LG plans to use own processors in handsets

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Wed, August 23, 2017 | 05:32

LG plans to use own processors in handsets

Posted : 2015-03-04 16:00

Updated : 2015-03-04 18:17

By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Electronics mobile chief Cho Juno speaks at a news conference in Barcelona, Wednesday (KST).
/ Courtesy of LG Electronics

BARCELONA, Spain ― The head of LG Electronics' handset division said Wednesday (KST) that the firm is designing and developing its own mobile processor chips to be used in its next generation mobile phones.

"Producing our own mobile application chips is very important. As LG Electronics has been consistent in developing these, we plan to gradually incorporate into our new models," Cho Juno said in a news conference.

LG Electronics spent millions of dollars to develop processors at its logic-chip research lab.

It seeks to cut its dependence on Qualcomm for these ― a key component to control entire computing systems.

He admitted that Qualcomm of the United States is the strong leader in the processor chip market with top-tier technology companies in the mobile industry investing more to enhance their chip-designing capability.

However, Cho stressed that LG also has greater flexibility to diversify its processor sourcing channels.

"We do have a lot of issues that need to be addressed, but second- and third-generation processors will be much better," he said.

LG Electronics failed to show its G3 sequel ― the LG G4 ― in this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) exhibition amid alleged overheating issues with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 810 chips.

LG said the G4 will be radically different from the G3.

It will have major overhaul in surface design and deliver significant improvements in user-experience (UX).

"We will announce LG UX 4.0 before announcing the LG G4. I think it is simply the best and the issue is how to best fit the new UX system into the G4 smartphone," Cho told reporters.

The G4 will also have a metal-mixtured body, and is expected to be released next month.

Such improvements could help LG to again become the world's No. 3 smartphone manufacturer, a position that it lost to China's Xiaomi last year.

"We are aiming to become the world's third-largest smartphone manufacturer this year in terms of annual sales. LG Electronics will be aggressive in promoting the G4 in major target markets such as Korea and the United States," Cho said.

Regarding the emergence of mobile payment systems, LG is seeking to advance into the market indirectly by teaming up with partners.

Cho said he was impressed by the specifications of Samsung's new Galaxy smartphone.

"Samsung did a very good job with the Galaxy S6 smartphone. I believe our G4 will also be good. With higher expectations, LG put huge resources into the LG G4," Cho said.

yckim@koreatimes.co.kr