San Diego – LG is promoting a new AT&T cellphone as the first
smartphone in the U.S. with 1GHz processor, first smartphone with fingerprint
ID technology to unlock the phone, and first U.S. phone with optional snap-on pico
projector.
The eXpo, based on the Windows
Mobile 6.5 Professional OS, is due Dec. 7 from AT&T on the carrier’s
Web site and through AT&T’s enterprise-sales
channels for $199 after $100 mail-in rebate, which takes the form of an AT&T
promotion card. The price is contingent on a two-year contract for a minimum
$69.99/month service plan. The pico projector, which snaps onto the eXpo and
operates off the phone’s battery, will be available in the coming weeks at $179.99.
The 4.49-inch by 2.17-inch by 0.6-inch phone, which features 3.2-inch
WVGA touchscreen and slide-out QWERTY keyboard, is also notable because it
incorporates 7.2Mbps 3G technology, which AT&T plans to launch in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami by the end of the
year. By the end of 2010, the carrier will expand its 7.2Mbps HSPA footprint to
25 of the nation’s 30 largest markets and, by the end of 2011, expand its reach
to about 90 percent of its existing 3G network footprint, the carrier said.
AT&T calls 7.2Mbps technology the fastest 3G technology available in the U.S.
Other features of the phone include 3D user interface, RSS
viewer, assisted GPS, 5-megapixel
camera with auto flash, MicroSD slot supporting up to 16GB cards and USB 2.0 high-speed port.
The Smart Sensor fingerprint-recognition feature from AuthenTec
eliminates the need to enter PIN
codes or passwords to unlock the phone. The technology also delivers more
precise cursor control for touchscreen text editing and four-way menu
navigation. Also included is AuthenTec’s turbo-scroll feature, enabling rapid
browsing of long emails, contact lists or Web sites, the carrier said.
The attachable 1.8-ounce pico projector operates off the phone’s
battery to display Web pages and phone-stored documents, video, images and Web
pages up to 66 inches in size as measured diagonally, LG said.
For the U.S.
market, Samsung’s cellphone division early this year announced, but hasn’t
shipped, a stand-alone pico projector that connects to multiple cellphones and
operates off its own internal battery. The device is available in foreign
markets, as is a Samsung cellphone with built-in pico projector.
