Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

[khemara_qc]

LG Mobile Phones Grabs Top Spot in the U.S. CDMA Handset Market in the First Quarter of 2004

SAN DIEGO, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recently released mobile phone market share study from research and analyst firm IDC, LG Mobile Phones won the largest share of the U.S. CDMA handset market in the first quarter of 2004, selling more than three million units to corner 26.8 percent of the market. The nearest competitor emerged with 20.6 percent of the market share, giving LG a significant victory in the first months of 2004.


"Following our CDMA market share victory in 2003, in which LG leapt from third place to first in one short year, we are pleased to hear that our continued hard work is rewarded with another impressive showing in the mobile handset marketplace," said Juno Cho, president, LG Mobile Phones. "However, we are even more gratified that our products continue to appeal to a wide-range of consumers, providing them with the high level of quality they require, along with the advanced features that keep them coming back for upgrades and new developments."
One of the major factors contributing to LG's continued victory in the CDMA space is its successful relationship with leading national carrier Verizon Wireless. According to IDC, the popular LG VX6000 camera phone continued to sell well in Q1 2004, and the newly introduced VX4500 handset proved immediately popular. In addition to its first-place finish among CDMA handset sales, LG was ranked third in overall market share for Q1 of 2004, ahead of competitors Samsung and Kyocera, according to results from IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Qview program.
In addition to its significant successes in the CDMA marketplace and overall handset sales figures, LG's focused initiative to gain GSM market share came to fruition as the company rose in IDC's rankings and entered the list of the top six leading GSM manufacturers in the U.S. LG's GSM global market share has steadily increased since 2001, and the Q1 2004 visible growth in the GSM market has the company poised to continue its major expansion into the U.S. GSM space.
"Establishing a presence in the GSM market was one LG's top-line priorities for 2003, and continues to be a major priority into 2004," said Jonathan Maron, director of marketing for LG Mobile Phones. "The successful debuts of the G4010 and G4050 for Cingular Wireless and the G4011 for AT&T Wireless have built momentum for LG in the GSM market, and have laid the foundation for winning a significantly larger portion of the GSM market share over the course of 2004."
About LG Electronics
LG Electronics, Inc. (066570KS) was established in 1958 as the pioneer in the Korean consumer electronics market. The company is a major global force in electronics and information and communications products with more than 64,000 employees working in 76 overseas subsidiaries and marketing units around the world. With annual total revenues of more than US $16.9 billion (non-consolidated), LG Electronics comprises three main business companies: Digital Display & Media, Digital Appliance, and Telecommunication Equipment & Handset.
The LG Telecommunication Equipment & Handset Company provides total solutions ranging from wired and wireless handsets to telecommunication equipment. The company is a leader in the innovation and development of cutting-edge technologies in next-generation wireless telecommunications and is steadily expanding its global market share in 3G (WCDMA / cdma2000) wireless systems.
LG Electronics' goal is to enable the intelligent networking of digital products that will make consumers' lives better than ever. For more information, please visit http://www.lgusa.com/
LG Electronics, Inc.


CONTACT: Melissa Elkins, Public Relations Manager of LG Electronics,Inc., [phone], [e-mail]; or Johanna Brown of Ogilvy PR,[phone], [e-mail], for LG Electronics, Inc.


Web site: http://www.lgusa.com/

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2004/Jun/1051402.htm