LG Electronics to Install Google Software into Cell Phones, Co-Create "Digitalized Home"

by Anton Shilov
03/28/2007 | 10:59 PM

LG Electronics, a leading maker of consumer electronics, and Google, the world’s most popular search engine, have announced a global collaboration to pre-install Google’s services on of LG mobile phones. The companies promise that with new cell phones  users will be able to easily search for information, find locations, update blogs and manage email.

“Building on our efforts to set new standards for wireless handsets, we are excited to partner with Google to offer extra value to consumers with enhanced mobile Internet experiences,” said Mr. Paul Bae, vice president of the product planning team at LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

Select LG handsets, pre-installed with Google software will be shipped globally including North America, Europe and Asia starting in the second quarter of 2007. These cell phones will include several features not available today:

• One click access to Google search through an icon in the application menu.
• Google Maps for mobile, an application that enables users to view maps and satellite imagery, find local businesses, and get driving directions.
• Gmail for mobile, a Java-based application that simplifies usage of email while on the move.
• Blogger for mobile, an application to upload/download images and text to blog from mobile devices.

Even though the announcement and plans sound like something totally new, all the applications that are presented now may be installed into almost any phone/smartphone available on the market, hence, mobile collaboration between the two companies does not sound as a breakthrough.

An interesting thing about the new partnership is that LG and Google will extend their collaboration to “develop digitalized home in the future”. What could it be? Google in a TV-set or a DVD player?