LG Optimus Windows Phone 7 Handset Details Leaked

Ahead of Microsoft’s official launch of its latest series of smartphones, based on Windows Phone 7 software, handset manufacturer LG Electronics accidentally jumped the gun, issuing a press release with specifications of the UK launch of its first Windows Phone 7 handset, Optimus 7. While the release was quickly retracted from the company’s official blog, a Google cache of the post contains all the information on the smartphone.

The 3.8-inch WVGA LCD capacitive touchscreen display offers 800×480 pixels, 16GB of internal memory, a 1500mAh battery and a compact form factor, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, a 3.5mm headphone socket, as well as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and a digital compass.

Live Tiles

The phone also features Live Tiles, designed to offer easier access to information and services from the web and often-used applications. The operating system (OS) is divided across six Hubs – People, Pictures, Games, Music + Video, Marketplace and Office.

Features include the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-based Play To, application, which defines a standard for moving movies, photos, music and other media from device to device, augmented reality and Voice-to-Text, which can all be added as Live Tiles on the Windows Phone 7 to personalise the device and can be accessed via integrated hubs in the operating system.

“The LG Optimus 7 represents the product of close work between LG and Microsoft to create a user-friendly handset that combined the glance and go experience of the Windows Phone 7 combined with the best features that are exclusive to LG devices,” the pulled release stated.

DLNA based multimedia-sharing allows users to access their multimedia via any DLNA compatible device, meaning users can listen to the music on Optimus 7 phone through home speakers or view pictures on a television. The handset’s Scansearch application utilises the latest in Augmented Reality technology to connect users to a world of information. Users can access real-time information about shopping, dining, weather, entertainment and banking. The Voice-to-Text feature allows voice to text transcribing for Facebook and Twitter updates, emails or memos, hands-free.

The Optimus 7 allows users to access Microsoft services on the go including Xbox Live and Zune services as well. Users will be able to create high quality digital content on the go with 720p HD video resolution that offers recording and playback and can be shared online on social media channels, or offline on a TV using the Play To feature.

‘Make or break’ for Microsoft

Users can also create a more cinematic feel using 16:9 aspect ratio capture. The 5MP camera offers technological enhancements to help users capture better images, including intelligent shot, which optimises all settings, and a panoramic mode, which allows for stitching together a full 360-degree landscape scene.

Microsoft is reportedly spending $400 million (£250m) to market Windows Phone 7 during the smartphone operating system’s initial rollout, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Jonathan Goldberg. “This is make-or-break for them. They need to do whatever it takes to stay in the game,” he told the technology blog TechCrunch in a 26 August interview. “They don’t have to take share from Android or Apple, so long as they can attract enough consumers switching from feature phones.”