AT&T Lands LG's Arena Smartphone: HSPA And Mobile TV Capable

Mobile World Congress 2010 just wrapped up over in Spain, but with smartphones making such an impact these days, we don't expect the news flow surrounding them to subside anytime soon. One phone that wasn't talked about in Barcelona was LG's Arena, but it's definitely making itself known here in the U.S. It's one of the few new phones on AT&T's network that supports the next-generation 7.2Mbps HSPA 3G network infrastructure (which leads to faster downloads and uploads when you're in a 3G area), and it's also capable of handling Mobile TV.

Starting on 2/26, the Arena will be available to order at AT&T's website, and on March 7th it will be in stores nationwide. It measures just over 0.5" thick and has brushes of aluminum and polished metal. Hardware wise, there's a 3" touch-panel which is perfect for watching multimedia on the go, and the "3D S-Class" interface puts music and movies just a finger press away. There's also a 5MP auto-focus camera, geo-tagging support and compatibility with AT&T's Mobile TV service. The programming comes from FLO TV, enabling Arena owners to see ABC, ABC Entertainment, ABC Family, ABC News, ABC Sports, CBS, CBS College Sports, CBS News, CNBC, COMEDY CENTRAL, Disney Channel, Disney Channel Original Movies, ESPN, ESPNEWS, ESPN 2, FOX, FOX News Channel, FOX Sports, FUEL TV, msnbc, MTV, NBC, NBC 2Go, NBC News, NBC Sports, nickelodeon, Playhouse Disney (and much more) right on their phone. The cost is $9.99 per month, with the first week being thrown in for free.

The LG Arena will be sold for $199.99 after rebate, though a 2-year service agreement is required. We kind of doubt something like this will truly rival the iPhone or any Android phone, but for those needing mobile TV specifically, it's about the best option out right now.

“This device gives our customers easy access to everything, from social networking sites to their favorite TV show, with just a tap of a finger,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “LG ARENA connects people to their world while backed by the nation’s fastest 3G network.”

“LG ARENA seamlessly blends advanced mobile technology, cutting edge design, and smarter features,” said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of Marketing and Innovation at LG Mobile Phones. “With its exceptional 5MP camera, advanced GPS, entertainment features, and easy access to web and social networking sites, LG ARENA is a hard-working and sophisticated choice for both consumers and business users.”

In addition, the LG ARENA boasts:

• AT&T Mobile Browser – combines full HTML browsing with unique customization features so customers can easily surf the global Internet; view location-aware local news and weather; and read the latest headlines from popular news, sports and entertainment sites.
• AT&T Navigator –offers turn-by-turn voice and onscreen driving directions, automatic rerouting, real-time traffic monitoring and more. AT&T Navigator is available for $9.99 per month, and new subscribers receive their first 30 days of their subscription for free.
• AT&T Social Net – provides easy access to all your social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace in one easy-to-use interface.