InfoAnda - Apple defies sceptics to shake up S.Korean phone market

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Sharpton in Arizona to discuss alleged profiling | 20 June 2009
'Mad Men,' 'Mildred Pierce' lead Emmy nominations | 14 July 2011
5 NATO troops, Afghan official die as attacks rise | 16 June 2010

Toyota's Trulli on pole for Bahrain Grand Prix | 25 April 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Apple defies sceptics to shake up S.Korean phone market

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search ADVERTISEMENT Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Apple defies sceptics to shake up S.Korean phone market AFP - Thursday, January 28 Send IM Story Print A South Korean dealer demonstrates the use of an iPhone at a downtown mobile phone shop in Seoul on January 21. Apple's iPhone is sounding a wake-up call in South Korea's once-closed smartphone market as local manufacturers and service carriers rush to compete with the iconic US model. SEOUL (AFP) - – Apple's iPhone is sounding a wake-up call in South Korea's once-closed smartphone market as local manufacturers and service carriers rush to compete with the iconic US model. The iPhone has won almost a quarter of a million users since it finally launched in South Korea last November, and has also expanded the potentially huge overall market for smartphones. Press articles and Internet postings in the strongly nationalist nation had cast doubt on the iPhone as Apple began a promotional blitz last year. But like elsewhere, South Korean converts are zealous in their ardour. "The iPhone's cool. It has all these applications that other smartphones do not offer. I think the iPhone symbolizes simplicity and complexity at the same time," said student Lee Su-Jin, 26. Apple's "apps" are helping the iPhone's growing popularity as South Koreans turn to on-the-go features such as Google maps, listings for Seoul restaurants, news updates and weather forecasts. South Korea's mobile phone market is one of the world's most vibrant, with 45 million users in a population of almost 49 million. But until November smartphones only accounted for about two to three percent of the total compared to almost 30 percent in Japan, according to analyst Kim Dong-Joon of Eugene Securities. Two local giants, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, account for about 90 percent of the total mobile phone market. Authorities began opening up last April, dropping a requirement for phones to be embedded with locally developed software. In September 2009 they scrapped another rule, formally clearing the way for the iPhone to launch. By the end of this year smartphones will take about 10 percent of the overall market, analysts estimate. "The iPhone brought changes to the Korean mobile phone market, such as awakening the public's attention to smartphones and triggering competition," Kim told AFP. He noted that Korea's smartphone market was previously in the grip of Samsung and LG. "And since the market was closed, firms did not bother to try something new and revolutionary, keeping their customers blindfolded." Shinhan Investment Securities analyst Ha Joon-Do said LG -- which currently has no smartphone on the local market -- has been slow in responding to Apple "while Samsung is racing to improve its existing Omnia series line-up". The iPhone was launched by KT Corp., the country's second largest mobile carrier with 31 percent of the market after SK Telecom with 50.5 percent. It attracted 60,000 pre-sale orders and now has 240,000 users, said the KT official in charge of the launch, Ham Young-Jin. "We definitely believe the iPhone was the wake-up call to start promoting smartphones in Korea," Ham said. Samsung reacted by announcing sweeping price and tariff cuts. It has now sold some 300,000 Omnia 2 smartphones in Korea, according to a Samsung spokeswoman. Data from researchers at Roa Group Korea indicates the number of smartphones sold in South Korea rocketed from 30,000 in 2007 to 1.9 million in January 2010. "When I was purchasing a mobile phone, I thought of a smartphone because it is the trend," said 21-year-old Kim Lee-Soo. She, however, chose Samsung's Omnia 2. As competition heats up, SK Telecom plans to launch up to 15 smartphones from companies like Motorola, said spokeswoman