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Tue, January 31, 2023 | 10:06
Briefs
3 questions Google chief has to answer
구글, `3가지 질문에 대답해야’
Posted : 2011-11-07 17:48
Updated : 2011-11-07 17:48
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After four years away, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has landed in Seoul and expectations are that the U.S.-based Internet giant may make a ``large and substantial’’ investment in Korea’s Internet market.

Eric Schmidt
Google Chairman
By Kim Yoo-chul

After four years away, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has landed in Seoul and expectations are that the U.S.-based Internet giant may make a ``large and substantial’’ investment in Korea’s Internet market.

Android software has gained a larger user base internationally and South Korea is a big supporter.

Samsung Electronics, the world’s biggest smartphone maker, is heavily betting on the Android systems on its popular Galaxy-branded devices, followed by LG Electronics and Pantech.

Also, the nation’s leading mobile carrier SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus have helped the Android system achieve significant growth, raising anticipation for ``Schmidt’s gifts.’’

``We don’t know whether Google will publicize talks with Choi See-joong, the chairman of South Korea’ top telecom regulator, but Schmidt confirmed Google’s support for the nation’s Internet space to chairman Choi,’’ said a high-ranking official from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), Monday.

Schmidt met with SK Telecom chief executive Ha Sung-min, KT Chairman Lee Suk-chae and LG Uplus Vice Chairman Lee Sang-chul separately, at a hotel in Seoul and the mobile carriers agreed with Google to further collaborate in areas of mobile payment systems, mobile advertisements and near-field communication (NFC) services.

Schmidt will hold a press conference early Tuesday morning at the headquarters of Google Korea and here are three things to look for in the much-anticipated press conference.

Attention is being focused on whether the Google chairman will talk about the ongoing investigation by South Korean prosecutors over Google’s use of Street View technology, which prosecutors have identified Google being behind what it believes is a privacy-infringing feature.

Since the investigation, Google has been passive in supporting the investigation, though the Internet giant was ordered by the local telecom regulator, the KCC, to revise the ``wrongdoings.’’

Google had collected and stored sensitive and private information over of 600,000 people in South Korea, while it had been gathering images of the country’s roads for the Street View between October 2009 and May 2010.

Google denied infringing on any privacy laws here. During his visit, a meeting with even President Lee Myung-bak indicated possible new tie-ups between South Korea and Google.

``Google regards Korea as its true business partner and it really doesn’t want to get involved in troubles whether the chairman’s remarks over the issue will draw keen attention,’’ said Lee Kang-seok, a 36-year-old office worker in Seoul.

Another question that’s going to come out is whether Google has keen interest in acquiring Daum Communications, the nation’s No. 2 Internet portal, as an apparent strategy to expand Google’s grip in the rising local mobile ad market.

Before the conference, shares of Daum Communications rose 2.5 percent to end at 135,200 won per share in the nation’s main bourse.

Daum denied that it was contacted by Google but financial analysts said the acquisition of Daum by Google ``does make sense,’’ considering Google’s interests in the local mobile advertisement sector.

``Daum founder Lee Jae-woong holds just 15.5 percent of Daum, which is quite favorable for Google to buy the local portal. Because South Korea is a hot bed for Android software, Google is aiming to use Korea as a litmus test to boost its Android eco-systems,’’ said Oh Sung-kwon, an analyst at Kyobo Securities.

To ask for Woori’s aggressive help for Google’s mobile payment business here Schmidt met Woori Financial Chairman Lee Pal-seung at the request of Lee.

Another question involves Google’s stance in the ongoing patent battle between Android and Apple.

Samsung Electronics and HTC of Taiwan, top Android backers, are fighting with Apple over patents and the fight has also been regarded as crucial for Apple to rein in Google’s rapid rise in the world of smartphones.

The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs talked about the introduction of an Android-supporting device by HTC, that felt very similar to the iPhone as a move that amounted to ``grand theft.’’

But ironically, Android has been continuing to grow and it’s no doubt that Android has the biggest base of any mobile operating system, with Apple’s iOS follows in second spot.

The situation is totally different for Google in making its business strategies in South Korea. From cloud-based services to mobile operating systems to advertising, Google and Apple are heavily engaged in a long-term battle.

``That’s why Schmidt’ meeting with Samsung Electronics chief executive Choi Gee-sung and even Samsung heir-apparent Lee Jae-yong has emerged as the hot issue for tech industries,’’ said Kim Seong-baek, a 34-year-old journalist for an online site based in South Korea.

``Will Google pay sincere tribute to Samsung and I’m so curious about what Schmidt’s gifts to Samsung will be. Is it royalty or something else?’’

