Innovation: Kenyans to soon make video calls via the latest LG 4G Mobile Handset

By James Ratemo

The age of sophisticated mobile videoconferencing is here with us.

Mobile phone makers are readying to explore this new platform through inculcating features that can make it a reality.

This means soon it would be possible to videoconference while on the move.

As Kenyan telecommunication companies prepare to migrate to the fourth generation technology (4G), LG Electronic has promised its customers to await the release of it’s first ever Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Video call over LTE mobile handset, sometimes in 2011.

First showcased at this year’s Mobile World Congress, LG Regional Marketing Manager George Mudhune said the "One Voice" protocol is expected to be widely adopted by mobile makers in the future with LG at the forefront of introducing the new technology to consumers.

Mudhune said the consumers will be able to experience faster and seam-less high-quality voice and video calling via LTE technology immediately the LTE networks are built:

"Superseding both 3G and Wi-Fi speeds, LG’s LTE technology will ultimately change the way people make calls by utilizing established network carriers to provide HD voice quality through AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate) wideband technology, while allowing users to maintain their existing phone numbers," he said.

This comes after LG Electronics recently hinted its intention to sale over 150million mobile handsets this year in its marketing strategy - a 30 percent increase year-on-year with smart phones accounting for 20 percent of total sales:

As the company plans to achieve the sales target with the launch of 20 Smartphone models globally this year, Mudhune said the firm will invest heavily to strengthen its overall capability in Research and Development and quality management. The electronic giant will also seek to expand its R&D workforce to more than 6,000 employees, a 15 percent increase over 2010.

On the other hand, LG will also be improving its content and services through partnerships with key content providers, with a series of 3D games and movies available through LG Apps.

"We are already focusing all of our resources on delivering the widest variety of smart devices for all types of customers, "added Mudhune. "This will be a critical year for LG and a lot of eyes are upon us to see if we’ll succeed. We don’t intend to let them down."

Among the other gadgets scheduled for release this year include the LG Optimus 3D, the world’s first smartphone with a 3D platform to record, view and share 3D content, and the eagerly anticipated LG Optimus Pad with its 8.9-inch screen, dual-core processor and Android’s new, tablet-optimized Honeycomb OS.

†