Lauren H. Kim. LG, currently the world number three for mobile phones after Finland's Nokia and Samsung, said it aims to become number two by 2012 by exploiting the rising popularity of smartphones. LG said it plans a new lineup of 20 models this year, based on the operating systems of Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows Mobile and Linux. Apart from new models, the iPhone's debut has spurred local carriers into improving infrastructure. "It made mobile carriers admit the need to develop wireless Internet and to be more aggressive," said Shinhan's Ha. The iPhone user Lee said a lack of open wireless Internet service was currently its biggest weakness. SK Telecom has announced plans to develop wireless Internet for its own users. KT said it currently has 13,000 wi-fi zones and would provide 14,000 more by the end of this year. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Apple prepares big bet on tablet computing Reuters - Thursday, January 28 Norwegian firm seeks to charge into US electric car market AFP - Thursday, January 28 Italian court postpones Google verdict on bullying video AFP - Thursday, January 28 S.Korea heightens alert against cyberattacks AFP - Thursday, January 28 Apple defies sceptics to shake up S.Korean phone market AFP - Thursday, January 28 News Search Top Stories US new home sales slump to nine-month low in December Germany hikes 2010 growth forecast Saab gets reprieve as GM seals sale to Spyker Haiti queues for aid amid fresh aftershocks IMF says global recovery stronger, but still frail More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Saab gets reprieve as GM seals sale to Spyker Haitian police shoot scavengers indiscriminately Haiti queues for aid amid fresh aftershocks New York woman falls, rips Picasso painting Ericsson cuts 1,500 more jobs, profit plunges More Most Viewed » Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100 Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Thursday, 28 January 2010
Bomber dressed as Iraqi policeman hits police post
N.Ireland given 48-hour power-share deadline
US-TECH Summary
US new home sales slump to nine-month low in December
British lawyer denies Blair pressure over Iraq war
Germany hikes 2010 growth forecast
Apple prepares big bet on tablet computing
Oregon Man Scales Prison Fence; Gets Help He Hadn't Expected
Woman's Claims Of Cancer Terminate In Her Arrest For Fraud
Norwegian firm seeks to charge into US electric car market
American Fatalities In Haiti At 97
Karzai lobbies support ahead of London meeting
Italian court postpones Google verdict on bullying video
Iraq's "Chemical Ali" buried near Saddam
Chimp Attack Victim Seeking Face, Hand Transplant Operation
New Web Site Offers Experts' Tips For COPD Sufferers
S.Korea heightens alert against cyberattacks
Apple defies sceptics to shake up S.Korean phone market
Bullying Law Sparked By Tormented Teen's Suicide
Apple CEO unveils new tablet computer, the iPad
Palin Declines Modeling Offer After Obama Ad Pulled
Venezuela marches continue, Chavez shuffles cabinet |
Killers of Bangladesh independence leader executed |
Clinton to press China FM on Internet issue
Chicago's Oldest Opera Singer Getting Big 105th Birthday Bash
Russian stealth fighter to fly by end-Jan: source |
U.S. technology distributors on track to recovery
China to take time to cut Internet censorship: web founder
Michael Douglas' son pleads guilty in NY
More states require 'green' cleaning products
Runners, baring your soles makes you well-heeled
Dino tail feathers were carrot colored, study says
NKorea fires artillery rounds, raising tension
Obama to announce high-speed rail plan post-speech
N.Korea fires 80 shells despite warning shots: Seoul
Bangladesh executes ex-president's killers
Ex-suspect in Mass. highway slayings found dead
Witness: Rights of gays 2nd to preserving marriage
Cambodian opposition leader jailed in absentia
Geithner defends Fed actions on AIG bailout
Falungong decries HK as democracy row deepens
China looks to revive 'beautiful game'
Arms treaty with US could be ready in weeks-Russia
EPA to visit Calif town with birth defect cluster
Indonesia plans 'green' growth fund
Myanmar arrests 11 accused of plotting bombings
Cambodia won't send troops to Afghanistan, Iraq
Police: 11 militants killed in NATO-Afghan strike
