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LG Mobile Phones Grabs Nearly 19 Percent Of U.S. CDMA Market; Takes Third
Place Among Manufacturers Through Strategic Sponsorships and a Fashionably
Functional Line of Handsets, LG Mobile Phones Has Taken Domestic and Global
Markets by Storm
SAN DIEGO, May 28, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Since entering the U.S. mobile handset market in 1998, LG Mobile Phones has rapidly climbed from newcomer to fierce competitor, now ranked third in the U.S. among handset manufacturers and claiming 19 percent of the U.S. CDMA handset market in 2002, according to Strategy Analytics. Strategy Analytics also stated that LGE supplied 5.6 million CDMA and GSM mobile phones worldwide and captured 5.2 percent market share, subsequently outperforming Sony Ericsson, which supplied 5.2 million units and captured five percent market share.
LG has wooed customers away from larger manufacturers with innovative handsets that successfully blend fashion and function, letting customers enjoy stylish handsets without sacrificing reliability or economy. In addition to the successful CDMA presence in the U.S., LG has also announced that they will be expanding into the U.S. GSM market later this year.
Dramatically increased awareness for LG and its products has been achieved through strategic community outreach programs, key sponsorships and the impending launch of a multi-million dollar branding campaign. Fans of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim will find the LG logo etched into the ice rink at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, Calif. and catch the logo alongside the action at World Champion Los Angeles Lakers games as well. Other sports sponsorships in varying degrees include the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, New York Yankees, the NBA's Big Ten and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It's great to see a company grow to meet the needs of the market through both leading- edge handsets and strategic promotions," said Chris Ambrosio, director in the Global Wireless Practice at Strategy Analytics. "With its reputation as a CDMA handset innovator, we were not surprised to see how quickly LG Mobile Phones took hold of this highly competitive market since its entry into the U.S. in 1998. With the launch of GSM handsets later this year, LG will be able to leverage this same innovation strategy in a GSM market that is badly in need of devices with feature and design diversity. This expansion coupled with continued CDMA success paves the road to long-term volume growth for LG."
"When LG first entered the American marketplace in 1998 it was with the goal of growing our business with smart, fashionable, functional and reliable handsets," said Jeff Hwang, vice president of marketing, LG Mobile Phones. "Now people know the LG brand and the fashion, function and reliability it stands for."
About LG Electronics
Established in 1958 as Korea's pioneer consumer electronics company, LG Electronics is a global major player of Electronics and Information & Communications products. Over 55,000 employees working in 73 overseas subsidiaries and marketing units around the world, LG Electronics strengthen core competencies in three main business companies: Telecommunication Equipment & Handset, Digital Display and Media, Digital Appliance.
Telecommunication Equipment & Handset Company provides total solutions ranging from wired and wireless handsets to telecommunication equipments. As the fruits of its concentrated endeavors in the innovation and development of leading-edge technologies in the field of next-generation wireless telecommunications, LG Electronics is steadily expanding its world market share in CDMA and W-CDMA(UMTS).
LG Electronics is focused on promoting Home Network and Mobile Network businesses based on cutting-edge Multimedia Application Technology along with Information and Communication Technology as its core business areas.
LG Electronics' Goal is to enable the intelligent networking of digital products that will make consumers' lives easier than ever. For more information, please visit www.lge.com
About LG Mobile Phones
LG Mobile Phones' expertise in designing sleek, user-friendly phones has proven wildly successfully in the U.S. market, where the company's market share of all CDMA handsets has exponentially grown in just four years. LG has claimed nearly 19 percent of the CDMA market share in the U.S. for 2002, ranking LG third among CDMA manufacturers, according to analysts at Strategy Analytics. LG has plans to increase its market penetration even further with an aggressive brand campaign and a competitive line of next generation high-speed voice and data mobile phones.
Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., LG Mobile Phones is the North American wireless division of LGE USA, a business unit of LG Electronics of Seoul, Korea. With annual sales of approximately $16 billion, LGE employs more than 55,000 individuals worldwide and operates research and development, manufacturing and sales and marketing facilities around the world. LGE was the first manufacturer to commercialize the CDMA digital mobile communication system with its support of the launch of the SK Telecom Network in Korea. More information can be found at http://www.lgmobilephones.com.
SOURCE: LG Mobile Phones


CONTACT: LG Mobile Phones Melissa Elkins, 858/635-5329 Public Relations Manager LG Mobile Phone: [phone] [e-mail] or Bender/Helper Impact for LG Mobile Phones Krys Card Grondorf, 562/421-1842 LG Mobile Phone: [phone] [e-mail]: http://www.businesswire.comToday's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internetwith Hyperlinks to your home page.
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