SK Telecom to hop on versatile handset, platform

By Kim Yoo-chul

SK Telecom is refocusing its strategy in order to beef up value-added platform businesses ― a more capable handset and a more versatile platform.

SK Telecom hopes to yield tangible results in its new handset in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, which serve as a smartphone as well as a set-top box.

In a news conference, SK Telecom said it has formed a united front with Samsung to launch its latest platform service dubbed as "N-Screen."

Samsung will sell the "Galaxy S Hoppin" handset, a modified version of the original Galaxy S.

The handset is supporting SK Telecom's cloud computing-based Hoppin service, which allows customers to enjoy using media content on televisions, personal computers or even on the phone.

"SK Telecom aims to provide more customized content and competitive telecom-related applications to customers by pushing N-Screen service," Sull Won-hee, executive vice president of its open platform division, told reporters at its headquarters in downtown Seoul, Monday.

The Galaxy Hoppin comes together with Android 2.2 and 4-inch "Super AMOLED" display, one gigahertz CPU, five-megapixel camera and high-definition video recording support, Samsung said in a separate announcement.

"The phone will be priced at around 300,000 won with contracts and monthly subscription data plans," Sull told reporters.

He declined to comment about its content providers because the service has just been launched.

When asked by possible data congestion due to the new releases of data-intensive service, Sull said, "SK Telecom has been set to offer the service via the advanced telecom networks, long-term evolution (LTE), if the LTE materializes."

SK Telecom is mulling the possibility of introducing handsets equipped with its Hoppin service via other handset vendors, though Sull also declined to talk more.

Lee Jae-hwan, the head of SK Telecom media platform division, said SK Telecom will increase the number of Hoppin-targeted content to 10,000 from the current 3,500.

SK Telecom, which has failed to reap sizable profit outside the peninsula, is injecting more of its resources to strengthen the platform-related businesses in a response to higher market calls to find its plausible next earnings drivers.

Ha Sung-min, its new CEO-to-be, has replaced Jung Man-won to become the new chief executive with Ha’s key mission set to find big breakthroughs.