AT&T Mobility set to launch industry’s first 1 GHz phone

AT&T Mobility is set to launch the market’s first mobile device running a processor in excess of 1 GHz with the impending launch of LG Electronics Co. Ltd.’s Expo.
The previous “speed” champ among mobile devices was Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. recently unveiled Android-powered Moment device currently available from Sprint Nextel Corp.
The Expo, which is set to launch on Dec. 7, is powered by the 1 GHz processor that may or may not be Qualcomm Inc.’s highly touted Snapdragon model. Details of the chips origin are so far scarce, but Qualcomm has been vocal about the ability of its chipset to power the ever-increasing capabilities of the modern smartphone.
And the Expo is full of capabilities. The Microsoft Corp. Windows Mobile 6.5-powered smartphone sports a ubiquitous large (3.2-inch) touchscreen with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard favored by those blessed(?) with wide digits and a 5-megapixel camera. It also has support for AT&T Mobility’s rapidly-expanding HSPA 7.2 network as well as embedded Wi-Fi.
AT&T Mobility said it plans to expand its HSPA 7.2 coverage to six markets by the end of the year, 25 of the nation’s 30 largest markets by the end of 2010 and 90% of its existing 3G footprint by the end of 2011. By that time AT&T Mobility is expected to begin the rollout of LTE technology across its network.
There was no word on battery life, which is one of the concerns of high-speed processors, though the Expo does comes with a 1,500-mAh battery.
Beyond the devices processing and connection speeds, the Expo is also the first domestic device to support an optional integrated pico projector. The add-on snaps to the back of the device and allows users to share presentations, slideshows and online videos on a screen at a distance of up to eight feet.
The Expo also includes a “Smart Sensor” fingerprint recognition technology from AuthenTec to secure the device. LG also uses the sensor technology to power a “turbo-scroll” feature to quickly search through e-mails, contact lists and Web sites.
AT&T Mobility said the device will sell for $200 after all available rebates and a minimum $70 per month rate plan on a two-year contract. The pico-projector option will sell for $180 and be available shortly after the Expo launches.