Models show “MOTOROI,” Korea’s first smartphone that uses the Google operating system, Monday. The phone will sell via SK Telecom, the nation’s top mobile carrier, from early February, with a retail price tag of 900,000 won. / Courtesy of Motorola Korea |
By Kim Yoo-chul
Staff Reporter
Motorola Inc. said Monday it will release a smartphone featuring Google's Android operating system (OS) in the local market in early February.
But the U.S. company has been under fire as its first Android-based mobile doesn't provide tailored services, and its South Korean branch has kept mum regarding after-sales services.
"This is because Motorola has put the top priority on releasing the phone as soon as possible," said a spokesman of Motorola Korea.
The "MOTOROI," which is equipped with the Android 2.0 mobile platform, will be offered by SK Telecom, the nation's top mobile carrier.
The phone could sell locally at around 900,000 won. But SK Telecom plans to give substantial subsidies to customers to lure them in.
"SK Telecom will revitalize the market to fuel strong momentum for Android phones. We will provide a massive support for programmers in order to create more contents," a SK Telecom spokesman said.
The latest product features a touch screen with a 3.7-inch high-definition display, helping users easily access Web sites, videos, games and photos, according to the Motorola official.
The phone offers a terrestrial DMB function to South Korean consumers.
When asked about the possibility of a "qwerty" keypad-equipped MOTOROI, the official said, "It will depend on the talks with SK Telecom. But we are not ruling it out."
Motorola plans to keep its strategic partnership with SK Telecom. And according to officials, it will not strike a new partnership with other local mobile carriers such as KT or LG Telecom.
Major handset vendors such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are heavily betting on Android phones, attracted by consumer preferences.
KT has a plan to introduce Apple's 4G iPhone in April at the earliest to secure its bottom line in the market.
Industry officials and analysts forecast the local smartphone market will see an eight-fold increase in 2010 to reach 4 million units this year from 500,000 in 2009.
yckim@koreatimes.co.kr
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