LG Electronics, (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, recently announced the launch of an Android-powered smartphone, LG Optimus (LG GT540), a handset offering an optimal environment for first-time smartphone users with easy and convenient mobile access.

LG Optimus allows users to enjoy diverse Android applications and automatic account synchronization with all Google mobile services. LG Optimus also features enhanced social networking functions in a high-powered multimedia environment.

“LG Optimus is the ideal choice for early smartphone users who expect all the features of smartphones without the complexity,” said Mr Ki Wan Kim, CEO of LG Electronics Middle East and Africa. “This is a device that was designed for regular people who want to jump into the smartphone experience but have been hesitant to do so because of the learning curve. By making LG Optimus more approachable, we hope more people will give smartphones a try.”

Optimal Convenience: LG Optimus delivers smartphone benefits in a convenient Google internet package. With an automatically synchronized Google account, users need to only log-in once to enjoy YouTube, Gmail, Gtalk, Google Maps and more. With easy access to more than 30,000 downloadable applications and games from the Android Market, users can easily customize and expand their LG Optimus experience.

The SN Manager offers integrated access to social networking sites in a convenient platform that can manage multiple accounts. LG’s dedicated Social Networking Client allows users to easily keep track of their Facebook, Twitter and Bebo accounts. Moreover, the Social Networking System (SNS) widgets provide real-time status updates directly to the home screen without having to access any other applications. The handset’s multitasking feature allows users to view updates from friends and access their social media sites while simultaneously searching the phone’s contact list. The user interface is customizable for maximum convenience. The LG Optimus can be customized to show anywhere from three to seven home screens displaying frequently used applications, news and weather, among other information, depending on user preference. Additionally, the main menu can be personalized to include up to 10 editable categories for faster, easier navigation.

Optimal Excitement: LG Optimus includes high-powered entertainment features that make the phone extra fun to use. The advanced media player allows users to watch DivX and Xvid videos directly without separate encoding and browsing multimedia files is especially enjoyable with the 3D thumbnail gallery. The phone’s 3MP camera supports geo-tagging, auto face-tagging and face-to-action technology to allow users to create and share multimedia content from the phone. The LG Optimus has a built-in video editor with storyboard function so that users can add music and text to videos directly on the phone.

LG Optimus boasts a distinctive design that is both sleek and soft and is available in fashionable colors including white, pink, black and silver. What’s more, the phone includes a long-lasting 1500mAh battery, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 2.1 capability, assisted GPS, 32GB of expandable microSD memory and four customizable home screen themes together with enhanced idle lock screen notifications.

Pakistan cellular industry has reached to a level where competition is going neck to neck and in such a competitive environment of cellular industry in country where, the price war is reaching its pinnacle, technology is on a boost and competition is fighting to provide more & more coverage but there is only one thing that's making the difference and that is service reliability and standard of customer services.

Largely admired for its exceptional network, transparency and innovation, Warid Telecom leads the service excellence way. It's the customer experience that makes Warid Telecom uniquely distinguished.

Nokia recently announced the launch of a new range of mobile applications and content tailored for the holy month of Ramadan. Mozzaker - a Ramadan application 2010 is available on Ovi Store. This updated mobile application tailored for the Holy Month can be downloaded on the compatible Nokia devices for free directly from Nokia’s Ovi Store.

Mozzaker allows mobile users to listen, search and translate a large collection of daily Azkar and selected supplications. People can also download more Azkar and share via SMS and MMS with friends and family

“We know that Itikaf is an important experience for Muslims during Ramadan. Nokia Ramadan Applications 2010 includes the feature rich Mozzaker application which offers a large collection of Azkar and supplications with translation. All those Muslims who are planning to sit in Itikaf in this holy month can enrich their religious experience by using the Mozzaker application. Mozzaker application for 2010 is free and ready to be downloaded for the widest range of Nokia devices.” said Imran Khalid Mahmood, Country General Manager, Nokia Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Ramadan applications are developed by ASGATech, a Forum Nokia Premium Partner in the Middle East, with all content reviewed and approved by Al Azhar Al Shareef.

