LG to launch LTE DD across six international markets
10 May 2013
Korean smartphone maker LG will shortly introduce LTE TDD in six international markets including India. The company announced the Optimus G smartphone first in Saudi Arabia through telecom operator Saudi Telecom Company (STC).
Following the Saudi launch, LG plans to release its LTE TDD-enabled smartphones in other markets such as China, India, North America, Japan and Australia, with this calendar year. The LTE TDD service was first tested by LG in partnership with China Mobile at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013.
According to Dr Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, LTE TDD was a superior alternative in some countries due to its flexibility in uploading and downloading.
He added, the company was able to offer consumers LTE TDD capable smartphones based on its unparalleled knowhow in 4G LTE technologies. With the commercial introduction of LTE TDD service, LG would build upon its expertise in 4G LTE by offering future device options utilising this standard, he said.
According to analysts, 4G had not really taken off so far in India and there were very limited smartphones supporting LTE TDD available in India and this might turn out to be a good move by LG to address a gap in the market.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Amazon, long rumored to be developing its own smartphone, was working on a screen that allowed people to see 3D images without glasses.
According to the journal, the internet retail giant was working on several gadgets to add to its offerings of Kindle tablets and e-readers.
The report cited people familiar with Amazon's plans, as saying the devices included two smartphones and an audio-only streaming device.
The phone would come with retina-tracking technology, for the 3D allowing images on the smartphone appear to float above the screen like a hologram and appear three-dimensional.
There had been a buzz about Amazon smartphones since 2011.
According to report, Amazon was making a broader push into hardware but could still defer the plans for financial or performance reasons.