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KT, LG to offer 'unlimited' LTE service

By Kim Yoo-chulKT and LG Uplus announced Friday that they will offer “unlimited” data services for customers signing up for new pricing packages supporting speedier telecommunication networks called Long-Term Evolution (LTE).The move was designed to attract more customers as top local carrier SK Telecom will be banned from signing new customers for 22 days from Jan. 31 to Feb. 21. SK was fined by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) for offering illegal handset subsidies.Uplus was the first to announce its three monthly pricing packages for unlimited LTE services ― 14GB (gigabyte) wireless data for 95,000 won, 20GB for 110,000 won and 24GB for 130,000 won. Under the scheme, the daily data usage limit is capped at 3GB. If a customer uses up daily limit, he or she will be able to use LTE service at a slower speed of 2Mbps for free. Mbps stands for megabits per second and refers to the speed of data transfer. ``This is part of our promotional campaign. We will provide special services packages just for three months from Jan. 31,’’ Uplus said in a statem

Jan 25, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung posts record profit of W8.84 tril.

By Kim Yoo-chulSamsung Electronics said Friday that its operating profit nearly doubled to a record high of 8.84 trillion won ($8.3 billion) for the fourth quarter of last year from a year earlier on the back of brisk smartphone sales.Its net profit jumped 75.6 percent to 7.04 trillion won during the same period, with revenue of 56.06 trillion won, up 18.5 percent from the same period the previous year, the company said in a regulatory filing.The robust performance between October and December brought sales figures for the full year to 201.1 trillion won, the first time that the firm broke the 200 trillion won mark. Its annual operating profit also hit a record high of 29.05 trillion won.The performance was mainly driven by the IT & Mobile Communications unit, which generates more than 60 percent of Samsung's overall operating profit, which stood at 5.44 trillion won during the fourth quarter. The firm sold more than 30 million Galaxy S IIIs and 5 million Galaxy Note IIs for the first 11 months of last year.``Despite the continued economic troubles in Europe and fiercer competiti

Jan 25, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung posts record profit of W8.84 tril.
Tech & Science

Apple pressured to provide iOS 6 source code

By Kim Yoo-chulSamsung Electronics claimed Friday it should be able to access Apple’s software source code to confirm whether or not its technology patents were infringed upon in the latest i0S 6 operating system powering iPhones and iPads.Apple has denied the request of its Korean rival, calling it ridiculous. Both Motorola and Google have also asked for the source code to be supplied but to no avail.Samsung claims that Apple’s i0S 6 borrowed from one of its software patents without consent. Apple strongly disagrees.According to officials from the Seoul Central District Court, Samsung’s legal representatives argued Thursday that it would be impossible to confirm whether its patent has been infringed on or not without Apple providing the source code.Apple representatives countered furiously and denounced the demand as ``insane.’’``It doesn’t’ make any sense. Samsung is saying that we should give up protecting our most important data,’’ court officials recalled Apple lawyers as saying. The court requested Apple to have its software

Jan 25, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

KT calls for ban on handset subsidies

KT President Pyo Hyun-myung talks during a luncheon meeting with reporters at a restaurant in downtown Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of KTBy Kim Yoo-chulA senior KT executive is making strong appeals to the government to stop smartphone manufacturers from offering subsidies in an attempt to bring the local telecom market back on track.In a luncheon meeting with local reporters, Thursday, KT President Pyo Hyun-myung stressed that it was time to root out the practice of providing illegal subsidies for handsets.``Confusion and distrust about handset prices are resulting from different prices and contract periods at stores,’’ Pyo said.``Without illegal subsides, consumers could purchase handsets at reasonable prices. If the new pricing system is implemented, then the market will return to normal,’’ the KT executive said. KT is the first local telecommunication firm among the top three to push a ``fair price system.”``Manufacturers should cut their suggested retail prices and overhaul two-way registration systems ― retail prices with contracts or retail pr

Jan 24, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

SK boss vows to go all-out on chips

SK Holdings Chairman Chey Tae-won, left, shakes hands with Qualcomm Chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs during the World Economic Forum in the Swiss city of Davos, Thursday. / Courtesy of SK hynixChairman Chey meets with Cisco, Qualcomm CEOsBy Kim Yoo-chulThe word on the SK Group is that it’s a lion at home and a kitten abroad. SK Holdings Chairman Chey Tae-won hopes that the acquisition of SK hynix a year ago will help the group as a global corporate player and reduce its dependence on domestic industries.SK hynix is already the world’s second largest computer memory chipmaker behind Samsung Electronics. The chipmaker had endured a financial roller coaster for the larger part of a decade before SK bought it. Chey, also co-CEO of SK hynix, is vowing to go all-out to strengthen the company’s global market position, exploiting the softened competition during the economic downturn.He has spoken with technology industry bigwigs like Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs and Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers on the sidelines of this week’s Davos forum over the market’s future and

