LG Preps WiMo 6.5 Phones

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LG GW 550

LG Electronics said Thursday it will be launching three smartphones over the next few weeks that will be powered by Windows Mobile 6.5.

The company has not divulged many details about the devices, but it has discussed a model called the GW 550. The handset has a BlackBerry-like form factor with a full QWERTY keyboard on the front, and it will likely have Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, and GPS. LG is also expected to have a touch-screen smartphone, and a device with both a touch screen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. All of LG's smartphones will have the company's S Class user interface, which aims to make Windows Mobile more finger-friendly by adding 3-D icons and various animations.

One of the appealing factors of the latest version of Windows Mobile will be the access to Microsoft's mobile application store. Windows Marketplace for Mobile is Microsoft's response to Apple's App Store, and it enables Windows Mobile users to browse, buy, download, and install new programs over the air. Windows Mobile 6.5 will also come with the My Phone feature, which enables customers to wirelessly back up and sync their photos, contacts, text messages, and other data.

The move is part of LG's larger strategy to place a heavier emphasis on smartphones as part of its efforts to overtake Samsung to become the second-largest handset maker in the world. The company recently launched its first U.S. smartphone, the Incite, and it plans to have at least 13 Windows phones by the end of 2010.

LG will not be the only company offering Windows Mobile 6.5 devices, as Acer, HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba have committed to offering smartphones with Microsoft's mobile operating system.

Most companies are just starting the hard work of mobilizing workforces by bringing the software they use to smartphones. InformationWeek analyzed this issue in an independent report, and it can be downloaded here (registration required).