LG to Enter GSM Handset Space

LG plans to launch its global range of GSM handsets in India in OND 03. An
internal team is currently researching the market and working out the  distribution and revenue models, informed Harrison Han, Assistant, Mobile
Handsets Overseas Division, Seoul, in town for the Convergence India 03  exhibition. The GSM handsets are already available in parts of Europe, and
have received a favorable response, added Han. Currently, LG has three such
GSM handsets on offer - the LG 200, LG 500 and the LG 600.

The company is also formally launching its premium CDMA handsets, the LG
7130 in India in April. (It may be recollected that the 7130 handset is the
flip-phone version doing the rounds in the Reliance Infocomm print and  electronic
advertisements). Globally, LG has 24 different models of CDMA  handsets, though only LG 2130 and LG 7130 has been
launched in India so far.  

In India, LG handsets are not sold directly to the consumers, but bundled
with the connection. Would the GSM model also be pre-bundled? "We are  working on the modalities," answered Han.
Han, who handles the Reliance Infocomm account in India added that the bulk
orders received from RIL have been "considerably higher" than the orders  received from Tata
Teleservices in terms of units. He, however, refused to  divulge the number of units bought by the two operators so far, or the
purchase price.

(CNS)