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LG takes on Samsung, Apple with new smart watch
Tech giant LG Electronics said Thursday that it would unveil the worldâs first Long Term Evolution-support smart watch at a mobile trade show next week, upping the ante against rivals Samsung and Apple
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ech giant LG Electronics said Thursday that it would unveil the world's first Long Term Evolution-support smart watch at a mobile trade show next week, upping the ante against rivals Samsung and Apple.
LG's new standalone G Watch Urbane, to be showcased at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona March 2-5, enables users to make calls on the Voice over LTE networks, which is currently available on LTE-based smartphones.
The wearable device also allows users to make a conference call with other users through the preinstalled app called 'LTE walkie-talkie', according to the Korean firm.
A 700 mAh battery, almost two times larger than LG's previous smart watches, a GPS tracker, gyro and heart rate sensors are some of the features of the new smart watch.
'LG Watch Urbane LTE is the topnotch smart watch which incorporates all capabilities of LG,' said Cho Ju-no, chief of LG's mobile communications division, in a press release.
'The company will try to provide innovations that consumers truly need.'
In many ways, LG has been trying to outrun its compatriot Samsung Electronics and California-based Apple by putting a slew of cutting-edge technologies in the upcoming smart watch.
The installation of LG's mobile wallet service based on Near Field Communications chips is in line with this effort.
LG said its mobile wallet service, featured for the first time in the world on smart watch, will enable users to pay for their purchased goods and services.
LG Electronics' G Watch Unbane, the world's first smart watch that supports Voice over LTE services (LGE).
The tech firm also has its own OS, called 'LG Wearable Platform,' mounted on the device, a move to wean itself from Google' Android operating system.
However, despite the in-house OS, LG said the new wearable would be compatible with all handsets running on the Android 4.4 platform or higher.
Samsung introduced the first standalone smart watch Gear S last year, which fell short of customer expectations.
The company is planning to unveil its seventh smart watch 'Orbis' at the MWC trade show. The smart watch is expected to feature a round display, and mobile payment solutions developed by Samsung-owned LoopPay.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook previously said his company was planning to unveil the long-anticipated Apple Watch in April.
The Apple smart watch will come in three models - standard, luxury and gold - and feature an improved water resistance function.
Rumor also has it that Apple already has 100,000 smart watch applications ready for use. (***)
