South Korean handset maker LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday it plans to roll
out a new long-term evolution (LTE) smartphone in Japan as it moves to
strengthen its foothold in the neighboring country.
LG Electronics
plans to start receiving pre-orders for the "Optimus Life" phone via Japan's top
mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. on Friday and release the LTE device on Dec. 21,
the company said in a press release.
The 4.5-inch smartphone,
available in three colors, is designed for Japanese consumers with localized
features, according to LG.
The Optimus Life is the latest in the South
Korean handset maker's LTE smartphone line-up in Japan. The company has released
several LTE models, including its flagship Optimus G phone, via NTT DoCoMo and
KDDI.
In the third quarter, LG sold a record 7 million smartphones
globally, compared with the previous high of 6.2 million.
Of the
total, LTE smartphones accounted for roughly 2.1 million, according to
LG.
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LG Electronics Inc.'s Optimus Life smartphone. (Photo
Courtesy of company) |