LG Windows Mobile 6.5 Business Smartphone Lineup

In late 2009, LG Electronics partnered closely with Microsoft to strengthen its standing in the corporate enterprise market by adopting Windows Mobile 6.5. This article explores how LG integrated the operating system into its business-oriented hardware, focusing on the deployment of custom touch interfaces, enterprise-grade hardware innovations, and productivity-focused form factors designed to compete directly with BlackBerry and emerging touchscreen rivals.

The Strategic Microsoft Partnership

In early 2009, LG signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft, committing to make Windows Mobile a primary operating system across its high-tier smartphone portfolio. Windows Mobile 6.5, marketed as the "Windows Phone" platform at the time, was central to this strategy. It provided the security infrastructure, native Microsoft Exchange synchronization, and remote device management capabilities required by corporate IT departments.

Software Customization: Blending S-Class UI with Windows Mobile

A major challenge of Windows Mobile 6.5 was its legacy reliance on resistive styluses rather than modern capacitive finger touch. To overcome this, LG customized the software by layering its proprietary S-Class 3D User Interface over the Windows base on touchscreen models.

This integration provided:

  • A kinetic, cube-based home screen for quick toggles and shortcuts.
  • Finger-friendly contact lists, media players, and dialers that bypassed standard, smaller Windows Mobile menus.
  • Instant access to native Windows Mobile productivity software, including Microsoft Office Mobile (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Outlook Mobile for corporate email.

Key Business Devices and Hardware Innovations

LG integrated Windows Mobile 6.5 across distinct form factors to address diverse enterprise user needs:

  • LG eXpo (GW820): Tailored for traveling professionals, the eXpo was a flagship powerhouse powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It featured an optical trackpad with a built-in fingerprint sensor for secure biometric authentication—a rarity at the time. Most notably, LG designed a proprietary modular connector that supported an optional clip-on DLP pico projector, allowing users to project presentations directly from their phone onto a wall.
  • LG GM750: A sleek, full-touch slate designed for general business users transitioning from feature phones. It prioritized one-touch access to corporate email, web browsing via Internet Explorer Mobile with Adobe Flash support, and GPS navigation.
  • LG GW550: Targeting heavy communicators and traditional enterprise users, the GW550 adopted a portrait candybar form factor with a front-facing physical QWERTY keyboard. It emphasized messaging efficiency, push email delivery, and continuous connectivity over multimedia capability.

Legacy and Shift

LG's integration of Windows Mobile 6.5 allowed the company to deliver robust security, flexible hardware options, and familiar Office tools to corporate environments. While the underlying operating system was soon superseded by modern touch operating systems and the launch of Windows Phone 7, LG's specialized hardware implementations highlighted practical approaches to enterprise mobility during a pivotal transition era in smartphone technology.