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LG teams with Microsoft for smart phone

by Mike Dano
March 18, 2004 1:44 PM EST


LG-SC8000
SEOUL, South Korea—LG Electronics Co. Ltd. becomes the latest mobile phone manufacturer to team with software giant Microsoft Corp. as it gears up to release its new LG-SC8000 smart phone running Microsoft’s Pocket PC operating system. LG will release the device in its home market of South Korea.

The advanced handset features an integrated megapixel digital camera, support for CDMA EV-DO networks, an Intel Corp. processor and a sliding keypad design. The phone is scheduled to be available next month.

The device is notable as LG recently signed a licensing deal with Symbian, Microsoft’s operating system rival in the mobile phone space. Juno Cho, president of LG’s U.S. phone business, said LG will initially make Symbian devices for the European market while using Microsoft software in Korea. He said the company has no plans yet to sell either Symbian or Microsoft products in the United States.

Microsoft has so far racked up a significant number of phone licensees, although its shipment volumes are relatively small.

Motorola Inc. plans to build a variety of high-end devices using the company’s software, while Siemens, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and others also sell devices running Microsoft’s phone software.

Microsoft sells two mobile versions of its Windows operating system. Its Smartphone OS is designed for mobile phones and one-handed use, while its Pocket PC OS is for personal digital assistants and two-handed use. Both platforms fall under its Windows Mobile tagline.

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