AT&T adds big screened 3D-ready LG Thrill, HTC HD7S to lineup

The nation's largest GSM carrier on Monday announced two new smartphones aimed at the higher end as it works to differentiate itself after losing exclusivity of the Apple iPhone. The LG Thrill 4G, a dual-core 3D-ready Android phone, and the HTC HD7S, a Windows Phone 7 device with a five megapixel built in camera, will be available in the coming weeks.

Both devices will sport large 4.3-inch screens, with the LG Thrill able to run on AT&T's new 4G network. The LG Thrill would also be able to shoot 3D imagery and video through its own built in five megapixel camera, and no glasses would be required in order to view the imagery.

"Our first 3D phone plus a new, leading Windows Phone underscore our commitment to continue to offer the best [smartphones]," devices chief Jeff Bradley said. "2011 is going to be another landmark year for us with more best-in-class devices."

The Thrill would include the first dual-core processor (running at 1GHz) within a phone commercially available in the US. It would also be the first phone to come with glasses-free technology and the capability to capture 3D imagery as well. Along with access to other 3D games, videos, and images through a store called the "LG 3D Space."

AT&T said the Thrill includes an HDMI out port for playback of videos from the device on HDTVs.

HTC's HD7S would be the first 'big-screen' Windows Phone 7 commercially available. For customers of the company's Uverse television offering, the device would come preloaded with an application that would allow users to download and watch television shows. For those without Uverse, similar programming would be available for $9.99 per month.

Pricing for either device has not been announced. The two smartphones are part of a bigger push by AT&T to broaden its smartphone offerings, including some 12 Android devices and about 20 4G-ready phones this year alone.