LG Wallet Plans US Launch In 2018

LG Electronics, the South Korean technology company, is gearing up to roll out a mobile payment system for U.S. consumers.

Citing LG, the Yonhap News Agency reported that the payment system will be launched in the first part of 2018, timed to coincide with the release of a new mobile phone. LG Pay has been available in South Korea since June, in an effort to compete with rival Samsung Electronics’ digital payment system. Samsung Pay is currently active in 18 countries, including the U.S., China, Australia, the U.K., Singapore, Spain and Switzerland.

The report noted that LG is currently considering launching its mobile payment service in the U.S. as LG Wallet. In the U.S., the digital payment system will initially work with LG’s G7 and V40 high-end devices before eventually expanding to mid-range mobile phones sometime in 2018, noted the report.

In addition to launching a mobile payment system, the South Korean handset maker recently announced a new line of smart speakers – including one that will have the Google Assistant built in – slated for launch at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018, an annual tech conference held in Las Vegas each January.

In a press release at the time, LG said the LG ThinQ Speaker will be its first premium smart speaker powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Not only will it produce high-quality sound, but it will also come enabled with Google’s AI-powered voice-activated assistant.

LG said it teamed up with Google to ensure that the LG ThinQ delivers all the conveniences of a digital voice-activated assistant combined with quality sound. The company noted that the speaker isn’t only a smart companion, but also a personalized, voice-activated interface for LG’s smart home appliances. The LG ThinQ can be set to turn on an LG appliance with the spoken command, “OK Google, talk to LG, turn on the air purifier.”