LG Electronics, the pioneer in digital technology, unveiled the world’s first terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting-receiving mobile phone in the Middle East today.
With this phone, LG has resolved the problems surrounding the bulky size and power consumption; users can watch terrestrial DMB TV and speak simultaneously via mobile phone. The handset incorporates DSP (Digital Signal Processor)-based SoC (System-on-Chip) with LG’s handset design technology and terrestrial broadcasting-receiving chip, to give it the edge in size, performance and convenience in use.
“This breakthrough in DMB technology will open up a world of mobile possibilities and gives us the momentum to lead the multimedia mobile handset revolution,” said C H Lee, president, LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “By overtaking Europe in launching the terrestrial DMB phone, we can have a bigger voice in setting global standards. Using the terrestrial DMB phone technologies, LG will aggressively penetrate markets including Europe, South America and China. I am convinced this will help us achieve our goal of being among the top three players in the global handset industry by 2006.”
LG invested US $20 billion to develop the phone, developed over two years by 130 top researchers. The company has filed 150 patents applications for technologies, including H.264 video decoder enabling technology.
The terrestrial DMB SoC can be applied to mobile phones, notebook computers, PDAs, and car terminals. LG, backed by its expertise in integrating DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) and FEC (Forward Error Correction) technologies, is developing various broadcasting-related technologies such as satellite and terrestrial DMB related handsets. The company will continue to enhance its product line up by upgrading broadcast receiving and battery capacity.
The SB-120 mobile broadcasting phone provides crystal-clear video, CD-quality audio and satellite-transmitted data. Contrary to conventional satellite DMB models, users can receive video-on-the-move services on a 360-degree pull back monitor. The unit has a two mega-pixel camera supporting auto focus functions and a TV-out cable through which users can connect television sets to watch DMB programmes on a full screen televisions.
“We are now focusing on developing communication devices that can work anywhere, anytime on any network, any device and any service. By the end of this year, LG will manufacture 70 million mobile phones a year around the world, through its production bases in Korea, China, Mexico, India, Brazil and Pune, India, scheduled to commence operations next year
LG beat Siemens to become world’s fourth most popular mobile phone brand in the first quarter of this year. According to IDC reports, LG clocked sales of 11 million units in the first quarter of 2005 and enjoys 6.4 per cent market share in mobile handset sales worldwide. The company has witnessed a year-on-year growth of 26.9 per cent from 2004. LG sold 13.9 million units in the fourth quarter last year and posted a 55.3 per cent year-on-year increase.
