LG Electronics Inc, the world's third-largest mobile phone maker, said on Thursday it would launch three new smartphones in the next few weeks that run on Windows software.

They will be the first LG phones to feature the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system from Microsoft Corp, which LG said should make it easier for users to navigate the Web.

LG signed a deal with Microsoft in February under which Windows Mobile will become the South Korean company's primary smartphone platform. Including the latest additions, LG plans to launch a total of 13 new Windows phones globally by end-2010.

Microsoft is hoping its Windows Mobile operating system can continue to challenge Symbian, a platform backed by the world's top mobile phone maker Nokia and used in two-thirds of smartphones -- mobile handsets with computer-like capabilities.

LG is also a member of the Symbian Foundation and is developing models based on Google's Android software.

(Reporting by Rhee So-eui; editing by Ken Wills)

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