Ken Hong, a spokesperson for LG, said the following in an email: “We’ve decided to put all new tablet development on the back burner for the time being in order to focus on smartphones.” LG previously released the LG Optimus Pad, and earlier this year announced the LG Optimus Pad LTE, although that tablet still hasn’t been released.

The move makes sense: the iPad currently holds the lion’s share of the tablet market, with Samsung and ASUS both releasing a flurry of Android tablets to try and grab the remaining share. It’s a crowded space, especially now that Microsoft has entered the fray with Surface. The company looks to have had better success in the smartphone market, even if it is experimenting with odd form factors with devices like the Optimus Vu.

[via Bloomberg]

There’s also an 8-megapixel camera with flash on the back, capable of recording Full HD video, while a front-facing camera serves for video calls. Unlike many Android slates, there’s a memory card slot for a microSD card, allowing you to upgrade the storage.

Connectivity includes HDMI, USB and the usual bevy of WiFi, Bluetooth and sensors. You also get DLNA streaming support, and LG is talking up its interactivity features between the Optimus Pad LTE and its other hardware, such as smartphones and TVs.

Battery life from the 479g tablet is up to 10hrs, and there are various apps preloaded including a video editor to allow you to whip your 1080p footage into shape. The LG Optimus Pad LTE will go on sale in South Korea first, though we’d hardly be surprised if LG then expanded its reach to LTE networks in North America.