MWC: LG goes Mini with the GD880 with three-way synchronisation

LG might not have an official stand at the Mobile World Congress, but it's set up camp nearby.  That gave us a chance to go and look at the three different handsets it had on show, including the LG Mini GD800, a small all-rounder with a very unusual look.

With its sharp lines, stripped-back look and brushed aluminium finish, the Mini GD 880 certainly grabs your attention.  Running LG's proprietary OS and decked out with the S-Class interface found on some of the manufacturer's flagship mobiles, the Mini is a full-feature multimedia phone with a web browser, social networking, photos, videos and music.  The prototype we played with for a while seemed pretty responsive, and the touchscreen is accurate enough, even if the onscreen virtual keyboard wasn't entirely error-free.

The Mini is aimed at a wide range of consumers who want an easy-to-use touchscreen phone.  The S-Class interface is easy to use, but we're still disappointed by some complicated menus.  On that subject, Eric Surdej from LG explained that the 'S-Class interface will be upgraded in September.  You'll need to go through fewer steps and will be able to manage multitasking in a single tap.  We're also thickening about voice control, which might be available on one or two of our phones by the end of the year.'

LG Air Sync

The Mini has a 3.2'' multitouch screen, has a 5 Megapixel camera and push e-mail.  It will also get LG's Air Sync feature, a system that synchronises your data with the cloud and allows you to share data between your phone and your computer using 3G or WiFi.  For instance, you can find a website on your laptop, and then view it resized for your phone a few seconds later.  You don't need to keep the phone and the computer permanently connected to the web as the two can communicate directly.  However, when the phone connects to the cloud, it can find your browsing history and favourites from your computer, even when your it's switched off.

The Mini will be available in April, but there are no details yet of which networks will offer it.

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products