LG Electronics, one of world's leaders in mobile design and technology, has signed a contract for technical cooperation with Germany's Schneider-Kreuznach, for long known for the world's highest quality camera lenses.

This is the first partnership of Schneider-Kreuznach with a mobile phone company, and solidifies LG's expertise in the camera phone space. LG's upcoming handset, ''Shine'', will be the first camera phone equipped with a certified Schneider-Kreuznach lens.

"Today's mobile phone consumer demands high-quality camera functions as part of a handset's multimedia features," said Skott Ahn, Executive Vice President of LG Electronics Mobile Handset R&D Center. "With Schneider-Kreuznach's technical expertise, LG will introduce more premier handset models, bolstering LG's position in the high-end mobile phone market."

"With our support, LG will be able to provide the most advanced camera phones to its multimedia-conscious consumers," said Schneider-Kreuznach CEO, Dr. Josef Staub.

The agreement between the two companies includes joint branding, technical certification and collaborative technical development.