South Korean handset maker LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday it plans to roll out a new long-term evolution smartphone in Japan as it moves to strengthen its foothold in the neighboring country.

LG Electronics plans to start receiving pre-orders for the “Optimus Life” phone via Japan’s top mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. on Friday and release the LTE device on Dec. 21, the company said in a press release.

The 4.5-inch smartphone, available in three colors, is designed for Japanese consumers with localized features, according to LG.

The Optimus Life is the latest in the South Korean handset maker’s LTE smartphone line-up in Japan. The company has released several LTE models, including its flagship Optimus G phone, via NTT DoCoMo and KDDI.

In the third quarter, LG sold a record 7 million smartphones globally, compared with the previous high of 6.2 million.

Of the total, LTE smartphones accounted for roughly 2.1 million, according to LG. 

(Yonhap News)