Smart Partnership
LG Electronics is expanding its partnership with Google on all levels. Based on mutual trust built with the joint development of the Google Nexus smartphone series, the two companies are continuously strengthening cooperation in TVs, driverless cars, patents and content.
According to industry sources on Nov. 18, LG Electronics and Google have revealed six cooperative models this year alone, displaying a strategic partnership in the Android sector.
As the LG Electronics Vehicle Components (VC) Division was included as one of the global partners for Google’s ongoing driverless car development project in January this year, it is supplying battery packs to Google. Global leading companies such as GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota, Daimler AG, Bosch, NVIDIA and LG Electronics are participating in the project.
In February, LG Electronics Mobile Communications (MC) Division launched the VR for the G3, a virtual reality (VR) device for its strategic G3 smartphone developed with Google’s VR device software “Cardboard.” The MC division also released its new reference smartphone, the Nexus 5X, using Google’s new operating system (OS) this year. LG Electronics has been developing the Nexus series, including the Nexus 4 and 5, for three years.
This year, LG Electronics Home Appliance (HE) Division, which is in charge of the TV business, is carrying out various joint businesses with Google, expanding its business areas. From April the company has been providing a “Google Cast” service that allows users to stream music by connecting their smartphones with LG Electronics’ smart audio speakers and sound bars. In June, the two companies also declared joint marketing in OLED TVs, which is the main business of LG Electronics. Making use of Google’s diverse digital marketing platform, such as search engine and YouTube, LG Electronics is planning to accelerate the globalization of OLED TVs.
The partnership of both companies has also expanded to the smart TV content sector. LG Electronics launched “Google Play Movies and TV,” a content application for LG smart TVs, on Nov. 18. This is the first time for a domestic TV manufacturer to release a Google content app. Through Google Play Movies and TV, users can rent or purchase various video content, including movies and TV shows. It means that the new solution allows users to smoothly stream the latest movies via their television sets.
LG Electronics is also drawing up a plan to utilize Google’s OS for the Internet of Things (IoT) in LG’s home appliances and TVs.