T-Mobile and LG announced an oddball Android 2.3 phone that features both a 3.5-inch display and a secondary two-inch screen embedded in the middle of a split-QWERTY keypad. Designed for texting and social networking, the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon-equipped LG DoublePlay will be featured in the fifth annual LG U.S. National Texting Championship on Oct. 26.

A photo of the LG DoublePlay was leaked back in June in a model that some speculated might be called the Flip II. T-Mobile's official unveiling of the dual-display DoublePlay offers some more details, but it appears that full specs have to await its launch. This may happen on or about Oct. 26, when LG will feature the phone in its fifth annual LG U.S. National Texting Championship (see farther below).
 

LG DoublePlay

Like the Kyocera Echo, the DoublePlay supplies dual capacitive screens. Instead of offering two equal-sized displays, however, the DoublePlay features a unique design in which a smaller secondary touchscreen is embedded in the middle of the split QWERTY keyboard.

Speculation that the secondary display was dedicated solely to widget shortcuts appears to be incorrect. The main 3.5-inch display and the 2.0-inch secondary display can operate independently or in tandem, says T-Mobile. Users can perform multiple tasks at once, such as updating Facebook pages while simultaneously surfing the web, texting, or checking email, says the carrier.

The LG DoublePlay runs Android 2.3 ("Gingerbread") on a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, says T-Mobile. Additional features include a five -megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p video recording, says the carrier. The photo, meanwhile, shows a 4G icon, suggesting the device supports T-Mobile's HSPA+ service.

The DoublePlay provides user customization for seven home screens, and provides up to nine touchscreen shortcuts, says the carrier. The phone is said to ship with Android Market and Swype, as well as messaging options, including "Cloud Text" and "Group Text" for setting up group chats.

DoublePlay featured in texting championship

LG is using the DoublePlay as the featured device in its fifth annual LG U.S. National Texting Championship, scheduled for Oct. 26 in New York City. In order to unseat reigning, 13-year-old champion Brianna Hendrickson, competitors will need to "type phrases on their LG DoublePlay exactly as they appear on LG plasma screens, while distracted by blind folds, complex phrases, and marathon game play," says the company. The 13 competitors will compete for a $50,000 cash prize, says LG.

Stated Carl Brown, director of trade marketing for LG Mobile, "With its split keyboard and dual screens, LG DoublePlay's impressive hardware made it the obvious choice for the official mobile phone of the 2011 National Texting Championship."

Availability

T-Mobile did not reveal pricing or availability information for the LG DoublePlay, but more details may be revealed at the Oct. 26 fifth annual LG U.S. National Texting Championship in New York City. More information may be found in T-Mobile's LG announcement, as well as the LG Facebook page for the Texting Championship.

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