The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations

  • 3

    All-Korean showdowns set up on 1st day of medal race

  • 5

    Understanding Korean Modernization

  • 7

    Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China

  • 9

    S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high

  • 11

    China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

  • 13

    US finalizes national security 'guardrails' for CHIPS funding

  • 15

    PM departs for China for Asian Games, meeting with Xi

  • 17

    Top diplomats of Korea, Iran discuss bilateral ties following frozen funds transfer

  • 19

    Hangzhou Asian Games open after COVID-enforced delay

  • 2

    Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official

  • 4

    INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'

  • 6

    Opposition party leader ends 24-day hunger strike for treatment

  • 8

    Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws

  • 10

    Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some

  • 12

    Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses

  • 14

    Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer

  • 16

    Historic NASA asteroid mission set for perilous return

  • 18

    Allies vow stern measures against Russia-NK arms deal

  • 20

    League of Legends, other esports join Asian Games in competition for first time

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, September 25, 2023 | 22:41
Business
Doors to BlackBerry Yanked Open
Posted : 2008-05-13 17:54
Updated : 2008-05-13 17:54
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
The government partially lifted its ban on the Canadian-made BlackBerry handsets in time for the visit of the handset maker's chief executive to an OECD Ministerial Meeting to be held in Seoul next month.

By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter

The government partially lifted its ban on the Canadian-made BlackBerry handsets in time for the visit of the handset maker's chief executive to an OECD Ministerial Meeting to be held in Seoul next month.

The ban on BlackBerry has been criticized as a typical example of a non-tariff barrier by foreign businessmen here. The government hopes that this action will save face in the upcoming international conference.

SK Telecom, the largest mobile operator, said Tuesday that the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) approved sales of Canadian-made BlackBerry phones on May 1, for business users only.

The sudden acceptance was revealed ahead of the Research In Motion (RIM) CEO's visit to the OECD meeting of Internet ministers scheduled for June 17-18, where Jim Balsillie, the head of RIM, is invited as a guest speaker.

``We are the host country of the OECD meeting and officials were concerned about bad publicity on the BlackBerry issue,'' said Suh Sung-bong, an official of Foreign Investment Ombudsman, a governmental agency in international trade. ``This was a swift action from the Lee Myung-bak government. We hope this can give a friendly signal to foreign investors.''

The KCC and RIM were not available for comment Tuesday, but the Canadian business circle seemed dissatisfied.

``As always you need to read the fine print. The fine print says you can only sell BlackBerry to corporations. Canadians will not be happy about the blatant discrimination targeted against our signature product, BlackBerry,'' said Terry Tuharsky, former chairman of Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The organization has been fighting against the non-tariff barrier on foreign handsets such as BlackBerry and Apple's iPhone over the past two years.

``What if Canada made Hyundai only sell cars to corporations, and not to regular consumers? How can a pro business government continue such discrimination towards foreign businesses?''

SK Telecom plans to sell a few models from July or August in package deals, at a flat rate of 26,000 won per month per unit.

BlackBerry is a hybrid mobile phone and palm-sized computer, specialized in e-mailing and personal scheduling. First introduced in 1997, it has become an essential tool for businesspeople around the world because of its ability to receive e-mails real-time. RIM says that there are more than 14 million subscribers in the world.

Korea is one of few countries where it is not available, partly because it did not meet a technical specification imposed by the government, which was set up in favor of domestic phone makers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.

In addition, local mobile operators had little incentive to introduce the BlackBerry here as the need for mobile e-mailing was not very high, as the country has Internet access on every other corner of the street in the form of Internet cafes and public PCs.

The sudden change of the government's attitude came as the KCC is to play host to the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Future Internet Economy, where 47 ministers and dozens of influential business figures will visit Seoul. Balsillie is designated as a panel member for a round-table session.

The KCC forces mobile phones to carry a Korean-made software standard called WIPI (Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability). This time, it bent the rule on behalf of BlackBerry by categorizing it as a PDA (personal digital assistant), not as a mobile phone.

BlackBerry is frequently sold in business-to-business deals in other countries, packaged with corporate e-mail servers. Such practices are very rare in Korean firms and companies usually do not issue phones to their employees.

indizio@koreatimes.co.kr
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China
2S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high
3Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer
4Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory
5Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation
6Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil. Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.
7Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party
8Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars
9LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco
10Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
2TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
3BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
4K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling QuranK-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
5Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group