LG Slider Smartphone Emphasizes Style

Korean handset maker LG Electronics is pressing hard on the sleekness factor of its new slider smartphone, the LG-KF510, which it debuted Monday.

The new handset is less than a half-inch thick and features a backlit, sliding LED touchpad from which the user can navigate an Interactive Touch Lighting system to scroll and maneuver the animated menu, the vendor said.

The KF510 is equipped with a 3-megapixel camera with power flash and a one-second response time. The handset has features an advanced MP3 player that enables the user to automatically sort music into play lists or categories. In addition, an Auto Luminance Control (ALC) feature, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the LED screen, helps conserve the power capacity of the unit's battery. The smartphone is available in gray or red, the vendor added.

"We have established ourselves as a leader in this field and the LG-KF510 is a unique addition in our mobile portfolio," said Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications, in a statement. "With its sleek aesthetic and superior technology, it will appeal to many discerning consumers that value both style and substance."

LG said the KF510 will be available in April at most major mobile retailers in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The vendor did not make available any pricing information, nor did it disclose if it plans to build a version compatible with mobile networks in North America.

According to recent figures from Gartner, LG Electronics is the world's fifth largest handset maker. Nokia leads with 40.4% of the market, followed by Samsung (13.4%); Motorola (11.9%); and Sony Ericsson (9%).