

The model is the same type as the HSDPA whose test run was made successful at Nortel lab on March 6, the first of its kind in the world. It is the industry’s first multi-mode mobile phone that can support not only the existing 3G WCDMA platform, but also 2G GSM, 2.5G GPRS, and 2.75G EDGE. The company’s successful test runs of the model in Europe and the U.S., both promising WCDMA markets, is profoundly meaningful.

The commercialized HSDPA service, which is a pre-4G multimedia technology that will lead the 3G mobile services, will be introduced starting 2006 to Korea, Europe, the U.S. and other WCDMA service-provided countries, after its networks are structured and its technology is upgraded starting in the second half of this year.

The HSDPA service, which can provide a data transmission environment with a maximum speed of 14 megabits per second, i.e., seven times faster than EVDO service, and five times faster than existing WCDMA service, enables a smoother video telephony and downloading of large-capacity multimedia data even on the road. The HSPDA service thus enables high-speed wireless Internet connection via mobile phones, PDAs and notebook PCs while on a bus, subway, and high-speed bullet trains.

In particular, the HSPDA will likely be launched by operators in North America’s WCDMA market in the second half of this year, and the American market is paying keen attention to the expected introduction of HSDPA service, a technology upgraded a notch form the existing WCDMA service.

Since LG Electronics was selected as the strategic handset provider in December 2004 by Cingular, and is fast leading the HSDPA-enabled handset market, it is thus set to widen its presence in North America’s 3G and 3.5G mobile handset market.

Add some extra colour into your life! The LG U8138 features not one, but two bright, colour screens built into its sleek, elegant shape. On the external screen identify who’s calling, check your SMS, the time and dazzle your friends with some cool screen pics! You can listen to music with the built-in MP3 player and snap away with the 2x zoom digital camera.

The changes from the older 8120 to the 8138 are not immediately apparent. Most notable is the battery talktime and video calltime. The battery talktime lasts over 50% longer and the video calltime lasts over 40% longer in the 8138.

Main features:

• External colour screen
• Videotalk
• Built-in digital still and video camera with 2 stage zoom and light
• Speaker phone
• MP3 Player
• 32MB Internal Memory
• USB and infrared connectivity (no Bluetooth)
• Email - 3 email address and access external (POP3) email (no IMAP)
• PC sync with Microsoft Outlook via USB/infrared connectivity
• Java MIDP

Apart from a slight external makeover, the only real difference between the LG U8120 and the LG U8110 is the increased memory size. The increased memory (32MB) is a welcome addition, and the new phone does look a tad nicer, but apart from that the spec of the new phone is identical to the old, and they are the same in terms of size, weight and battery life. This is an exclusive handset to the “3″ network in the UK.

LG U8110 is a dual mode clamshell mobile phone designed to work on the 3G and GSM networks (dual band). This is LG’s first 3G handset, and at 126g it is one of the lightest and smallest 3G models currently available. There are many good features included in this phone, among them the integrated GPRS and WAP technology, video calling, MMS multimedia messaging, video and audio streaming, video recording download and playback, MP3 player, sound recorder, Java enabled, speakerphone for hands-free conversations, active flip, LED flashlight, and e-mail client.

There are dual LCD displays in this phone, with the large internal screen offering a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels, and the capability to reproduce up to 65,536 different colours. This high definition screen presents you with a clear view of the phone menus and pictures you use; also during video calls the screen displays your picture as well as that of your contact. The external monochrome display has a 64 x 96 pixels screen, and this shows useful details such as the time, caller identity, battery condition, and network status.

The LG U8110 has an integrated camera that doubles up for stills and video, and this can take pictures of up to VGA quality (640 x 480 pixels). Other useful features of the camera are its 2x digital zoom, adjustable exposure setting, and a picture editor to edit your pictures. The camera can rotate through 180 degrees, which is important when the phone is used for video calls as you can point the lens either towards or away from you, so showing your contact the view you want them to see. Pictures and video taken with the camera can be sent to your contacts in MMS messages or in e-mails; for example, an MMS may contain a video clip or image, audio and a text message.

Music on the move is also possible with the integrated MP3 player although 14 MB is way too little for users who like to carry around lots of stored music or video clips.

With its integrated GPRS data transfer technology, this phone provides you with fast access to the network and an “always on” connection, and the WAP browser makes it easy to handle the mobile Internet. An e-mail client is included, which enables you to use the standard e-mail services, and this feature also supports the normal IMAP4 and SMTP protocols.

The LG U8110 can be connected to compatible equipment by using its wireless infrared port, or alternatively you can make a wired connection using the USB data cable. Once connected it is then possible to synchronise your personal information such as schedules and phonebook contents with a PC or PDA, or to exchange information and files including video, pictures or sounds.