LG brings 3G wireless to masses wih new phones

Although relatively quiet at this week's 3GSM expo, LG has just previewed a pair of new phones at the conference that seek to add faster 3G Internet access to the previously untapped area of mid-range phones. The KU250 (pictured) is the first phone to have been awarded the GSM Association's "3G For All" label, according to LG: rather than adopt the size and price of a smartphone, the KU250 assumes the shape of a standard bar phone to save costs without sacrificing 3G elements. Internet connections as quick as 1.8Mbps are possible through the phone's HSDPA support; the phone even finds room for the front-facing VGA camera needed for video chats. A 1.3-megapixel rear camera, AAC/MP3/WMA playback, and a microSD slot still find their way into the phone, which is due to arrive in Europe this Spring.

Read through for the higher-end KS10 and a gallery.

Moving slightly higher on the scale is the KS10 (below). Also sporting the same 1.8Mbps variant of HSDPA, the device uses a larger 2.4-inch screen with a slider design to keep its size down. It also sees a slight upgrade in photo quality with a rear 2-megapixel camera, and gains Bluetooth for headsets and data sync. LG hopes to launch the KS10 for Europe in a similar timeframe as the KU250. [via SlashPhone]