LG launches high-end 3G handset

NEW DELHI, INDIA: LG on Wednesday launched a high-end 3G-enabled handset in partnership with U.S.-based technology major Qualcomm.

The — LG GM 730 — is priced at Rs. 24,000 and is based on Qualcomm’s chipset with Windows mobile and touch screen that will offer faster e-mail setup and download,” LG Electronics India Business Group Head (GSM) Anil Arora said.

With the new model, the company is targeting a 20 per cent market share in the touch screen mobile segment, he said. “The company is aiming to sell 10,000 units of this model a month,” Arora said.

The Government has already announced the base price of 3G pan-Indian licence and telecom operators are gearing up for launching 3G services by October next year. Mobile handset makers like LG see huge market opportunities in the 3G services market.

MTNL offer

MTNL launched its first operator branded 3G handset with Gurgaon-based Micromax.

The Micromax 3G handset, H 360, will be bundled with MTNL’s 3G services (Jadoo) based on the chipset provided by U.S.-based Qualcomm.

H 360 will be exclusively available to MTNL customers at Rs. 5,500. The handset will offer real time development, high speed Internet, video telephony, besides, social networking applications like Facebook and Orkut.

“This 3G handset will be for the masses, a breakaway from the expensive handsets available in the market,” Micromax Managing Director Rajesh Aggarwal said.

MTNL, which has launched 3G services in Delhi and Mumbai, is hopeful of garnering more customers with this bundling.

The 3G handset market, where the service is yet to be launched by private operators, is going to see huge competition as the market for high and low end handsets will co exist.

Micromax said the company expected to sell around one lakh units of the newly launched 3G phone in the next six months.

The company also hoped to lower the price of the phone to Rs. 4,000 in the next 6 to 12 months. MTNL said the company was looking for partners, franchisee and vendors to sell the product.