LG's Java 2.0 GSM phones should make Motorola nervous

THE COMPANY formerly known as Lucky Goldstar and which now goes by the name LG made a big push for its complete line of lightweight Java 2.0 compatible GSM phones.

LG's big GSM Java 2.0 phone push at EXPOCOMM 2006 Argentina

If one thing is certain is that down here, the clamshell format rules, and the "candybar" style phones are the minority. Of all six phone models showcased by LG at its booth, five are of the clamshell kind, and only one -the entry-level MG100, is of the "candybar" style. Confirming the relevance of Java on the mobile space, LG touts "Java 2.0 compatible" -meaning "MIDP 2.0 compatible" on all the six phones. Also impressive is the small weight of these phones, with five out of six weighting less than 100 grams, with only the MP3 playing one tipping the scale a bit more.

Some of the phones showcased. Clamshell rules down here. Only one model was of the "candybar" flavour

The models promoted by LG on its booth are the MG100, MG130, MG200, MG210, MG220 and the top of the line, MP3-playback ME591, with the respective weights being 72g, 80.5g, 96.5, 79g, 79g, 107g.

The models promoted. All Java 2.0 compatible

All phones -including the entry level MG100, feature GPRS class 10 support, WAP 2.0, Java 2.0, and colour displays. The MG200, the MG220, and the ME591 all feature a VGA camera with "3x zoom" capability. The 210 and the 220 are strikingly similar, but the 210 lacks the camera, and apparently the company used the small round opening where the CMOS sensor was placed in the 220 to put a speaker in the 210. Other than that these two phones are identical.

The phones seem well constructed, and judging by the nice design, I think Motorola and other players are in trouble. I can certainly see the MG100 stealing customers from Alcatel's entry level offerings, and the MG200 stealing customers from Motorola's entry line like the V172.

Black is fashion. Now you know!

Another difference worth mentioning is that the MG210, MG220 and ME591 are black coloured phones, and advertised with the "black concept" label. I'm exactly not sure of what this means. LG's booth also read: "Black is Fashion", with the picture of a black LG "Black Zafiro" phone - and a white couple, of course. This proves how meaningless marketingspeak can get. Still, nice phones. HelloMoto should be worried.µ

L'Inqs:
Java dominates mobile phone gaming in much the same way that Windows dominates the desktop
Datasheets: MG100, MG130, MG200, MG210, MG220 and ME591
Will Korea's LG become the next Samsung? (BusinessWeek)

See also:
Argentina, reversal of fortune
Fernando's recommended reading
EXPOCOMM Argentina 2006 coverage (updated list)
EXPOCOMM Argentina 2005 coverage
EXPOCOMM Argentina 2004 coverage