LG Electronics Inc., Korea's second-largest electronics maker, released a notebook computer capable of receiving land-based television broadcast signals while on the move.
The new computer, named LW40, is capable of receiving land-based digital broadcast signals and enables users to capture, record, save and scan television programs and images, company officials said. The computer, coming in three different versions according to options, will hit the market at a price between 1.59 million won and 1.99 million won ($1,580 to $1,980).

"Delivering multimedia features is becoming an important part in the competition between laptop computers. We expect personal computers to have a big part in the market for DMB terminals in the future," said Lee Jung-jun, vice president and head of LG Electronic's digital media division.


Mobile television services, dubbed digital multimedia broadcasting, are designed to beam digital television, audio and data to handheld devices via satellite or land-based television airwaves. Korean mobile-phone operators and television broadcasters expect commercial services to begin during the second quarter.

The government allocated a license for satellite-based mobile television services to TU Media Corp. in December last year.

Last month, the government allocated six licenses for land-based mobile television services that are expected to go live in June. The country's three major land-based television stations - KBS, MBC and SBS - secured spots for the nascent market.

The three remaining spots saved for non-terrestrial broadcasters were allocated to consortiums led by cable news broadcaster YTN, radio broadcaster CBS and a group led by electronic equipment makers PSK Tech Inc., Homecast Co. and digital content developer Sigong Tech Co.

Samsung Electronics Co., the country's largest electronics maker, released a DMB-enabled laptop in February and said it will release the products on the market after the country introduces the land-based DMB services in June.