LG has announced plans to unveil its glasses-free 3D smartphone, the LG Optimus 3D, at this year’s Mobile World Congress, according to a Mashable report. Mobile World congress is set to take place in Barcelona, Feb. 14 to 17.

While rumors have been flying for some time surrounding the launch of this new device, and images have been available, it is just now that LG has gone on record with some of the phone’s specifications.

Positioned as LG’s most advanced smartphone, the LG Optimus 3D will offer a glasses-free LCD panel, and a dual-lens camera for 3D recording, as well as HDMI and DLNA on the connectivity front.

Mashable anticipates the launch of this device will cause some ripples in the smartphone world and we may have to wait until Feb. 14 to find out more. If LG hopes to keep the buzz going, expect to see additional tidbits of information released in the mean time.

In other LG news, TechZone360 reported earlier this week that the company is moving into the payment industry. LG has announced plans to launch a swipe payment system for product and service retailers in Europe. According to a Reuters report, this launch could come as early as 2012. This move would allow consumers to make payments at the check-out using their smartphones.

LG has been struggling in the market as of late, posting its first quarterly loss in nearly two years, attributed to falling prices for flat screen televisions and stiff mobile phone competition from devices like the iPhone.

The company lost $229.4 million in the three months ending Dec. 31. LG reported more than $320 million in net profit just one year earlier.

LG announced last month the availability of the LG Optimus 7, a phone with features like GPRS, URL, Bluetooth and more. The phone was announced to coincide with the official unveiling of Windows Phone.

This latest device features the next generation Microsoft operating system and is currently available with contracts from all the major online retailers, including Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile, 3 and Virgin Mobile. 

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Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TechZone360 and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Tammy Wolf