Philippine Cell Phones

Manila / December 17, 2009 - LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, announced the market introduction of the new LG Chocolate phone (LG BL40), offering customers in the Philippines a closer look at the eagerly-awaited widescreen device. The new LG Chocolate is the fourth handset in LG’s Black Label Series and successor to the highly-acclaimed LG Chocolate.

Chocolate Phone

With the introduction of this bold new shape, the new Chocolate is essentially reinventing the way consumers view and use mobile phones. Designed with sleek sophistication, the strikingly unconventional 4-inchwide screen opens up an enlarged and more optimal space for “on-the-go” computing, allowing for an entirely new mobile experience that raises the bar of innovation.
Users will see things differently with the widened 21:9 panoramic display that establishes a new level of visual comfort for the reading of web pages and e-mail and dramatically brings videos and games to life with cinema-like screen. Going wide also allows for the dual screen era to finally be brought to handsets for enhanced usability, which when combined with LG’s upgraded and intuitive S-Class UI brings a whole new meaning to the words “user friendly”.

“Minimalistic and sleek, the new LG Chocolate will dramatically change the way we interact with our phones,” said Mr. Raymond Hernandez, Corporate Marketing Head of LG Electronics Philippines. “The new Chocolate reflects the originality and sophistication of the Black Label Series and like its predecessor; we are confident thatthe new Chocolate will create its own legacy and further enhance our standing in the market.”

Mobile web browsing is now a breeze with the new Chocolate’s 4-inch, 21:9 HD LCD that eliminates unnecessary side-scrolling; 7.2 HSDPA provides speedier internet and e-mail

Enjoy a panoramic multimedia experience featuring a theatre-like movie player and enriched image and document viewer through thewide screen

Utilize the extra space with Dual Screen UI that can intelligently display two different types of content simultaneously

Touch Things Differently

Enjoy simplified touch screen navigation with LG’s upgraded S-Class UI, which offers the best in finger-friendly 3D graphics, intuitive responsiveness, and easier accessibility to applications
with one-touch copy and paste, transfer content even more quickly and effortlessly

Thanks to the wider screen, discover a refreshingly new hands-on experience for a multitude of tasks ranging from texting to gaming

Style Things Differently

Irresistibly slim shape, glossy black finish and iconic red highlights create a sense of subtle, chic luxury that preserves the new Chocolate’s design identity

Curved scratch-resistant glass that seamlessly encases the phone and provides a smooth, elegant surface that will always look flawlessly clean and alluring

The 4-inch HD LCD opens up a wider space to showcase and accentuate your personal style; enhanced customization features allow you to express yourself through wallpapers, themes and ringtones created from your own multimedia content

[courtesy of LG Electronics Philippines and GreenBulbPR]

Here are the specs:

345 x 800 pixels, 4.01 inches TFT capacitive touchscreen
5 MP camera with LED flash, 2560 x 1920 pixels :
Schneider-Kreuznach optics, autofocus - supports geo-tagging, face, smile and blink detection, image stabilization and manual focus
Bluetooth 2.1
Wifi 802.11 b/g, DLNA
3G - HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
GPRS Class 10
EDGE Class 10
1.1 GB storage and microSD up to 32GB
Stereo FM radio
Battery on 2G: Standby time - 400 hours, Talk time - 6 hours

The LG BL40 is now being displayed in LG Concept Store in Megamall and has a reported retail price of Php26,000.

If you don’t know yet, the Philippines is considered as the `SMS capital of the world.’ This little distinction gives us Pinoys some insight on cell phones. We’ve had quite a number of advanced value-added mobile services like G-cash or Smart Money. We buy and sell cell phones like candy.

My opinion: The iPhone is not for Pinoys.

1. It’s too expensive. US$499 and US$499 (somewhere around Php30k & Php40k) is too much for a lot of Filipinos. The fact is, you hardly see people with Treos, N90s or blackberries here. The price range is exclusively for the high end market.
2. It doesn’t have 3G.  I am told that 3G is not prevalent in the US. Here, my tech buddies rely on it for mobile Internet. They usually use a bluetooth-enabled laptop that connects to a bluetooth cellphone with 3G. The internet experience has been pretty good and is much more practical than PLDT weRoam or Globe Visibility. You get 30 minutes of decent Internet connectivity for 10 pesos (20 US cents).
3. It will take too long to be released here. The iPhone is slated for release in Asia in 2008. That’s one whole year of waiting. I’m pretty sure that by that time Sony-Ericsson and Nokia while have released more affordable alternative devices. Their goal would be to beat the iPhone before it comes out. With an established distribution network here, Nokia, SE and the other companies already have an enormous advantage.

No, I don’t think the iPhone will sell here. Not yet. Unfortunately, the Philippines is simply not Apple’s target market. I give it probably 2-3 years before I’ll see it amongst ordinary Pinoys.

Price: P29,000