LG GW300 cheapo QWERTY handset sails to the UK

LG seem to be knocking out new phones at an alarming rate these days, and the latest handset to hit the shores of Blighty is the GW300, a budget QWERTY mobile phone with added social networking appeal.

Already released across the Channel as the Viewty GW300, the handset is currently steaming towards O2 and Orange’s networks, and just to make sure you’re not confused as to which network you’re on, the O2 version comes in blue and the Orange version in ‘vibrant red.’

It’s unlikely to wow the feature cognoscenti though, with a lowly 2MP camera onboard and a stingy 2.4-inch 240×320 QVGA screen, and more disappointment lurks in the battery compartment, with a comparatively feeble 900mAh battery likely to keep the phone very well acquainted with the charger.

That said, the phone isn’t a bad looking affair for a budget jobbie, and at least there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack and memory expandable to 4GB via microSD card.

Designed for Facebook fiends

LG is hoping that the Facebook software bundled with the phone will tempt compulsive status updaters and stalkers, with the app making status updates a breeze.

For those who prefer pretty pictures to words, the phone also comes with LG’s LiveSquare interface which displays friends as avatars on the homescreen.

Here’s Jeremy Newing, head of marketing for LG Mobile in the UK and Ireland, to cast a PR spell over us all:

It didn’t come as a surprise last week that Facebook announced its user number now totals 300 million, as the mobile industry is continuing to experience consumer demand for social networking focused devices.

The new LG GW300 maintains LG’s dedication to bringing innovative social networking handsets to the market as they increasingly become the central communication point for avid social network users.

The LG GW300 will be available on Play.com from next week for a bargain £99.99, so you can expect to pick one up for nowt on contract.