HONG KONG, China - LG has launched a China-exclusive Google Android-based smartphone. The GW880 will run on the tweaked OPhone platform, and be retailed by China Mobile.

The device is compatible with China Mobile's TD-SCDMA band and with CMMB (China Multi Media Broadcasting). It features a 3.5" touchscreen display with Wide-VGA resolution, a 5 megapixel camera, and GPS.

Operation is touchscreen-based, as the phone does not have a hardware keyboard.

On the technical side, the smartphone has 512MB in ROM, 256MB in RAM, and its platform is compatible with the Android SDK.

The LG GW880 will be available from China Mobile this month.

The South Korean manufacturer's first Android-based smartphone, the GW620, is a slider with a full QWERTY keyboard and a 3" touchscreen. Release date for this handset had been scheduled for the present quarter, in selected countries in Europe.