World's First 3G DBDM (wcdma/cdma2000) Mobile Phone

[Kenster]

World's First 3G DBDM Mobile Phone
13th February 2003

Introducing the dual band, dual mode cell phone with the launch of WCDMA / cdma2000 1x services. Laying the early ground for WCDMA services and aiming at being a market leader with the best CDMA and WCDMA technologies for IMT-2000 cellular phone.

With the full-fledged launch of 3G WCDMA service for the first half of this year, LG Electronics has introduced World's First DBDM (Dual Band Dual Mode) phone for both CDMA and WCDMA modes.

DBDM phone (Model: LG-K8100) comes with a 2.2-inch and 260,000 color TFT-LCD screen and an embedded 300,000-pixel (VGA grade) camera, working in both WCDMA and cdma2000 1x systems. LG Electronics has already provided DBDM phones to KTICOM for a test run.

There have been concerns that a lack of development of DBDM phone would be in the way of launching WCDMA services. However, it is now fully addressed with DBDM phone developed based on single-mode phone technologies.

What is more significant is that WCDMA service areas can also receive cdma2000 1x services, laying groundwork for early WCDMA service launch.

LG Electronics demonstrated a single-mode WCDMA phone with VOD (video on demand) function (Model: LG-K8000) in "IT Performance" during the 2002 World Cup opening ceremony. On top of that, its recent introduction of DBDM phone for WCDMA / cdma2000 1x has paved the way for LG Electronics to take the lead in not only CDMA but also WCDMA markets with its advanced mobile technologies.

LG-K8100 is fit for the next generation mobile multi-media service with all the sophisticated features including VOD, multi-media, entertainment and high-speed data transmission. A dual chip solution was used for this model to meet the latest standard of WCDMA phone.

Mr. Seong-tae Kwon, a director (Vice President) of LG Electronics 3G Handsets Lab. said "LG Electronics has already proved its advanced cellular phone technologies worldwide. For example, Ericsson and other WCDMA handset makers selected our single mode WCDMA phone for a system sync test. With the DBDM development, we aim to be a true leader of in the 3G CDMA and WCDMA market at home and abroad."

LG Electronics also plans to develop a "one chip solution" phone that needs only one chip for DBDM function, while working on stabilizing dual system sync to meet the demand for both test and commercial of WCDMA services in time.

[northform]

Yeah! I was looking for an article on this topic (because Qualcomm had announced the chips) and now you've posted it. Now the only problem with this phone is its colour display. Does anyone think that Verizon would offer a phone like this? It would allow their customers to roam worldwide (once Europe gets its act together). It would also allow Verizon to transition from CDMAOne/CDMA2000 to wCDMA.

LG is really a great company and this product solidifies them as a market leader.

[ockidd15]

You mean LG as a whole, or you mean thier cellular division? I agree with the fact that LG is a good company, but I'm not so sure you can label thier cellular division as a market leader; or how LG introducing the first 3G DBDM phone "solidifies" them as a market leader.

[bobolito]

I didn't know that Mr. Tae Kwon-Do was a vice-president at LG Electronics [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[northform]

I meant LG InfoComm and their phones are the best CDMA phones out there. Motos can get equal sound quality and reception, but have poorly designed interfaces and buttons. Personally, I think that coming out with a new technology phone before anyone else has announced plans on such a phone is leadership. Others will likely follow with their own wCDMA/CDMA phones and that will make them "followers" of LG.

There really aren't many companies that consistantly deliver when it comes to mobile phones. Most botch up some of their models, but LG phones are always consistant with what you would expect from them.

I get critisized when I trump up GSM; I get critisized when I trump up CDMA. . .I cannot win.

[ockidd15]

Haha, I just think that saying "LG makes the best CDMA phones" is a really strong opinion to put out there because its very easy to argue with that point. Even though Motorola's UI isn't as user-friendly, that doesn't necessarily mean its worse than an LG. With Motorola's V line of phones, they have been very consistent at delivering excellent quality, reception and voice clarity. For many years, since the introduction of the starTAC they have been the standard of cell phones. Of course with many new competitors today, its hard to say that now. You'll find this true dating back to ther StarTAC serices, through thier revolutionary small V8160 series and into thier V60 line. They've been very consistent.

