LG GW620 Android Phone [First LG Android, Landscape QWERTY Slider, 3-in Touchscreen, 5MP Camera]

Well, it’s finally happened. LG has gone and announced the launch of its first smartphone powered by the Android OS. We can’t say that we’re all that surprised, as they had already let the proverbial cat out of said bag at the IFA show earlier this month in Berlin (it was called the Etna while there, but seems to have lost the moniker in the meantime). Even though we already knew about it, I have to say that there is something far more comforting in a formal press release than a “preview” at an electronics show. So, without further ado, we give you the LG GW620.

Never let it be said that LG, the world’s third largest mobile phone company, doesn’t listen to its customers. The launch of the Android-powered GW620 is hot on the heels of the company’s announcement last week that it would be hitting the market with three new Windows-powered smartphones, all in the next month or so. There is, however, a twinge of danger in saturating your own market with an overabundance of consumer choice causing choice paralysis at the purchasing end. Let’s hope that LG gets that.

The new LG GW620 comes with a nicely proportioned 3-in full touchscreen and slide out QWERTY keypad. While there was no mention of an integrated camera in the official press release, the IFA show model was seen to be sporting a 5MP, fixed focus model that will probably find its way into the final version as well. Actually, given the timing, it was probably the final version that was shown at IFA. Safe bet? We think so, too.

The new LG GW620 is being hailed as the ultimate combination of consumer-friendly design and mobile computing functionality. It looks like LG has attempted to combine the best of both worlds without stepping on the toes of its friends over at Microsoft. After all, they are pretty close to the Gates clan. They plan to launch a mere 13 new Windows Mobile-based phones over the next year or so if that gives you any idea exactly how close they really are. That’s quite a sticky wicket if I do say so myself. According to Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, “The LG-GW620 will appeal to first-time smartphone customers by offering a new and different kind of user experience.”

The LG-GW620 will be available in the fourth quarter of this year in select European markets.