구글, `3가지 질문에 대답해야’
에릭 슈미트 구글 회장이 8일 오전 11시 구글 코리아 본사에서 기자간담회를 열 계획인 가운데 슈미트의 `입’에서 어떤 내용이 나올 지가 관심사다. 이슈는 많다. 구글의 위치정보서비스 프로그램인 `스트리트뷰 (Street View)’ 의 사생활 침해 여부가 여전히 논란이 되고 있는 가운데 검찰 조사는 구글의 `비협조적인 태도’로 여전히 지지부진하다. 이에 대한 슈미트 회장의 답변 여부가 관심을 끈다. 경찰은 앞서 2009년 10월부터 작년 5월까지 스트리트뷰 제작 과정에서 최소 60만명의 개인 통신정보를 무단 수집한 혐의로 구글 법인을 입건한 뒤 기소 의견으로 검찰에 송치했다. 프로그램 개발자에 대해서는 기소 중지했다. 특히 구글 측은 국내 용역업체를 동원해 특수카메라 3대가 장착된 차량으로 서울.부산.경기 등 지역에서 5만여km를 운행하며 거리 촬영뿐 아니라 와이파이(Wi-Fi)망에 설치된 무선기기(AP) 시리얼 번호와 개인간 통신내용까지 수집했었던 것으로 검찰 조사결과 밝혀졌다. 다음커뮤니케이션 (Daum) 인수.합병 가능성 여부에 대해서도 관심을 끈다. 최근 증시에선 `방한하는 슈미트 구글 회장이 국내 주요 IT기업을 방문해 전략적 합의를 맺고, 시장에 매물로 나와 있는 다음과는 인수 문제를 협의할 것’이라는 소문이 파다하게 나돌았다. 이 같은 소문이 계속 나도는 이유는 크게 두 가지다. 우선 취약한 지배구조 탓이 크다. 현재 최대주주인 이 전 대표와 특수관계인 지분율은 17.3%에 불과하다. 6월 말 현재 5% 이상 지분을 보유한 재무적투자자(FI)들을 합친 지분율 36.07%보다 낮다. 다른 하나는 구글의 낮은 한국 시장점유율과 인수에 필요한 자금력이다. 검색어 기준으로 구글 점유율은 2% 안팎으로 NHN에 이어 2위(18.6%)인 다음에 크게 못 미친다. 증시에서 거론되는 다음 매각가는 5000억원 안팎이어서 현금성자산만 11조원을 보유한 구글에는 별로 부담될 게 없다는 것이다. 이에 대해 구글코리아 관계자는 ``질문이 나오면 대답을 할 것’’이라고 말했다. 다음으로 애플과의 특허분쟁에 관한 것이다. 삼성전자와 애플의 특허 분쟁은 결국 구글을 견제하려는 애플의 `고도로 계산된 전략’이라는 주장이 힘을 얻으면서 특허 이슈에 대한 슈미트 회장의 생각도 짚고 넘어가야 할 부분이다. 한편 슈미트 회장은 이날 오전 서울 삼성동 파크하얏트 호텔에서 SK텔레콤 하성민 사장과 면담을 진행했다. 이 자리에서 두 사람은 NFC, 모바일 커머스, SNS 서비스, T 스마트월렛, 싸이월드 등 포괄적인 분야에서 협력키로 했다. 이어 슈미트 회장은 점심 시간을 이용해 서울 그랜드 하얏트호텔에서 KT 이석채 회장을 만났다. 이번 면담에서 슈미트 의장과 이 회장은 모바일 광고 및 결제분야에서 의견을 공유했다. 이 회장은 구글이 최근 출시한 모바일 지갑(Mobile Wallet) 서비스와 구글의 전략은 KT에게도 관심사항임을 언급하며, 통신사와 관계 창출 및 협력 도모가 중요할 것이라고 말했다. 슈미트 회장은 LG유플러스 이상철 부회장과도 만났다. 두 사람이 만난 것은 이번이 처음이다. 이 자리에서는 구글 지갑 및 NFC 사업 전개, 유튜브 프리미엄 서비스 공동 개발 등에 대한 이야기가 오갔다. 오후에는 이명박 대통령을 예방했다. 이 자리에서 이 대통령과 슈미트 회장은 한국과 구글의 협력방안에 대한 의견을 교환했다. 이후 슈미트 회장은 오후 방송통신위원회를 방문, 최시중 위원장과 면담을 가졌으며 이후 최지성 삼성전자 부회장과도 면담했다. 슈미트 회장은 최시중 방송통신위원장과 만난 자리에서 ``모토로라 인수로 안드로이드 OS를 유료화하지 않겠냐는 얘기가 나오는데 그렇지 않다’’고 말했다. 슈미트 회장은 ``세계 최고 IT 기술을 한국이 가지고 있다’’며 ``최고 기술에 접근할 수 있는 길을 (안드로이드 유료화 때문에) 차단하는 것은 우리에게도 손실이다’’고 덧붙였다.
Emailyckim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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