LG enhances smartphone after-sales service

LG Electronics said Sunday it will strengthen after-sales service of its smartphones by offering constant software upgrade services. / Courtesy of LG Electronics

By Baek Byung-yeul

LG Electronics has strengthened after-sales service of its smartphones by offering constant software upgrade services in a bid to regain trust from consumers, the company said Sunday.

The Korean tech giant said it will announce a schedule for operating system (OS) upgrades and software updates for LG smartphones on its webpage on Monday.

The corresponding devices range in budget from smartphones such as X300, X400 and X500 to tablet devices including G Pad4 8.0.

LG has been keen to provide better after-sales service. It already provided software updates to users of its premium smartphones V35 ThinQ and G7 ThinQ in September.

With the updates, the smartphones now have a Q-Lens feature that automatically offers shopping results based on pictures users take.

“We will try to build trust with our consumers by providing constant and reliable after-sales service,” an LG official said.

LG's bid to beef up after-sales service is in line with the company's newly established division dedicated to providing software updates. Last April, the company established a Software Upgrade Center at its Magok office in southwestern Seoul.

LG said the center is charged with developing and delivering regular OS updates for LG smartphones. It is also responsible for ensuring a consistent user experience on the devices by testing stability and conducting compatibility tests between hardware and software after updates.

The announcement came ahead of a showcase event of the company's new smartphone V40 ThinQ. LG is scheduled to unveil the premium smartphone in New York on Wednesday (local time) and Seoul on Thursday.

While LG's mobile communications division has been losing money for 13 straight quarters, it remains to be seen whether the V40 ThinQ can help boost the company's profitability.

The firm has been putting its focus on the new smartphone, hinting it will feature five camera lenses including three on the back and two on the front for the first time in the world.

Compared to its previous premium smartphone V35 ThinQ that has a 6.0-inch display, the V40 ThinQ will have a 6.4-inch one, same as Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 9 smartphone.