Reuters newsagency has reported that LG Electronics has won the contest – organised by GSM Association – to provide low cost 3G handsets in order to boost uptake of the technology. The revelation comes ahead of 3GSM World Congress, which kicks off in Barcelona next week, where the result was due to be officially announced.
The winner of the contest is expected to receive orders for several millions of the handsets by as many as a dozen mobile operators.
According to the report, LG’s winning device will weigh in at around the $100 mark, significantly undercutting many existing handsets – the prices of which have been held, to some degree, responsible for holding back mass adoption of 3G services such as internet and video.
Both LG and GSM Association declined to comment on the story.