LG Mobile Phones Retains Top Spot in the U.S. CDMA Handset Market

LG Mobile Phones Retains Top Spot in the U.S. CDMA Handset Market

Leading Mobile Phone Maker Doubles Worldwide Shipments, Continues Strong Growth in GSM Market

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recently released mobile phone market share study from leading IT market research and advisory firm IDC, LG Mobile Phones won the largest share of the U.S. CDMA handset market in the third quarter of 2004, selling more than four-and-a-half million units to garner 27 percent of sales in the U.S. LG's nearest competitor emerged with 23 percent of the market, strengthening LG's dominance of the CDMA market throughout 2004.

"Building on our strong momentum in the U.S. CDMA market throughout 2003 and into 2004, LG is pleased to learn that its success has been extended for another solid quarter," said Juno Cho, president, LG Mobile Phones. "Our growth in the GSM category is also extremely encouraging. It is gratifying to see that our hard work continues to pay off, and perhaps more importantly, that our products appeal to a wide-range of mobile users."

Highly successful CDMA models launched in 2004 by LG include the VX7000 and VX6100 handsets for Verizon Wireless, as well as the PM-325 and VI-5225 devices for Sprint PCS. In addition to its first-place finish among CDMA handset sales, LG was ranked fourth overall in U.S. market share for Q3 of 2004, ahead of competitors Sony Ericsson and Kyocera, according to results from IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Qview program (Q3 2004).

In addition to its continued leadership in the CDMA market, just 18 months after the launch of its first GSM handset in the U.S., LG made tremendous strides in the GSM category, moving up to the number four position in terms of market share with 12 percent of GSM handset sales in the U.S. for the third quarter of 2004. LG's GSM global market share has steadily increased since 2001, and the company's strong growth in the GSM market has LG poised to continue its major expansion into the U.S. GSM space into 2005.

"Strengthening our presence in the GSM market is one of LG's foremost priorities for 2004, and will continue to be a major initiative into 2005," said Jon Maron, director of marketing communications for LG Mobile Phones. "The recent launch of the L1400 for Cingular Wireless, bolstered by the successful debuts of the G4010 and G4050 for Cingular and the G4011 for AT&T Wireless earlier this year, has extended LG's GSM momentum, and positions LG to win a significantly larger portion of the GSM market share into 2005."

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (CEO: S.S. Kim, 06657.KS) was established in 1958 as the pioneer in the Korean consumer electronics market. The company is a major global force in electronics and information and communications products with more than 64,000 employees working in 75 overseas subsidiaries and marketing units around the world. With annual total revenues of more than $29.9 billion (consolidated), LG Electronics comprises three main business companies: Digital Display & Media, Digital Appliance, and Telecommunication Equipment & Handset.

The LG Telecommunication Equipment & Handset Company provides total solutions ranging from wired and wireless handsets to telecommunication equipment. The company is a leader in the innovation and development of cutting -edge technologies in next-generation wireless telecommunications and is steadily expanding its global market share in 3G (WCDMA / CDMA2000) wireless systems.

LG Electronics' goal is to enable the intelligent networking of digital products that will make consumers' lives better than ever. For more information, please visit http://www.lgusa.com/


Source: LG Electronics, Inc.

CONTACT: Melissa Elkins, Public Relations Manager, LG, +1-858-635-5329,
or melkins@lge.com; or Johanna Brown of Ogilvy PR for LG Mobile Phones,
+1-310-248-6192, or Johanna.brown@ogilvypr.com

Web site: http://www.lgusa.com/


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