Ramadan applications for 2010 are compatible with a range of Nokia devices including Nokia N97 mini, Nokia E72, Nokia E52, Nokia X6, Nokia 5230,Nokia 5530,Nokia C5,Nokia 5235, Nokia 5800, Nokia E5, Nokia 6700 slide, Nokia 5233, Nokia X3, Nokia 6303i, Nokia 2710, and Nokia C3. The user interface for the applications is available in English, Arabic, Farsi, French and Urdu.

• V Australia to operate from Sydney to Abu Dhabi 3 times a week
• Seamless connections across Europe, UK and the Middle East
• Etihad Guest and Velocity frequent flyer programs to be fully reciprocal

Virgin Blue Holdings Limited and Etihad Airways today signed an agreement establishing a commercial partnership that will enable Virgin Blue’s international arm, V Australia, to launch direct services to Abu Dhabi in 2011. The two airlines will offer a joint network of more than 100 destinations from October 1, 2010.

Together, Etihad and V Australia will move towards a total of 27 weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Australia – including double-daily services between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, daily Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flights and six frequencies per week between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane.

V Australia will operate three Sydney-Abu Dhabi services per week from February 2011, and three Brisbane-Abu Dhabi services per week by February 2012, using its new fleet of three-class Boeing 777-300ER and becoming the first Australian carrier to operate to the Middle East since 1991.

From October, Virgin Blue Group customers can access Etihad’s network of 65 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. All Virgin Blue services will be available to Etihad customers, opening up 44 destinations in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and to Asia and Los Angeles.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has won five prestigious awards from the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) for the year 2010-2011. Samsung was honored with the awards including; European 3D Solution, European Blu-Ray Player, European Social Media Phone, European Smartphone and European Advanced Compact Camera.

EISA awards are based on votes and reviews from editors of top consumer electronics magazines across Europe. These awards recognize the best equipment in the industry across a wide range of technology categories. Among the Samsung products that won this year’s awards is; the Ultra Slim, LED, home-theatre system with a smart Full HD 3DTV (UE46C8700) & HT-C6930W, a 3D Blu-ray player and 7.1 sound. It can convert 2D-to-3D with finesse. It also offers Internet@TV and access to Samsung Apps Store, Media-sharing, PVR and Skype-on-TV. It brings the fascinating world of 3D into your living room.

Another award winner from Samsung is the Blu-Ray Player BD-C8900/8900s with additional features and versatility to deliver great audio and pictures from integrated HDTV cable or satellite tuner (‘S’ version). It allows up to 136 hours of HD recording to an internal 500GB hard disk drive. It is equipped with CI+ slot, built in Wi-Fi, Internet@TV and USB playback, delivering high quality picture from Blu-ray discs, even when reproducing 3D.

Samsung Wave S8500 Smartphone, won the European Social Media Phone award for 2010-2011. Samsung Wave is the first device to run on Samsung’s bada platform and it provides the right applications to suit every social media environment. It has a stunning 3.3-inch Super AMOLED touch screen with a powerful 1 GHz application processor and amazing connectivity via HSPA network, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. Other multimedia features include a 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video and LED flash. This smartphone enables access to the “Samsung Apps” a vast integrated application-store. A ‘Social Hub’ feature provides an always-connected communication gateway.

The Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S I9000 smartphone won the award for European Smartphone 2010-2011. It incorporates a huge 4-inch Super AMOLED screen and a 1 GHz application processor that enables and maximizes ‘smart life experience’ with vibrant HD videos, rich augmented reality content through Layar Reality Browser, and advanced Location-Based Services. It offers Bluetooth 3.0, the latest Wi-Fi connectivity with DLNA and HSPA fast mobile communications. The Galaxy S features Samsung’s intuitive TouchWiz 3.0 user interface, and ‘swype,’ the quick way to input text on-the-move.

The solidly-built Samsung EX-1 Camera won the European Advanced Compact Camera 2010-2011 award. It has a high-quality, super-fast, 24-70mm F1.8-2.4 wide angle zoom lens which allows photography in low-light conditions. The advanced users can choose to record raw or JPEG file formats. The AMOLED tilt-and-swivel display allows easy shooting from creative angles.