Korean handset makers LG Electronics Inc. and Pantech Corp. said Wednesday they plan to introduce new smartphones that operate on the fourth-generation Long-Term Evolution network in the U.S. market within this month.

LG is set to release its 5-inch Intuition via Verizon Wireless starting Sept. 6, while Pantech plans to roll out its 4.3-inch Flex via AT&T on Sept. 16, the companies said in separate press releases.

As part of efforts to better cater to local users, LG said it added the “LG Tag+” feature to its model to support near field communications. The Intuition, known as Optimus Vu in South Korea, has sold more than 500,000 units locally since its launch in March.

Pantech, meanwhile, said it aims to target U.S. consumers with its phone’s 7.95 millimeter ultra-slim design that was a winner at a Reddot Design Award this year.

Both LTE devices are powered by dual-core processors and run Google Inc.’s IceCream Sandwich operating system. The two companies have each released several LTE models in the U.S. market, one of the world’s biggest handset markets that supports the new network.

LG and Pantech are among handset makers pushing to roll out new models amid speculation Apple Inc. will unveil its latest iPhone at a Sept. 12 press event in San Fransisco.

Nokia and Microsoft are set to unveil Windows-phone Lumia devices later Wednesday (local time), while Motorola and Verizon are also expected to show new handsets at a separate event the same day. (Yonhap News)