Jan 24, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung eyes business users, targets RIM

By Kim Yoo-chulSamsung Electronics has been trading barbs with Apple over intellectual property on mobile Internet devices. The industry foe it really wants to beat, however, is Research in Motion, the Canadian maker of the iconic BlackBerry, according to company sources.As the global market for smartphones and tablets has shaped up into a duopoly between Samsung and Apple, the Korean technology giant is now looking to leverage its strength into the market for corporate users where the ups and downs are less dramatic but the margins are just as high.Samsung has been widening its lead over Apple as the world’s largest provider of smartphones, thanks to a vast lineup of handsets compared to Apple’s sole iPhone.While Apple’s iPad is the king of tablets, Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs represent the industry’s sole meaningful challenge. ``We are comfortable about our lead in the consumer smartphone segment, although cheaper products from Chinese makers Huawei and ZTE might present a challenge down the road. I think the next growth area for Samsung is the market for sm

Jan 23, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung Display may end lawsuits against LG

By Kim Yoo-chulKim Ki-namSamsung Display CEOSamsung Display has hinted that it will drop its lawsuits against LG Display after the government recently stepped in to try and end the dispute that started late last year.``Samsung Display will seek a solution in a constructive way in the ongoing legal proceedings against LG Display,’’ Samsung Display Chief Executive Officer Kim Ki-nam told reporters following a regular meeting with other top Samsung executives at Samsung Electronics’ headquarters in downtown Seoul, Wednesday.His remarks were taken as a sign that the company is willing to seek a compromise in the ongoing patent dispute with LG over organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology.The CEO admitted that he met with a senior official from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) Tuesday at the request of Kim Jae-hong, the head of the MKE’s industrial policy bureau.Samsung initiated the dispute by suing LG, alleging the latter stole its patents related to OLED displays. LG countersued by saying Samsung’s smartphones and tablets infringed on patents

Jan 23, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung Display may end lawsuits against LG
Tech & Science

LG CNS earning stripes as global IT provider

LG CNS, a leading provider of information technology solutions, is involved in a wide range of markets overseas and also participated in designing the network for this Bulgarian solar power facility. / Courtesy of LG CNSBy Kim Yoo-chulLG CNS is locked in fierce competition with domestic rivals Samsung SDS and SK C&C, but the provider of information technology services and corporate office solutions hopes it will do better abroad.As one of several technology affiliates of the LG Group, the company is just beginning to benefit from efforts to carve a niche in the global market. The expanded international presence comes at a critical time when policymakers are employing stronger regulations on inter-affiliate deals at conglomerates to help small- and medium-sized firms, and restore parity in competition.LG CNS is winning orders from China, Japan, India, Malaysia and the Philippines and also in developing nations in South America. As the company depends on corporate and government customers, being fast out of the gate in each market is crucial, and company officials believe they are

Jan 22, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Can chip giant Qualcomm boost also-ran Pantech?

By Kim Yoo-chulPantech’s Vega LTE smartphoneAlthough Korea has emerged as a global leader in mobile phones, Pantech has permanently come in at third place behind local industry giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. This was not helped by its struggle to transition from feature phones to smartphones, an ineptitude that nearly cost the company its existence.But despite years of business turbulence and frustrating anonymity, Pantech continues to claim it’s on course toward rebuilding and delivering on the promise it showed in the early-to-mid 2000s when it gave LG a run for its money. Its driving force happens to be Qualcomm, the San Diego-based mobile technology giant. On Tuesday, Pantech said in a regulatory filing that Qualcomm has decided to invest as much as $23 million in it to increase a stake in the Korean handset maker from 11.46 percent to 13.49 percent. ``Pantech will issue 52 million common stocks to Qualcomm. The price for the stock is 500 won or some 60 cents. Qualcomm expects to finish the money transfer by Feb. 7,’’ said a Pantech spokesw

Jan 22, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Can chip giant Qualcomm boost also-ran Pantech?
Tech & Science

SKT may face further penalties over subsidies

By Kim Yoo-chulThe country’s telecommunications regulator is considering imposing additional penalties on SK Telecom, the country’s top mobile carrier, for continuing with illegal marketing activity despite prior warnings. All three of the nation’s wireless carriers were hit with suspensions late last year for providing customers with excessive handset subsidies to help them purchase pricey smartphones and tablets.SK Telecom, with a market share of over 50 percent, will be banned from signing new customers for 22 days between Jan. 31 and Feb. 21. KT, the country’s second-largest wireless carrier, will face the same restrictions from Feb. 22 to March 31. LG Uplus, the smallest of the three, is already serving a 24-day ban that will end on Jan. 30. The carriers were also fined a combined 11.89 billion won. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has imposed strict limits on the level of handset subsidies to prevent the market from overheating and maintain parity in competition. Now, the watchdog is fuming after finding that SK Telecom has continued to offer il

Jan 21, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
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