G3 to get upgrade for LTE

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G3 to get upgrade for LTE

As of Friday, Samsung and LG Electronics will both have launched new phones just two months after the release of the Galaxy S5 and G3 in their rush to dominate the broadband LTE-A market and to encourage customers to buy a new phone.

LG Electronics said on Tuesday that it will release the G3 Category 6 on Friday, two months after the G3 first went on sale in May. The Category 6 phone’s application processor will be upgraded from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 to Snapdragon 805 to better support broadband LTE-A.

Samsung released the Galaxy S5 Broadband LTE-A in June, two months after the S5 went on sale in April. The new product has broadband LTE-A service and a Quad-HD display.

Both products will only be sold in the domestic market.

“Since broadband LTE-A service is only offered domestically, it would be difficult to export these products,” said an official in the telecommunications industry. “Because the names of these models are so long, we use shortened versions such as Gal5 Gwang and G3 Cat. 6,” the official explained.

However, even broadband LTE-A, which is three times faster than regular LTE-A, will only be considered new technology for a short period of time. Customers who buy phones that support broadband LTE-A will only be able to call it the latest technology for about six months.

Three mobile communication companies, including SK Telecom, are planning to commercialize a 20-megahertz broadband frequency by combining two regular 10-megahertz frequencies to create 3 Band LTE-A, which they say is four times as fast as LTE-A.

“Most customers have no problems with LTE or LTE-A smartphones, yet fierce competition [among telecom companies] encourages them to spend more than necessary on telecommunications,” said Jung Ji-Yeon, secretary-general of Consumers Union of Korea.

The G3 Category 6 will cost 930,000 ($908) to 940,000 won, 30,000 won more than the original. Galaxy S5 Broadband LTE-A is currently sold at 940,500 won, 80,000 won more than the original Galaxy S5.

LG also launched a game yesterday that users can play on the mini window through the case of the G3.

Puppy Pop, the first game developed for Quick Circle, is free for G3 users. They can download the game on Google Play Store or through LG Smart World.

By kim young-min [kjy@joongang.co.kr]





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