IPad nears Korean debut
By Kim Tong-hyung
The market for touch-screen computers is anticipating a kickstart with regulators here confirming that Apple has applied for radio approval for its iPad tablet computer.
Tablets aren’t entirely new, but have never been considered a massive money-spinner until now, as the technology industry hangs its hopes on the Apple iPad to do for these slate-like devices what the iPhone did for smartphones.
Korean electronics makers, from major brands such as Samsung Electronics to smaller companies like iStation, have been rushing to introduce a slew of tablets in recent months, attempting to get a head start on the iPad, which will clearly be the product to beat.
According to the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the country’s broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, Apple has submitted both the Wi-Fi-only and 3D-capable versions of the iPad for radio approval to the KCC’s Radio Research Agency.
KT, the mobile-phone operator that exclusively provides iPhones here, expects to release iPads with cellular connectivity as early as next month. The carrier will provide iPads under a two-year contract, as it does with premium handsets, and will package the computers with its portable gateway devices dubbed ``Egg.’’ Egg is designed to convert WiBro signals, a portable high-speed Internet technology that is the local variant of mobile WiMAX, into Wi-Fi signals.
KT is already marketing a tablet computer in ``Identity Tab,’’ a 7-inch tablet manufactured by mid-sized device maker, Enspurt, that targets low-end users.
KT is expecting stiff competition from rival carrier SK Telecom, which is planning to compete against the iPad with Samsung’s own tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab. SK Telecom is expecting to release the Galaxy Tab next month.
iPad 국내시장 진출 임박
애플이 iPad 태블릿 컴퓨터의 전파 승인신청을 했다는 사실을 감독기관이 확인해줌에 따라 터치스크린 컴퓨터 시장에 시동이 걸릴 것으로 예상된다.
태블릿이 전적으로 새로운 것은 아니다. 그러나 IT 업계는 iPhone이 스마트폰에 대해 해 주었던 것을 애플 iPad가 이 납작한 기기에 대해 해주기를 바라는데 현재까지 큰 돈벌이로는 여겨지지는 않는다.
삼성전자 등 대형 브랜드에서부터 iStation 등 소형 업체에 이르기까지 국내 전자 업체들은 최근 수개월 여러 태블릿을 앞다투어 출시해 iPad에서 유리한 고지를 선점하려 하고 있다.
한국통신위원회(KCC)에 따르면, 애플은 와이파이 전용과 iPad의 3D버전을 제출 KCC의 전파연구소의 전파 승인을 받으려 하고 있다.