Panasonic Lumix smartphones 'for UK launch in 2012'

Panasonic is reportedly preparing to launch a new range of Lumix cameraphone products in the UK and Europe in 2012 after entering talks with a "major telecoms firm".

The Nikkei business daily reported last week that the Japanese firm is preparing to start offering smartphones in Europe again for the first time since 2005, says Reuters.

The newspaper said that Panasonic Mobile Communications is negotiating with a leading telecoms firm operating in various European countries over the new Lumix cameraphone handsets.

The plan would be to launch the smartphones in Europe possibly as early as spring 2012 and then expand the products to North America and Asia.

Nikkei said that the phones, which will run Google Android, are to be assembled at a group factory in southeast Asia or by an electronics manufacturing service.

Panasonic has reportedly set the ambitious target of selling 7.5m smartphones overseas by 2015, half of its projected total sales of handsets.

The company withdrew from the mobile phone business in Europe and China in 2005 due to tough competition and other factors.