LG Electronics (LG) and Microsoft Corp. announced today an expanded alliance to dramatically increase the number of LG phones running Windows Mobile. As part of the agreement, LG will make Windows Mobile its primary operating system for its smartphones and will increase both the number of Windows Phones in its portfolio and the total volume of Windows Phones it distributes. This will create a tenfold increase in the volume of Windows Phones available from LG in 2009 and bring up to 26 new Windows Phones to market in 2012 alone. Overall, the agreement can result in over 50 new LG Windows Phones!

This agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by LG and Microsoft on November 3, 2008, which put in place strategic collaboration on the converged mobile device business.

"New LG phones running Windows will take advantage of the excitement in this dynamically growing market," said Yong Nam, vice chairman and chief executive officer, LG Electronics. "The Windows platform brings flexible and customer-friendly software that ties into the Web and the PC, giving our phones a wide range of new capabilities to address an increasing number of segments and markets."

"Windows Phones enable people to tap into digital experiences that span their lives so they can connect to the people, information and services they care about most," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. "Integrating Windows software with LG's design leadership will bring new experiences to help enrich people's lives."

The agreement also includes a commitment by both companies to create joint teams for R&D, to focus on creating phones with powerful features built on tight integration between hardware and software. It also details joint marketing efforts to expand the reach of these phones at a range of prices in markets across the globe.

Complementing the expanded alliance, LG also announced the LG-GM730 which incorporates LG's signature style with a slim (11.9 mm) and seamless profile and rounded edges. The Windows Phone user-friendly with features like one-click email set up and easy finger navigation while browsing with the latest version of Internet Explorer Mobile. Available in the first half of 2009 on Windows Mobile 6.1, LG will add Windows Mobile 6.5 version to their portfolio in the second half of 2009.

Cheers ~ Arne