Samsung, LG To Launch Windows Phone 7-Powered Smartphones In Europe, Asia Next … – Wall Street Journal

SEOUL (Dow Jones)--Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE) and LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE), the world's second- and third-largest handset makers by shipments, said Monday that they will launch their respective smartphones running on Microsoft Corp's (MSFT) Windows Phone 7 operating system on the global market next week.

This shows aggressive attempts by the two handset makers to take on Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) popular iPhone by expanding their line-ups with diversified software platforms, such as Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android and Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows Phone 7.

Samsung Electronics, the second-largest maker of cellphones by shipments behind Nokia Corp. (NOK), said it will launch its new device--Omnia 7--in Europe and Asia, including France, the U.K., Spain, Germany, Australia and Singapore, on Oct. 21.

It also said it will start selling the device through U.S. carrier AT&T Inc. (T) in November.

The new model features a 1-gigahertz processor, a 4-inch Super Amoled display, and a 5-megapixel camera, it said.

Similarly, LG Electronics said it will also launch smartphones powered by Windows Phone 7 in Europe and Asia next week.

The company's LG Optimus 7, will be launched in the U.K., France, Germany, Singapore and Australia on Oct. 21, while another model, LG Optimus 7Q, will be available for sale through AT&T in the U.S. market from Nov. 21, the company said in a statement.

LG, whose cellular phone business has come under sales and profit pressure this year, has only a small presence in smartphones and made its first global launch of a smartphone with Google's Android operating system just early this month.

LG's then-chief executive, Nam Yong, quit last month to take responsibility for the company's loss-making handset business.

LG said its new smartphone will offer a unique application, called Play To, which will allow users to easily send pictures, music and video content from their smartphones to other digital devices without having to access other menus.

The Optimus 7 features a 1-gigahertz processor developed by Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM), a 3.8-inch liquid crystal display and a 5-megapixel camera while the Optimus 7Q, will have a 3.5-inch touch-screen display with a Qwerty keypad, the company added.

-By Jung-Ah Lee, Dow Jones Newswires; 822-3700-1907; jung-ah.lee@dowjones.com