According to articles from MSBNC and Macworld News, South Korean manufacturer LG Electronics announced last Thursday that releasing a buttonless touch-screen device similar to Apple's much-anticipated iPhone.

LG's device, the LG-KE850, is being produced via a partnership with Italian fashion manufacturer Prada, will be released to stores next month and retail for US$780 (about 600 euros) and be sold at Prada locations throughout Europe with an introduction to Asian markets come March.

The buttonless phone features a touch-sensitive interface and eight gigabyte internal storage as well as a two megapixel camera similar to the iPhone.

The LG phone's primary differences seem to be an external memory card slot as well as a smaller physical template (99 millimeters long by 54 millimeters wide while the iPhone measures 115 millimeters long and 61 millimeters wide - both devices measure about 12 millimeters thick).

LG's phone will operate on a tri-band GSM model with EDGE data transmission support.

The device will not be sold in the United States according to LG Electronics spokeswoman Judy Pae.