LG officially announces GW620, its first Android phone

Though it already broke cover at IFA out in Germany a few days ago, LG's just sealed the deal on its very first Android phone -- the GW620 landscape QWERTY slider. Interestingly, the "Etna" name seen at IFA is missing from the official press release, but otherwise, the 3-inch touchscreen mentioned lines up nicely with what we'd previously known. Camera specs aren't mentioned here, but as far as we know, it's going to clock in at 5 megapixels and the phone looks to be loaded with a very bone-stock Android build sans LG-specific enhancements like an S-Class port. Interestingly, the GW620 flies in the face of LG's super-cozy relationship with Microsoft and its commitment to concentrate on WinMo in its smartphone line, but you can tell that the company's wording in the release is very carefully-chosen: the phone is geared at "making the smartphone experience more accessible for typical users" and "young professionals who demand a full QWERTY keypad," which we guess makes WinMo a more business-savvy platform in LG's eyes. We think we're comfortable with that characterization -- for now, anyway. Look for the GW620 to start showing up in "select European markets" in the fourth quarter of the year.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 3:24AM]

Reminds me of the LG Xenon.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 5:01AM]

Now how about porting that sweet android rom of gw620 to an LG KS360? Would that be possible? It'd rock anyway!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 6:02AM]

damn...just when motorola's first android phone gets announced, LG pulls out this one on us..
actually i prefer this over the motorola cliq/dext,
is that brushed metal at the top of the phone?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 14th 2009 11:25AM]

Now I know what this looks like! An HTC Touch Pro2 bottom half (keyboard and back) with a Samsung Omnia II front face.

[slayermd Posted Sep 15th 2009 12:09AM]

They could have upped the screen size. There is a lot of wasted space in that bezel.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2009 10:05AM]

Ive said it before and I'll say it again: Please bring Android goodness to At&T (insert handset manufacturer here).

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2009 4:25PM]

KS360? haha. you mean, the GW520 ;P
I actually like the 520's design and color scheme better. (but this keyboard is pretty dang nice)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 15th 2009 4:28PM]

i lied. the LG Prada 2 would be soo much better!! :D