LG dives into waterproof cell phones

Korean mobile phone operator LG Telecom has surfaced the CanU 502S, a waterproof cell phone developed with Casio Computer. The promotional Web site for the phone shows a shark swimming up from the bottom of the sea and grabbing the gadget in its jaws. LG Telecom doesn't vouch for the phone's durability in the face of Great Whites, but the company does say the product will survive about 30 minutes if dropped in a pool, tub or sink.


According to The Korea Times, the CanU 502S is that country's first waterproof mobile handset. The clamshell phone has a compass with a built-in direction sensor; a stopwatch; an MP3 player; and a 1.3-megapixel camera. It comes in green and orange and sells for 550,000 won (around $545).

Earlier this year, Casio came out with the G'zOne Type-R, an updated version of its phone lineup for rugged types. It's sold in Japan.

Posted by Leslie Katz