The US National Team Gears Up for the Greatest Global Texting Battle: The LG Mobile World Cup

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A. Inc, a worldwide technology and design leader in mobile communications, gets ready for the largest global texting competition, the LG Mobile World Cup, giving participants from 13 countries a chance to show off the speed and accuracy of their text messaging skills. This year the event will be held on January 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City, the most energizing city in the world.  The winning team of the LG Mobile World Cup will receive a check in the amount of US$100,000 and bragging rights as the "World's Fastest Texters."  The texting champions from around the globe will also attempt to break the Guinness World Records® record for fastest texting on a QWERTY mobile phone, using the LG enV3 handset on the Verizon Wireless network.

The LG Mobile World Cup is a one-of-kind world festival hosted by LG Mobile Phones, creating a new mobile culture while experiencing LG's latest technology in mobile handsets. The 2009 competition began in May with a series of national contests across 13 countries including USA, Canada, Indonesia, Portugal, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Korea, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand. 

In January, 26 contestants arrive in New York City, including USA 2009 National Texting Championship winners, current US champion 16-year-old Kate Moore from Des Moines, Iowa and 14-year-old Morgan Dynda from Pooler, GA who is the runner up from last year's competition.  With her fast and furious thumbs, Moore took home the National Title in July 2009 with the winning phrase "Zippity Dooo Dahh Zippity Ayy...My oh MY, what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine Comin' my way…ZippittyDooDahZippityAay! WondeRful feeling, Wonderful day!" which Moore completed flawlessly in less than 60 seconds. The contestants used the new LG enV3 phone, the newest edition in the enV family, which features a full QWERTY keypad. 

"The LG Mobile World Cup is not only a competition to seek the world's fastest texters, but also a fun global festival celebrating the growing mobile culture with a wide range of fun and exciting mobile experiences and activities – Sharing Fun Through Mobile Technology," said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of marketing and innovation for LG Mobile Phones. "Furthermore, we are extremely thrilled to have the speedy thumbs of Kate Moore and Morgan Dynda representing the USA in the largest global texting competition of its kind. We wish them all the best and nimble thumbs."

During the competition, players will compete by typing phrases in their native language on the latest LG global handsets: LG BL20 which features a numeric keypad and LG GW520, boasting a QWERTY keyboard. The competition incorporates new input methods for texting like QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen and handwriting recognition.  Contestants will have to text exactly as the phrase appears on nearby LG plasma screens with no typos or abbreviations, trying to be quicker than their opponents. In the end, only two contestants who represent their country will be crowned the LG Mobile World Cup Champions and win US$100,000.

Players will also attempt to break the Guinness World Records® record for fastest texting, using the LG enV3 handset. A team of Guinness World Records® Adjudicators will be on location to oversee the exhibition round.

For more information on the LG Mobile World Cup World Championship, please visit www.LGmobileworldcup.com.  

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 84,000 people working in 115 operations including 84 subsidiaries around the world. With 2008 global sales of USD44.7 billion, LG is comprised of five business units -- Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning and Business Solutions. LG is the world's leading producer of flat panel TVs, audio and video products, mobile handsets, air conditioners and washing machines. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula One™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lge.com. 

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a leading global mobile communication and information company. LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world with its cutting-edge technology and innovative handset design capabilities. Increasingly, LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products. LG will continue to take leadership in the mobile communication environment with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit www.lgmobilephones.com. 

SOURCE LG Electronic MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones)