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3-pronged formation

The headquarters of Samsung Electronics in Gangnam, southern SeoulSamsung realigned to boost mobile, electronics businessBy Kim Yoo-chulSamsung Electronics will reorganize into three key units of consumer electronics, information technology and mobile and device solutions in order to better cope with the rapidly-changing market environments.On Wednesday, the Suwon, Gyeonggi Province-based outfit announced that it had decided to adopt what the company calls a “three top system” by upgrading its finished-goods division formerly led by television chief Yoon Boo-keun. Under the realignment, Samsung Electronics CEO and Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun will handle its component businesses such as flat-screens and memory chips, while Yoon leads its finished-goods business.Samsung’s mobile boss Shin Jong-kyun is now responsible for handling tablet, smartphone and computer businesses after the company decided to put the IT solution division under his wing.For televisions, Yoon is tasked with leading its printing solutions business. ``We need to simplify our units and to put more f

Dec 12, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung to reduce investment in LCD

By Kim Yoo-chulSamsung Electronics is moving to reduce investment in its liquid crystal display (LCD) unit as the firm has shifted the focus of its screen business to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and plastic-based flexible displays.The move comes as the world’s biggest flat-screen manufacturer has realigned its business as the conventional global LCD industry is still facing higher panel supply due to an increase in retail inventories caused by a slowdown in consumer purchases amid the global economic uncertainty.``The real problem is that major television markets like the United States remain sluggish. This is much worse than display-making manufacturers expected. In contrast, the demand for tablets is increasing and that market will see further explosive demand growth next year,’’ said one official from Samsung, requesting anonymity.Rather than spending more on large-sized LCD screens, the display-making giant has sped up its move to shift some of its existing LCD lines for televisions to those better fitted for tablets. It plans to inject more cash in smal

Dec 11, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Carriers team up for LTE service in Dokdo

By Kim Yoo-chulKorea’s three telecom carriers ― SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus ― have agreed to join forces to launch a long-term evolution (LTE) service on Dokdo, the nation’s easternmost islets.On Monday, the three companies said they filed a request with the Dokdo authorities on Nov. 26 for approval to build a joint base station to help Korean residents enjoy LTE services there from next year. The government recently decided to approve the plan.``The carriers need approval from the authorities to construct a joint base station for their LTE networks. Koreans who visit Dokdo and even some Dokdo residents will use LTE networks from February at the earliest,’’ said an official from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) by telephone.The mobile firms plan to initially use microwave equipment and related equipment owned by KT. Microwaves wirelessly transmit data linking fixed and wireless networks from Dokdo to the Korean mainland.``KT has decided to allow SK Telecom and LG Uplus to use our assets as the construction of a base station for LTE services

Dec 10, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Carriers team up for LTE service in Dokdo
Tech & Science

Generation shift

   Jang Dong-hoon         Lee Young-hee             Tim Baxter              David EberleGalaxy, women, foreigners keywords in year-end promotionsBy Kim Yoo-chulSamsung Group has geared up for a generation shift by promoting talented young individuals and females to executive positions in an apparent attempt to support Lee Jay-yong, the only son of chairman Lee Kun-hee, who was promoted to vice chairman Wednesday.On Friday, the world’s biggest technology firm by revenue promoted 240 in a year-end reshuffle for second- and third-tier executives. Samsung promoted 26 to executive vice president, 52 to senior vice president and 162 to vice president. A large number of foreign employees were also promoted.The reshuffle suggests that the group’s top management has given more authority to its mobile communications division by promoting more executives than those from other units. All key figures from the mob

Dec 7, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
  • Judge mulls cutting Apple's damages
Tech & Science

Judge mulls cutting Apple's damages

Apple lead counsel Harold McElhinney speaks in front of U.S. Federal Judge Lucy Koh as Samsung attorneys look on during court proceedings in San Jose, Calif., Thursday. Reuters-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulA U.S. federal judge hinted Friday that she would lower the $1.05 billion in damages a jury awarded to Apple against Samsung Electronics.According to international media and industry sources, during a hearing in a San Jose federal courtroom, Judge Lucy Koh told lawyers for both companies that the jurors appeared to have miscalculated the damages and she was inclined to trim the award.Koh challenged lawyers for Apple to convince her why the damages awarded for patent infringement weren’t excessive. In particular, she questioned the jury's mathematical and legal logic, targeting specific Samsung smartphones at issue in the case."I have quite a number of questions, because there are so many issues and they are quite complex. I am planning to issue orders in installments, organized by subject matter," Koh was quoted by some media outlets as telling the rival legal teams.Koh didn't specif

