LG Telecoms Mobile Internet Phones Selling Hot

By Cho Jin-seo

Staff Reporter

LG Telecom's full-browsing mobile Internet service is receiving a big welcome in the market thanks to its generous price policy.

The company said Sunday that 102,781 subscribers have signed up for the ``OZ'' service since its launch on April 3. OZ is the first mobile phone service in Korea that allows users to freely browse Web pages on a touch-sensitive screen.

LG Telecom, the smallest of the three, rattled the industry last month by announcing it would charge only 6,000 won ($6) per month for the unlimited use of mobile Internet. It is by far the most affordable Internet option for mobile phone users in Korea. The firm hopes that this aggressive Internet price policy will distinguish itself in a tight market competition with two bigger rivals ― SK Telecom and KTF.

``It seems that demand for mobile Internet service is surfacing, as gaining access to the Web on mobile phones has become easier and cheaper,'' a public relations official said.

As the number of OZ users reached the 100,000 mark in only 30 days, the total number of third-generation mobile phone users in Korea exceeded 10 million ― together with 5.28 million at KTF and 4.68 million at SK Telecom.

About two thirds of the OZ users are those in their 20s and 30s, and males and females have almost equal portions, it said.

Using the Internet on phones had been available before, but in limited ways. Firms have tried to charge users for many useful services, which are free when accessed on PCs. The download fees were also much higher than PC Internet fees.

It was also difficult to use because Korean Web sites are usually crowded with traffic-heavy graphics and animation that make navigation slow. The situation has improved a lot since the three mobile companies have upgraded their network systems to the so-called third-generation level since last year.

LG Telecom first introduced two premium handsets from LG Electronics and Japan's Casio for the launching of the OZ service. But Jung said it will sell more than 10 models this year, including cheaper ones.

LG Telecom has 8 million subscribers in Korea, compared with 14 million of KTF and 22.5 million of SK Telecom.

indizio@koreatimes.co.kr