LG InfoComm U.S.A. is ready to build its brand by providing handsets compatible with CDMA2000 1X networks even before 1X networks become common.

San Diego-based LG InfoComm U.S.A., which is the North American wireless division of Seoul-based LG Electronics, next month will introduce dual-band (analog and 1900 MHz digital) handsets for Sprint PCS [PCS] and tri-band (analog, 800 MHz and 1900 MHz) phones for Verizon Wireless. The phones will be co-branded with each carrier's brand.

With the introduction of those models, LG will no longer develop handsets that are incompatible with next-generation CDMA technology, said Curtis Wick, LG InfoComm's director of testing and technical support. "It makes no sense for us to continue building legacy handsets," Wick said.

That's because the company expects CDMA carriers in the United States and other markets to follow the lead of Korean operators and migrate to next- generation infrastructure. The changes begin with CDMA2000 1X, which provides higher data rates than 2G CDMA. Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless plan to migrate their CDMA networks to third-generation services starting with 1X overlays, but are not yet offering 1X service to customers in any markets.

LG InfoComm's new models will work with 2G CDMA networks. Until CDMA providers have extensive 1X footprints, though, they probably won't sell many 1X-compatible phones, Wick said. "They're going to need a good, solid year," he said.

In Korea, however, LG has 23 percent market share for 1X phones used by customers of Korea Telecom's[KTC] Freetel network and LG Telecom. Since those carriers began overlaying 1X coverage in the Seoul area in September last year, 64 percent of the country's wireless users have switched to 1X service.

--Malcolm Spicer, mspicer@pbimedia.com >TK

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