Verizon Wiresless + LG at CES 2012 = LG Spectrum

LG Spectrum is one of the cool and fast smartphones that are coming to Verizon Wireless during 2012. The Spectrum is powered by Android Gingerbread initially that lives up to its name with 4.5”  True IPS  (In-Plane Switching) Screen that is used in LG HDTV sets. The LG Mobile press release states "Intensifying its HD capabilities, Spectrum by LG will give customers exclusive HD access to the ESPN™ ScoreCenter application. "  LG touts it as True HD.

"ESPN’s ScoreCenter app is supported by an exclusive HD video feed, giving customers the exclusive access to ScoreCenter stats, images and videos in 720p HD. Scoreboards and live game details include in-game stats, news and video. Personalization features allow fans to customize their ScoreCenter experience by highlighting their favorite teams and leagues from around the world, all in crystal clear high-definition."

I guess this phone will fulfill the needs of sports lovers, who can’t glue to their TV sets while their favorite team is playing and they have to work.

The specs of this phone from LG’s press release are:

• 4.5-inch True HD IPS display provides natural colors and brilliant, undistorted HD images in 16:9 aspect ratio. Pictures and texts are incredibly sharp with 329 pixels per inch (PPI) screen density.
• Protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass, the True HD IPS display uses Real Stripe sub-pixel arrangement so images never get blurred.
• Android™ 2.3 Gingerbread (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade available the first half of 2012); support for Google™ Mobile Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Search™, Google Maps™ and access to more than 300,000 apps available to download from Android Market™.
• Preloaded Netflix app allows Netflix subscribers to stream the latest movies in high-definition quality.
• Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core processor makes multitasking seamless. Customers can surf the Web, check email and update social networks effortlessly.
• ESPN’s ScoreCenter app offers the most comprehensive sports coverage available on an Android device whether you follow the NFL or Premier League, ICC Champions League or MLB™, NASCAR or Formula One™. Customers can follow teams from more than 500 leagues around the world with an exclusive 720p high-definition feed for Spectrum by LG while connected to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network or Wi-Fi.
• Spectrum supports Dolby® Digital Plus, which allows users to maximize their HD multimedia experience. Dolby Digital Plus can stream up to 7.1 channels of surround sound through home entertainment systems.
• 8-megapixel rear-facing autofocus camera with LED flash to snap beautiful pictures and 1080p video capture. Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat
• SmartMovie HD app—create and edit HD videos right on the Spectrum by LG
• Mobile Hotspot capability—share 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Bluetooth® Version 3.0
• 16 GB microSD™ card pre-installed with support for up to 32 GB microSD card
• SmartShare—share media wirelessly to DLNA®-enabled devices
• HDMI mirroring capable via MHL

The press release didn’t stop there, they provided the pricing and availability of this flagship phone from LG on Verizon Wireless.

Pricing and availability:

• “Spectrum by LG will be available on Jan. 19 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
• Customers who purchase a Spectrum by LG will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. “

Side Note: LG and Verizon Wireless are promising that this will be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich during first half of 2012, by then Google comes with another sweet flavor of Android for sure and I am not sure why LG always slow in adopting latest version of Android in their flagship phones. And I normally take the carriers and makers words with grain of salt about upgrading Android to promised version anytime.  After spending good chunk of my fortune, I realized the upgradeability officially is a myth in the case of Android phones.

This phone is exclusive to Verizon Wireless.

Source: LG