LG marks belated Android entry with GW620 UK launch

Hey, you know what's hot right now? Android 1.5. You know what else? Resistive touchscreens and chunky bodies, the ladies just can't get enough of them. Good thing too, since in some alternate universe where the Motorola Droid, HTC HD2 and the Nexus One existed, this LG GW620 -- hereafter to be known as the InTouch Max -- would look like it's arriving about a year too late to matter. A phone that's been teased and promoted since September, it has finally found homes on Virgin Mobile and T-Mobile in the UK, where unwitting victims can have it forced upon them for free when they sign up to long-term contracts costing at least £20 ($32.50) per month. Hit the source link for more details, if you must.

[souravgh Posted Jan 18th 2010 9:35AM]

Want!

[erwinaroin Posted Jan 21st 2010 4:08PM]

@souravgh The LG-GW620 benefits from an operating system that was created from the ground up to take advantage of the many mobile applications and services developed by search leader Google.. More details: http://bit.ly/lg-intouch-max-gw260-details

[sockatume Posted Jan 18th 2010 9:36AM]

If that price is correct this is actually the second-cheapest Android phone you can get right now, after the T-Mo Pulse, so it's quite a savvy move by LG.

[boe Posted Jan 18th 2010 9:39AM]

100% bezel - all the time.

[Jay2Dee2 Posted Jan 18th 2010 9:49AM]

who has time for Android when you got contracts like this:
http://techtickerblog.com/2009/02/17/lg-inks-a-deal-with-microsoft-windows-mobile-to-be-its-primary-os/

[TikiTeko Posted Jan 18th 2010 9:52AM]

Beautiful phone. The only thing missing to make it even hotter is a picture of Jessika Alba in the screen instead of that dude :S

Very very TouchPro2ish ! I like it!

[e1212 Posted Jan 18th 2010 9:55AM]

"it's arriving about a year too late to matter"

Virgin usually takes on phones at this point in their lifecycle. They offer deals which, in combination with the usual online cashback offers, are very cheap. No point sneering and comparing it with offers costing twice as much in real terms.

[TRLKOR Posted Jan 18th 2010 9:56AM]

It's good that there are more devices
More people = more apps!

[bigshape Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:00AM]

@(Unverified)
is there a legacy android app market?

[psycros Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:07AM]

Had to read that post twice to get it..thought it had a major typo at first. And that's probably the best keyboard I've seen on an android phone - not that I'd ever own a slider.

[SarnGate Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:09AM]

I don't really understand the point of this post at all. Not everybody is a tech nerd who wants a top of the line handset with the latest software. This deal is actually pretty damn good considering you effectively get a nice phone for free with a cheap contract.

Honestly, gadget elitism is kinda lame.

[McPOW Posted Jan 18th 2010 3:28PM]

@SarnGate Seriously.

I'm *glad* some companies are targetting the middle of the market. That's where the biggest growth curve for Android is, plus its where Apple doesn't exist at all. If you stop artificially segmenting the world into "dumb" and "smart" phones, the marketshare of the big 3 smartphone makers it pathetic, it barely registers. Bringing 100% of the features that used to differentiate a smartphone to the masses in affordable and functional packages like this is where Android is going to wipe everyone else up.

[ToniCipriani Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:12AM]

I've heard of some build quality issues and sluggish UI complaints with the Rogers version, so hope this one would be better.

[Rev Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:34AM]

I still don't care for the capacitive screen is almighty theory. I love the resistive screen on N900. The web surfing experience just wouldn't be the same without the accuracy & stulys.

[doutorpiranha Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:35AM]

LG logo ruins any design

[Wesley Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:51AM]

So LG have shown this Android phone and another one at CES and they are both low-end devices with slow processors, resistive screens and old versions of Android.

So the question is, where are the high-end devices to rival the Droid and Nexus One? Or do we have to wait till MWC for that?

[fourthletter Posted Jan 18th 2010 10:53AM]

Such a pity they couldn't manage a version with at least a 3.2" screen (preferably a screen big enough to get rid of the bezel) and a capacitive screen.
This isn't showing up on T-Mobile UK's web site ?

@Rev
You may love your N900 but flicks and scrolling work so well on Android we really don't need resistive.

[ArtInvent Posted Jan 18th 2010 1:28PM]

They are bringing it to the US where it will be known as the OufOfTouch Max.

But yeah, nice slider keyboard. It makes you look at the Droid kb and wonder why they couldn't slide the display up out of the way more and use more real estate to make a bigger keyboard with more rows etc. This has 5 rows to the Droid's 3. Losing the stupid D-pad would also help.

[zsmorr Posted Jan 18th 2010 1:50PM]

Why can't anyone make a high end android device with that keyboard?!

[NeoSeer Posted Jan 18th 2010 2:18PM]

Grrr!! Another mediocre LG effort!?! Oh brother! Why oh flaming why don't they just go home and stick to noce shinly black plasticky tv's sheeesh! man!! Yah know any company that conciously makes a phone who's paltry lo-res b graded parts screen that cheesily doubles as a poor make shift excuse of a mirror needs groin shooting!!! After a good public flogging with wet towels!. Ohhhhh and remember that useless buddy programmed short sighted half baked excuse cube OS interface... Oh Gee whiizzz LG you reeeeeraarallllllly scared Apple there!!! You are soooooo neat and frigging forward thinking!!!! Whoooo!!!! So.. So.... Are going to support it?? Huh huh?!!? Yeah rite!!!! And that LG &@&$$ing!!! cookie!!!! What a manufactured excuse of a runny wino turd that is!!!! Arggghhhh!!!

[NeoSeer Posted Jan 18th 2010 2:19PM]

Now I have my required cafeine fix I apologise my outburst... God save the queen and the humble coffee bean...

[kct Posted Jan 18th 2010 4:03PM]

I believe this is the LG Eve in Canada. I have one, and like it more than my old chunky Window Mobile HTC Tytn2 phone. I think that a program I downloaded from the Market bricked my first one, and aside from some UI quibbles (the touch-sensitive buttons at the bottom cause havoc with inadvertant touches) I am satisfied with it.

[dedparrot Posted Jan 18th 2010 6:58PM]

You guys at Engadget arrrrrrrrre IDIOTS!
Just because people can now get a smartphone that they can actually start affording, doesn't make it 'one year too late'.
Since when is this device competing with the likes of the Nexus One and the Droid?
Just because your AOL Corporate stuck up masters pay you big bucks for writing pseudo-technological (apple) rumours doesn't give you the right to go round making comments like you do.
It's the first smartphone that REAL PEOPLE can afford, you phony bloggers. People actually have real jobs rather than write a damn blog. As if this device is one year too late! People create marketing trends, and so far, smarthphones haven't created anything. Why? becuase they're just so darn expensive for the average homo sapien.
This device will make it slightly affordable, so F*CK YOU ENGADGET and hats off to LG.

[asialove Posted Jan 19th 2010 6:05AM]

just tips:

Another new LG Android was found~! the LG KH-5200, Full QWERTY , 3G Capable, Android -webkit 3.1.4 Browser


check it here http://www.lge-phones.com/lg-kh5200-another-qwerty-android-phones.html

[StanMan2 Posted Jan 20th 2010 2:16PM]

This is the LG Eve on Roger's in Canada. It's LESS than half the price of a Milestone, so you can't expect it to have all of the same whiz-bang features. An easily unlocked Android phone with a 5MP auto-focus camera for less than $400 with no contract is pretty damn good.