LG KS20: The businessperson's Prada phone comes to the US

The FCC has approved the new LG smartphone, the KS20. This sleek handset takes its cues from LG's KE850 Prada phone, sharing a very similar design, but offering functionality over flash (no pun intended.)

Instead of running the KS20 on Prada's Macromedia flash-based UI, LG has equipped it with Windows Mobile 6, putting it in competition in the US with touch-screen devices from other companies, like HTC's popular Touch Dual.

The KS20 differs in a number of ways from the KE850: Its touch-screen is slightly larger at 2.8", and it adds a five-way joystick and stylus interface. Unfortunately for many, instead of a USB connection, it features LG's proprietary connector.

Further features include: HSDPA support for up to 3.6 Mbps, an FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2 megapixel autofocus camera with LED Flash, as well as a forward-mounted second camera for video calls, GSM/EDGE 850/1900 MHz, 256 MB of ROM with 128 MB of MicroSD upgradeable RAM.

Though no release date, affiliated carriers, or retail price have yet been announced, this same phone has been selling for €499 in Europe (€220 with a contract) since last August without contract through Vodaphone.

LG's KS20 may mirror the iPhone in certain key aspects of its design, though it offers enough features to make it extremely desirable to higher-end PC and handset consumers.