LG Electronics cut its 2011 smartphone and handset targets on Thursday because its Optimus series has failed to stop the runaway success of Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S.
However, the company is betting the new Optimus 3D smartphone, which was
introduced on Thursday in South Korea, and comes pre-loaded with 17
Stereoscopic 3D games from mobile video game developer Gameloft.
LG forecast on Thursday its smartphone sales would reach 24 million units this
year, down from its previous target of more than 30 million units, while its
overall handset target was slashed by a quarter to 114 million units from 150
million units.
LG is likely to report a fifth consecutive quarterly loss from handset sales in
the April-June quarter because it has failed to introduce products to challenge
Apple and Samsung and due to weakening demand growth for feature-packed
handsets.
LG's rival Samsung is expected to sell at least 19 million smartphones in the
second quarter and easily beat its 2011 smartphone target of 60 million units,
helped by solid sales of a new version of its Galaxy S.
LG hopes that its new Optimus 3D smartphone will sell 1.7 million units this
year. The Android smartphone is based on a Texas Instruments OMAP mobile
processor and comes preloaded 3D games. The company is betting the 3D
smartphone will help it expand into the portable gaming hardware market.
The three first included S-3D games are Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, N.O.V.A. -- Near
Orbit Vanguard Alliance and Let's Golf! 2. Fourteen additional Gameloft S-3D
games will be available for download via the 3D Games icon on the LG Optimus 3D.
Titles such as: Assassin's Creed: Altar's Chronicles, James Cameron's Avatar,
Ultimate Spider Man: Total Mayhem, GT Racing: Motor Academy, Shrek Kart, Modern
Combat 2: Black Pegasus, Real Football 2011, Star Battalion, N.O.V.A. 2 -- Near
Orbit Vanguard Alliance, Dungeon Hunter 2, Fishing Kings, BackStab, Eternal
Legacy and Shadow Guardian will be offered to Optimus 3D owners at half price
for the first three months. Archer Craft, an LG produced S-3D game, will also be
available as a free download.