Dec 7, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Judge mulls cutting Apple's damages
  • Generation shift
Tech & Science

iPhone 5 makes debut in Korea

People who pre-ordered the iPhone 5 online from KT line up for a launch event at Olleh Square in Gwanghwamun, Friday. Courtesy of KTKT, SKT expect sales boost with launch of iPhone 5By Kim Yoo-chulApple’s much-awaited iPhone 5 made its belated debut in Korea Friday via the American firm’s two authorized local partners, KT and SK Telecom.KT, the first carrier here to sell Apple’s i-devices, said it received more than 130,000 pre-orders in about two hours last Friday, while the 50,000 handsets that SK Telecom had allotted for online pre-orders sold out in the same time.The iPhone 5 is expected to boost the number of long-term evolution (LTE) customers while the release means another round of the ongoing subsidy war here.The carriers are positive about the sales outlook for the latest Apple phone as its launching comes amid explosive demand for LTE devices.  A senior executive at KT, the nation’s second-biggest mobile carrier, hopes that growing confidence over the management of Apple’s latest iPhone means increased sales.KT began selling the iPhone 5

Dec 7, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
iPhone 5 makes debut in Korea
Tech & Science

LG, Samsung to appeal EU cartel fines

By Kim Yoo-chulLG Electronics and Samsung SDI said Thursday that they will appeal heavy cartel fines imposed by the European Union antitrust regulators for alleged price-rigging on now-obsolete cathode ray tubes (CRT).Early Thursday (KST), the European Commission (EC) levied a record-breaking 1.47 billion euro ($1.92 billion) fine on six companies including Samsung and LG, and Toshiba of Japan for colluding to fix prices in two global cartels between 1996 and 2006.LG Electronics must pay a 295 million euro fine in addition to a 195 million euro fine levied on the firm over claims that LG Philips Display (LPD), a CRT unit it once jointly owned, was also involved in the cartel. Samsung SDI must pay 81.4 million euro.``These cartels for CRTs are textbook cartels. They feature all the worst kinds of anti-competitive behavior that are strictly forbidden to companies doing business in Europe,’’ said competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia, adding the price-fixing scheme harmed European consumers.In a statement following the EC’s announcement, LG said it will take the cas

Dec 6, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

'iPhone 5 credit positive for KT, SKT'

By Kim Yoo-chulGlobal credit ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service said Thursday that the release of the iPhone 5 will have a positive impact on the credit ratings of KT and SK Telecom as it will help them attract more customers.In a statement released Thursday the agency said, “The launch of the iPhone 5 in Korea, which will be available from late Dec. 6 from SK Telecom and early Dec. 7 from KT is credit positive for them because it provides the firms with an opportunity to boost their LTE subscriber base and average revenue per use (ARPU).” LTE, which stands for Long-Term Evolution, is more advanced than the conventional third-generation (3G) mobile technology. But the New York-headquartered credit rating agency currently rates the two carriers A3 with a negative outlook. Moody’s said the arrival of the iPhone 5 will give both KT and SK Telecom a distinct advantage over the third major mobile operator in Korea, LG Uplus, whose LTE service has successfully lured customers from SK Telecom and KT. The agency went on to say, ``KT has lagged behind its competi

Dec 6, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung speeds up power transition

Park Keun-heeLee Don-jooHong Won-pyoYoon Yong-amRhee In-yongLim Dae-keyJunior Lee faces task of handling patent battle with Apple By Kim Yoo-chulThe promotion of Samsung Electronics Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President Lee Jay-yong to vice chairman came as a surprise because there had been speculation that he would maintain his current position.A Samsung executive said that the one-notch elevation for the only son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee and the strongest candidate to succeed him, reflects Samsung’s move to push for leadership change.The promotion suggests that Lee Jay-young will gain more power to influence the nation’s largest conglomerate. He will play a bigger role in handling key issues, such as the ongoing patent dispute between Samsung and Apple.``Maybe, Samsung’s top management reached a consensus to accelerate efforts for a power shift to the third-generation. The current chairman was given that role when he was 45. The junior Lee is now 44,’’ said another source inside Samsung, asking not to be identified.The cha

Dec 5, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
  • Samsung heir prompted to vice chairman
Tech & Science

Will judge Koh adjust California verdict?

Critical hearing set for Thursday in San JoseGalaxy SIII iPhone 5This is the third in a series of articles ahead of the Dec. 6 hearing on the Samsung-Apple patent legal battle to be presided over by U.S. Federal Judge Lucy Koh. ― ED. By Kim Yoo-chulSamsung Electronics and Apple will finally meet again in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday for the first post-trial hearing in the billion dollar case.The hearing will be presided over by Federal Judge Lucy Koh from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Her final decision will come within 30 days.Samsung Electronics is seeking a new trial as it believes Velvin Hogan, the jury foreman in this summer’s California trial, was biased against the Korean firm, citing his apparent stance against Samsung. It argues that Hogan didn’t disclose during jury selection that he had been sued by Seagate, the technology company partly-owned by Samsung.Apple is still seeking a complete sales ban on some of its top supplier’s strategic products in the United States as the Cuper

Dec 5, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Will judge Koh adjust California verdict?
  • Samsung vs. Apple ― What Judge Koh has to know for ruling
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