AT&T Intros LG Incite Smartphone In U.S.AT&T Intros LG Incite Smartphone In U.S.

AT&T has nabbed the first U.S. smartphone from LG Electronics, and the LG Incite is packed with features for the mobile professional.

Keeping up with e-mail should be easy with the Incite, as it is capable of receiving push e-mail from Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, Yahoo Mail, Windows Live, and other accounts. A user can also send SMS, MMS, and instant messages with the handset.

Nearly all input is done via an on-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard, as the 3-inch LCD touch screen takes up most of the real estate of the smartphone. The handset also has an accelerometer that automatically rotates the screen depending on how the user is holding it.

Keeping connected shouldn't be a problem, as there's built-in Wi-Fi, and the Incite will have free access to nearly 20,000 of AT&T hotspots. If a customer is out of Wi-Fi range, they can stay connected by using EDGE or 3G networks. The Incite is also capable of handling voice and data task simultaneously.

Road warriors will be able to use their handsets to read and edit Word, Excel and OneNote documents, and the Incite can view PowerPoint and Adobe PDF files. There's also a personal organizer, calendar, voice dialing, Bluetooth, and GPS.

Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, the Incite is also a capable multimedia device. It can play multiple types of audio and video codecs, and it has a built-in FM radio, as well as access to streaming video and audio services from XM Radio, Pandora. Additionally, the 3-megapixel camera is capable of shooting photos and videos.

At 4.2 by 2.2 by 0.5 inches, the Incite should be a relatively compact smartphone. It is available now on AT&T's Web site for $199 after rebates and signing a new two-year contract.

For LG, this is the first move in a larger strategy to aggressively compete in the increasingly popular smartphone market. The company has released a few smartphones globally before, but it is mainly known for feature phones like the Venus and the Voyager.

For AT&T, the Incite rounds out the carrier's strong portfolio of smartphones for the holiday season. In the last few months, the mobile operator has released the iPhone 3G, BlackBerry Bold, HTC Fuze, and the Samsung Epix.