I've been an LG user for over 3 years and there's no doubt they can make some good phones. I've been a Moto user on and off, from owning a starTAC, to thier small V8162 and now recently the V60i. I don't hate the LG (much less since I'm Korean) and I don't love the Moto. I just think that saying "LG makes the best CDMA phones" is too strong a statement. I'm actually a Nokia fan. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[Kenster]

The interesting thing too is that I've seen some nice LG and Samsung refrigerators when I was in Latin America -- I don't think I've seen any here in the US.

Some followup news:
...and another reminder to include some international exposure to your stock portfolio [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

LG Electronics Leads the Global Standard of 3G CDMA
14th February 2003

LG Electronics' CDMA technologies recognized by world telecom leaders.

Stronger position as a world's first CDMA developer and active domestic development of global CDMA standard expected.

LG Electronics has become a leader in setting the global standard of 3G CDMA mobile communications.

Dr. Byung-kwan Lee, an Executive Researcher (Vice President) at LG Electronics telecommunication equipment & handset company, was appointed as a chairman of TSG-C (Technical Specification Groups - CDMA2000) in the 3GPP2 meeting in China last week.

For the next 2 years, he will lead TSG-C in developing the global standard of CDMA2000 handset and networks, and will represent 3GPP2 in its meetings with 3GPP or other UMTS/WCDMA standard development organizations.

3GPP2 was established in 1999 with a goal of setting global standards of 3G CDMA system or CDMA2000 mobile technologies. By participating in various standard development organizations in the U.S., Japan, China and Korea, 3GPP2 has worked on the global standards for improving wireless connection technologies, applying new multimedia services such as MMS and developing IP systems for all the networks.

His appointment means that the world mobile communication industry recognizes LG Electronics for its active development of CDMA mobile communications' standards and will consolidate Korea's position as the world's first developer of CDMA.

Lucent Technology has chaired 3GPP2 TSG-C for the last 4 years. For the new chairmanship, LG Electronics was selected after an uphill battle with Ericsson.

[bobolito]

The LG UI is far more friendly. The rule of thumb is, if I have to reference the user manual to figure out something in the UI, then it is not an intuitive design. At least with the LG 5350, or any of the Nokias, my manuals are still wrapped in plastic because I never needed them. However, with any of the Motorolas I've used, the manuals have to be handy.

I could never figure out how to use a Nextel phone....Maybe I'm dumb, but then again, they are designed by Motorola. Need I say more?

[northform]

Well, Nokia doesn't really make CDMA phones (they do, but it's usually an afterthought and no carriers seem to push them).

It's very true that LGs being the best is completely opinion, but I just can't stand moto's interface. Motorola's newer phones have delivered some of the best performance consistantly, but they need to reshape them (the v120 comes to mind), put in better buttons, and develop an intuitive UI. Hey, at least there aren't any hidden problems with motos. Any things that you might not like are readily apparent at the store. Unlike some phones that look and feel OK, but can't hang on to a network.

[ockidd15]

Doesn't it seem that Moto's been lacking in thier UI design for the longest time? They are always behind in the competition. Maybe they need to hire some new people in that department. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[northform]

Or they could just licence a UI from Nokia of LG.

[ockidd15]

Haha now that would be interesting.

[Phony]

The current Motorola handsets are pretty solid especially when compared to what they had two years ago. The v60 and t720 are solid phones. I saw the phones their trying to release at the end of the year and they blow away their current phones. Nokia's line-up is probably the weakest out of all the carriers. I was able to see what they have coming out was was not impressed. The new LG phones are pretty good too. I think you're going to see all the manufacturers chipping away at Nokia's dominance in the handset market.

[mobilegirl]

Phoney, as has been pointed out, no one is questioning how good the motos are except for their interfaces. The interfaces are poorly designed on motos. Other than that, they aren't really lacking.