AT&T, LG Intro 1 GHz Smartphone

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LG eXpo

AT&T and LG Electronics introduced the eXpo smartphone Monday and the handset could be useful for mobile professionals needing to share data on the go.

The handset is powered by Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5, and it will be the first major U.S. smartphone to pack a 1-GHz processor. The handset will integrate into corporate Exchange deployments for mobile mail, contacts, and calendar information on the go, and the speedy processor should enable users to multitask quickly. The latest version of Microsoft's mobile operating system also gives users the ability to download applications over the air, and it offers a wireless backup service called My Phone.

The eXpo will also be the first U.S. handset to come with support for an optional integrated pico projector, and this accessory enables users to share videos, Web sites, slideshows, and presentations directly from the handset. The LG Mobile Projector will be able to fit in a user's hand, and it can project images and videos as far as eight feet.

The smartphone will also come with a fingerprint recognition sensor from AuthenTec that offers more security than just a password unlocking sequence. LG's handset sports a 3.2-inch touchscreen with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and multiple high-end features one expects from a business-class device including assisted GPS, 3G capabilities, a 5-megapixel camera with built-in flash, and a microSD slot for expanding the memory.

The eXpo will go on sale Dec. 7, and the handset will cost $199 after a mail-in rebate and with a new two-year contract. LG's mobile projector will cost about $180 and it will be available in a few weeks.