Chinese central banker warns of new Asian crisis
Oregon Man Scales Prison Fence; Gets Help He Hadn't Expected
Chimp Attack Victim Seeking Face, Hand Transplant Operation
China tells banks to ensure 'steady' lending growth: govt
Chicago's Oldest Opera Singer Getting Big 105th Birthday Bash
China sets up national energy commission
China Town Renames Mountain After Movie 'Avatar'
NZ Q4 investor confidence hits record high
Mars Rover In Sand Trap, Becomes Stationary Lab
French president backs Obama in battle over bankers
Toyota US sales halt deals blow to image, earnings
Damaged Picasso Painting To Be Repaired
Beekeeper Who 'Died' Found To Have Pulse While In Coffin
Pakistan ups FY09/10 GDP growth fcast to 3.4 pct
Facebook Page Prompts School Officials To Suspend Student, Issue Detention To Others
Man Carrying Matches To Clean His Ears Grounds Plane
Bankers hit out against regulation at Davos
Bollywood Actor Gets Moon Crater Named After Him
China: Theaters must meet domestic movie quota
'Hope for Haiti Now' is No. 1 on Billboard chart
'Heroes' actor Adrian Pasdar booked for DUI in LA
Countries increasingly tackling music piracy head-on
Mel Gibson shakes off boredom, returns to acting |
US philanthropist donates major art works to Cuba
Susan Boyle gives thumbs-up after intruder scare
Luck or divine intervention? Haitian voodoo heritage intact
Experts to assess damage in Haiti museums
Rio's Christ statue gets facelift
Yes we (beer) can: US abuzz with State of the Union drinking game
EU greenlights Spanish movie-making state aid
'Dogs of war' saving lives in Afghanistan
Verdict due in trial of former French PM Villepin
Iran faces consequences over nuclear program: Obama |
Fed holds steady, sees low rates for 'extended period'
West backs Yemen in extremism fight at London meeting
Pressure mounts for Afghan solution at London meet
Jay Leno Unfazed By "Tonight Show" Mess
Clive Owen Film "The Boys Are Back" Released On DVD
AT&T retains Apple glitz with iPad deal
Season Seven Of "Law & Order" Released On DVD
North Korea fires artillery again toward South |
Crashed jet's flight recorders located off Lebanon
The iPad? Also available with wings?
Swedish diplomat named top UN envoy to Afghanistan
Haiti pleads for better aid effort, survivor found |
T.I. Facing Copyright Infringement Suit
"Smokin' Aces" Prequel Blasts Out On DVD, Blu-ray
Human rights group: Hamas targeted civilians
Justin Timberlake Haiti Relief Single Hits #1 On iTunes
Radiohead Raises Over Half A Million At Haiti Benefit Show
Iran's leader predicts Israel's destruction
Clinton sees consensus forming on Iran steps |
Sundance Channel Premieres Full Frontal Fashion Week With Two New Documentaries
Jon Bon Jovi To Guest Star On "30 Rock"
Ticketmaster, Live Nation Merger Gets Justice Green Light
Apple CEO unveils new tablet computer, the iPad
Apple debuts tablet-style iPad
Crashed jet's flight recorders located off Lebanon |
Justice looks askance as Obama criticizes court
China sets up energy agency headed by PM
White House to dole out $8 billion in rail grants
Taiwan ex-leader's son plans election bid
Apple pitches $499 iPad, takes on Amazon |
FACT CHECK: Obama and the 'hatchet' job
Obama Stresses Economic Recovery in State of the Union Speech
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Malaysia: Suspects linked to accused plane bomber
Obama Encourages Economic Recovery in State of the Union Speech
Report: College endowments suffer huge declines
Nintendo Q3 profit down 23 pct |
Japanese pleads guilty to killing seven in knifing spree
President Obama Addresses Nation; Discusses Healthcare, Energy, Cimate Bills
AT&T retains Apple glitz with iPad deal |
Canada investigates Facebook again over privacy |
Poll: Californians say state is on wrong course
Terror suspects in Malaysia from Mideast, Africa: activists
Geithner Denies Cover Up In AIG Bailout
Bangladesh hangs 5 who killed founder in 1975 coup
PETA Calling For Famed Groundhog To Be Replaced With Robot
Freed Belgians Concerned For Imprisoned American Hikers In Iran
Obama tries to salvage health care bill
North Korea says detains American for trespassing
NKorea says American man detained at China border
NAACP applauds Obama's call for jobs bill
Microsoft aided by Windows, awaits business revival |
Phone-tampering case: Prank or political spying?
