LG Optimus L9 saunters through FCC, asks for martini afterward

LG's latest L-series smartphone, the Optimus L9, has just breezed (elegantly) through the FCC's radio frequency trial-by-screwdriver. The dinner-jacket-white clad Android smartphone is part of the "L-Style design philosophy" from the Korean maker, which emphasizes budget panache over brute performance. As such, it's a handsome but plasticky device, with a 4.7-inch IPS screen, ICS, qtranslator language app, dual-core 1GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, 2,150mAh battery and 5-megapixel shooter. Vodafone in Europe showed the price as €340 unsubsidized or €50 on contract, but a member of the L-series family has yet to cross the pond. However, a surprise peek of its Optimus L7 sibling as US Cellular's upcoming Splendor shows there's some hope for a stateside cameo.