LG Electronics has added to the growing competition in the smartphone segment of handsets in Africa with the launch of the Android-based LG Optimus 3D.

The release of the phone follows recent launches of smartphones by Huawei and Samsung. Huawei launched its IDEOS range early in the year and was followed by Samsung with its Mini family of devices.

The LG Optimus 3D features a dual-core processor and "tri-dual" architecture designed to improve performance when multitasking, according to George Mudhune, regional marketing manager for LG Electronics in East and Central Africa.

He said the phone will be a major step in the utilization of full 3D functionality in everyday life as users can record and immediately view content in 3D without the need for special glasses.

Mudhune said that with ongoing tests on 4G networks across the globe, LG's LTE technology is expected to ultimately change the way people make calls by utilizing established network carriers to provide HD voice quality.

Early this year, LG showcased its first 4G LTE phone in Las Vegas, claiming it will enable users to make video calls and even use multimedia messaging at a faster speed.

The LG Optimus 3D phone will be in more than 60 markets around the world in the third quarter of the year. The handset was first unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in February.