What is commonly referred to as “dumbphone” or featurephone is essentially a phone device that lacks the smartphone operating system, like Windows Mobile, webOS, iPhone, BlackBerry, and Palm OS. That space is occupied by many, but the Peek Pronto may be the one that is a hybrid between a smartphone and dumbphone, bringing the best email and keyboard abilities at a reasonable price to target the dumbphone world. Now, it looks like either LG wants in on that action, or is creating a reference design for a future smartphone. The LG GW300 is one such device from the Korean manufacturer that brings a keyboard, slab form factor, email clients, and Facebook integration. Unlike the Peek device, the GW300 also adds in voice features to make it a true phone.

The GW is an attractive design with domed keyboards and circular navigation buttons that is not unfamiliar to the HTC Snap. Being a lower end device, it currently caps off on EDGE data. Bluetooth, USB connectivity, a 2.4-inch QVGA screen like the Snap, and a 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus round out the specs.

Could this be LG’s prelude to an exciting Windows Phone to compete against Samsung and HTC? Even without the smartphone brains, the device can do relatively well if the data plan is cheap enough to get consumers introduced to the email and Facebook features while mobile.

(via: Unwired View)