LG is reportedly planning to integrate biometric authentication technology in its future flagship smartphones, starting with the unannounced LG G3.
LG announced the newest member to its smartphone lineup, the LG G Pro 2, in South Korea Thursday. Rumor mills are already spinning that the phone maker's latest flagship isn't the only one this year. LG is likely to debut the successor to its G2, which was launched in September last year.
Reports have lined up painting a sketch of the rumored G3, but more important details surfaced during the G Pro 2 launch.
In a press conference at the LG G Pro 2 launch, the company responded to ZDnet Korea reporters' questions about the possible integration of biometric authentication technology in its future smartphones. The specifics were saved, but LG officials said that they are currently "considering all possibilities."
This could imply that the phone maker will include iris or fingerprint scanning technology, which is already offered in Apple iPhone 5S. Fingerprint scanner is most likely a potential choice rather than iris scanning, considering developing technology and environmental factors such as dark rooms. But if it does manages to bring the eye-scanner in its next or future flagship before innovation pioneers like Samsung and Apple, then LG will secure a reputable position in the growing smartphone market.
The South Korean tech giant revealed to ZDnet during the press conference that it was aiming at becoming the third world leader in the smartphone market by the end of this year.
Cho Sung Ha, head of Korea sales at LG's mobile division, revealed that the company was planning a series of promotional events for the newly launched G Pro 2 including a showcase event at the Mobile World Congress, later this month. The officials are not threatened by an expected Samsung Galaxy S5 launch at the lavish mobile-centric event in Barcelona as LG's new phone and its rival's are "different-sized and not in the same category."
"The target consumer for the G Pro 2 and the Galaxy S5 are different so we don't consider it a competition," Cho said.
While the details on the launch of the LG G Pro in markets other than South Korea were scanty, Cho said that the new handset will be launched globally based on its demand. "Starting in March, we will launch it in Asian countries where demand for large-screen phablets is the highest," he added.
