LG bares Android 2.2-powered Optimus One smartphone

MANILA, Philippines - The LG Optimus One, the much-awaited full-touch-screen smartphone that runs on Google’s new Android 2.2 (Froyo) mobile operating system, has finally hit the stores in the Philippines.

“LG and Google have a vision of helping people access information fast and easily, no matter where they are. We believe the Optimus series will play a significant role in accomplishing our vision,” said Richard Javier, mobile communications head of LG Electronics Philippines.

“With LG Optimus One with Google, LG removed all the barriers for consumers’ use of smartphones — providing optimum smartphone experiences and serving as a leader in the popularization of smartphones by increasing the number of Android users and expanding the overall Google mobile experience around the world,” he added.

The global mobile industry is already displaying support for LG’s smartphone strategy.

“LG is already seeing the fruits of its strategy, having signed contracts to launch the Optimus One with Google with approximately 120 carriers in around 70 countries this year,” Javier said.

The Optimus One is among the earliest smartphones to launch with Android 2.2 Froyo, the latest version of the Android platform, which allows for two to three times faster and smoother Internet browsing, Web page loading, application pop-ups, and multi-tasking.

The device also enables professionals to easily sync with Outlook Calendar for improved productivity, while offering portable Wi-Fi hot spots to easily share a single 3G connection.

The device is optimized for popular Google Mobile Services including Google Voice Search, Google Voice Actions, Google Goggles, and Google Maps with Navigation, and also offers access to the Android Market with more than 100,000 applications.

Featuring a fun, user-friendly user interface, the Optimus One also includes the exclusive LG App Advisor, which recommends 10 highly rated applications every two weeks. The uniquely designed LG user interface offers users easier and more intuitive ways to enjoy all the benefits of the brand-new Froyo.

The quad-band Optimus One has a 262k-color capacitive touch screen, a 600MHz processor, measures 113.5 x 59 x 13.3 mm, and weighs 127 grams. It has 170MB of internal user memory expandable via microSD card up to 32GB.

The phone also features a camera with face-tracking and smile shot, a 3.2-inch-wide HVGA screen, and a long-lasting 1500mAh-capacity battery.

To highlight the local debut of the Optimus One, LG held last Saturday a “One Day, One Hour, One Chance” opportunity for consumers to avail themselves of the new smartphone at half its P12,990 SRP, which means they could get it for a shockingly low price of P6,495.

This special debut sale was held at participating LG concept shops in SM Megamall, SM North EDSA Annex, SM Cebu, and Gaisano Davao.