Highlights of Obama's State of the Union address
Gitmo? Mideast? Not in Obama speech
Philippine GDP grows at slowest pace in 11 years
PAKISTAN
S.Korea's SK Telecom reports fall in Q4 net profit
Obama pledges to double US exports
Toyota expands massive recall by million vehicles
NZ household borrowing up in December
Seoul shares rise, briefly shaken by N.Korea news
S.Korea big firms Feb sentiment hits 7-½ yr high
Joan Rivers promotes 'A Piece of Work' at Sundance
Taiwan dlr up on stocks, exporters and weak euro
George Lucas away with the fairies in new musical
Zac Efron to star in spy thriller
Apple's Jobs unveils new tablet computer, the iPad
Judge in Reno won't stop 'Girls Gone Wild' trial
Jay Leno brushes off digs from Conan O'Brien |
Quincy Jones wants 'We Are the World' Haiti redo
`Il Postino' opera premiere set for Sept. 23 in LA
Author Louis Auchincloss dies at age 92
Hope for Haiti album shakes up pop chart |
'Poltergeist' actress Zelda Rubinstein dies at 76
George Lucas away with the fairies in new musical |
Mariachi cries at Gaultier conclude haute couture
Zac Efron to star in spy thriller |
J.Lo gets guest spot on TV comedy How I Met Your Mother |
Rocker Joe Walsh takes on namesake politician
Rocker Joe Walsh takes on namesake politician |
Michael Douglas' son pleads guilty to drug dealing |
Heroes actor Adrian Pasdar arrested in LA |
Blige, Bocelli to sing for Haiti at Grammys |
Karzai government invites Taliban to peace meeting |
Nintendo Q3 profit down 23 pct
Overweight septuagenarians live longer: study
Iran's Karoubi sees early exit of Ahmadinejad
Afghanistan to need Western help for up to 15 years: Karzai
Iran hangs two in wake of election unrest |
Suspect Held Hands With Victim Hours Before Her Death
Iran opposition says Ahmadinejad won't finish term
Remains Of Virginia Tech Student Last Seen At Concert Found In Hayfield
UK's Blair faces pivotal day at Iraq War inquiry |
Another American Detained In North Korea
Iran's Karoubi sees early exit of president: report |
Afghan conference agree on handover targets: draft
Crashed jet's flight recorders located off Lebanon |
Iraq moves to curb channels seen inciting violence |
Sri Lanka president to dissolve parliament, call poll |
Analysis: Humbled Obama checks boxes
Voters to president: Less talk, more action
Obama to hold Fla. town hall on the economy
The nation's weather
Cambodian court convicts US sex offender again
State universities want more students to graduate
Police: Militants attack NATO trucks in Pakistan
N.Korea fires artillery again, detains American
Painful Wii price cut keeps Nintendo in the game |
NATO troops kill Afghan cleric, officials say
AT&T earnings up 26 percent, driven by wireless |
Philippines fears higher food prices
Fed chief awaits key Senate vote on confirmation
Motorola forecasts loss; shares plunge |
Bullet mailed to Japan PM
Alito disparages Obama's Supreme Court criticism
Obama urges repeal of ban on open gays in military
Startpage launches anonymous Web search service |
Indonesian protesters demand anti-graft measures
Key infrastructure often cyberattack target: survey |
Cold weather pushes Mongolian herders into cities
NKorea says American man detained at China border
Nokia beats forecasts, shares rally |
Toyota's safety recall goes global
Pakistani stocks down; rupee weakens; o/n rates up
Japan's NEC posts smaller loss last quarter
Japan's NEC logs net loss in third quarter
Chipmaker TSMC says profit more than doubles
Apple's iPad may underwhelm Hollywood
India's Tata Steel beats forecasts as net profit soars
Asia's budget airlines eye growth, high fuel costs
China economic policies under fire at Davos forum
Taiwan Semiconductor profits soar
China sets up energy agency headed by premier
Indonesians protest government's first 100 days
Sheen's wife recuperating at NC wellness center
Indie film world gets boost at Sundance |
Hong Kong pop legend feels liberated by jazz album
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Apple's iPad may underwhelm Hollywood
Apple's iPad may underwhelm Hollywood |
Singer Rain wins lawsuit over cancelled US concerts
Lebanon's foreign domestic workers fight back at abuse
Indie film world gets boost at Sundance
China city denies renaming mountain after Avatar |
Khmer Rouge killing machine explored at Sundance
Obama renews vow to repeal military ban on gays
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01