SKT joins KT, LG for Galaxy 2 sale preparations

By Yoon Ja-young

SK Telecom, the country’s telecommunication kingpin, will take reservations for the Galaxy S2 from Monday. With KT and LG Uplus having started reservation last week, the country’s three mobile carriers are set for battle with the latest Samsung Electronics smartphone.

Samsung unveiled the phone at Mobile World Congress 2011 held in Barcelona, Spain, in February, to wild acclaim. The phone boasts a 1.2 GHz dual core processor, 4.3 inch super AMOLED plus screen, an 8 megapixel camera and an improved 1,650 mAh battery. Samsung plans the first release of the phone here Friday.

Mobile carriers are competing for users to reserve the Galaxy S2.

SK Telecom is taking reservations on its website and stores from April 25 until April 27. KT is taking reservations until April 25, and LG UPlus until the 28th.

In the smartphone market last year, the handset mattered. People subscribed to KT’s mobile service as they wanted to buy Apple’s iPhone, while SK Telecom had a special relationship with Samsung Electronics to supply its Galaxy S.

That tie severed with SK Telecom also providing the iPhone, and all firms offering the Galaxy S2. LG UPlus can’t offer the iPhone due to its bandwidth.

With the same smartphone, the carriers have to think of other services to offer customers.

SK Telecom and KT are attracting subscribers with HSPA+ technology, the latest version of WCDMA technology. It boasts a download speed of 21 Mbps, three times faster than HSPA, the previous version. It has set up an HSPA+ network in 42 cities around the country

“They can also use the 5GHz Wi-Fi, which we commercialized for the first time here, through the Galaxy S2,” a representative for SK Telecom said. It is expanding the Wi-Fi network as well. Customers can also use T Cash, SK Telecom’s mobile payment system.

“Over 85 percent of the Galaxy series consumers chose SK Telecom. The Galaxy S2 users with SK Telecom will enjoy benefits thanks to our high speed wireless network and differentiated services like T Map and T store,” he added.

However, the Galaxy S2 customers at SK Telecom will be paying more than at other carriers. Samsung Electronics is releasing the phone at 847,000 won. Those who subscribe to a 55,000 won plan will be paying 245,000 won for the phone, KT will charge 242,000 won, and LG Uplus 211,200 won.

LG Uplus has also adopted the latest CDMA technology, accelerating download speed by three times to 9.3 Mbps. As the smallest player, it started reservations earlier than others to try and get a head start.

Carriers are offering gifts as well. KT offers one-year navigation service membership as well as a VOD service. LG Uplus offers a mobile TV service plus a 100,000 won gift coupon for a Samsung Electronics accessory.