LG Electronics' New Cell-Phone Line Offers Even More Bells And WhistlesLG Electronics' New Cell-Phone Line Offers Even More Bells And Whistles

LG Electronics unveiled the cell-phone line it will promote this holiday season at an event in New York Tuesday. But with support for next-generation cellular and Bluetooth technology, LG's line is clearly moving beyond voice communications.

Out of the new line, the LG VX8100 has the most bells and whistles. The phone is designed to work with Verizon Wireless' EV-DO network, a next-generation cellular technology that will offer close-to-broadband download speeds.

The phone has a consumer flavor to it. It's optimized for V-Cast, a wireless multimedia broadband service that lets cell-phone users watch video clips from major news, sports, and entertainment outlets. They can play 3-D games and download multimedia files. But the phone also can be customized for business applications, says John Maron, director of marketing at LG's MobileComm U.S.A. division.

The VX1800 is Bluetooth-enabled, meaning it can connect to a variety of devices, such as wireless handsets. Additionally, the phone has removable MiniSD memory, making it easier for users to transfer digital pictures and video clips from the phone to a desktop.

LG says it plans in September or October to roll out more phones that will build on the capabilities of the VX8100 and will have other features such as a keyboard, a camera, and external stereo speakers for better sound quality.