At about the same time with the release of the cheap Sony Ericsson W350 in the US, AT&T has come up with LG Invision, another new and affordable handset.

Unlike the W350, which is a semi-flip phone targeted for music lovers, the Invision from LG is a simple candybar created for "visionaries of video", as AT&T puts it.

Presented as the "smallest Mobile TV-capable phone" in the States, LG Invision features AT&T's Mobile TV service, allowing users to watch lots of programs, including FOX Mobile, NBC2GO, CBS Mobile and ESPN Mobile. The handset's display is a 2.2 inch TFT with 262K colors and 240 x 320 pixels, so don't expect to get a viewing experience similar to the one when you're in front of a real TV.

Mobile TV capabilities aside, LG Invision also brings: GSM and HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0, AT&T Mobile Music, a 1.3 Megapixel camera and Video Share calling. The handset weighs 2.85 ounces (81 grams), measures 4.05 x 2.08 x 0.47 (103 x 53 x 12 millimeters) and includes a 900 mAh battery - enough to last up to three hours in talk-time mode or up to 10.4 days in stand-by.

"Invision's unique design makes it AT&T's smallest mobile phone to feature Mobile TV. Walking around town with live TV in your pocket has never been easier," declared Carlton Hill, vice president of Devices and Product Development for AT&T's wireless operations.

"LG continues to focus on what consumers are craving from their mobile phones, and the Invision is an example of our effort to offer an easy-to-use multimedia mobile device at an affordable price," added Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of Product Strategy and Marketing at LG Mobile Phones. "The Invision incorporates all of the latest entertainment technologies in a sleek form factor that is sure to get noticed."

Although AT&T says the new LG is available both online and in its retail stores, the new candybar is actually nowhere to be found on the big blue North American carrier's website. Anyway, I'm sure the Invision will pop-up soon there, too. Until then, users can probably find it in AT&T's stores across the States. The phone's prices start at $99 with a contract agreement for two years and a $50 mail-in rebate.