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At stake is Samsung's yearning to be leader

By Kim Yoo-chul What should Samsung Electronics do once its legal battle with Apple ends? The Korean firm needs to find a clear answer to this question as the company hopes to transform from just selling its products to becoming a market creator that sells values. Samsung executives told The Korea Times they are being asked to pursue another type of corporate evolution with new business models and initiatives. The company has grown by defeating rivals. It was a ``fast follower’’ and that strategy was very effective thanks to the firm’s top-down decision-making structure and fast implementation. ``There is a history of challenges,’’ said a senior executive. Sony, Hewlett-Packard and Nokia were Samsung’s primary targets and now the company has defeated them all in terms of revenue and market share. ``Basically, Samsung now has no targets that need to be defeated, but rather rising Chinese companies are targeting the firm. We need to get a completely-new business momentum to guarantee corporate sustainability,’’ said the executive by telephone. Only then will Samsu

Aug 20, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung, Apple fail to make up

By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics and Apple have failed to reach compromise on their patent dispute in the court-ordered consultations between CEOs of the two firms. Now, their dispute is left to the jury to settle. The deliberations will begin Tuesday. Regarding the legal proceedings in San Jose, Calf., Samsung officials here said that the two sides talked under the presiding judge Lucy Koh’s orders but “no progress has been made,” one official said. According to sources, Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun talked with Apple’s CEO Tim Cook through videoconference. During the two previous highest-level contacts, Choi Gee-sung, who has now been promoted to head the Samsung corporate office, took the role of Cook’s counterpart. The previous two meetings also failed and the latest one was organized by the same judge. ``I see risk here for both sides if we go to a verdict,’’ she told the legal teams, according to All Things D. ``It’s time for peace,’’ Koh was quoted as saying by the report.

Aug 19, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Korea takes bigger share in TV market

By Kim Yoo-chul Korea has dominated the global TV market with its technology firms’ share growing year after year over its Japanese and Chinese counterparts. DisplaySearch, a division of the NPD Group, said Korea took up 38.4 percent of global demand during the second quarter of this year, followed by 25.1 percent by Japan and 19.6 by China. ``It’s interesting to see that the gap with Korea and Japan has widened to 13.3 percent from 11.2 percent a quarter earlier and Korea is expected to mainatin its lead in the sector as the nation is home to the world’s top two TV makers in Samsung and LG Electronics,’’ said the research firm, Sunday. Samsung was the world’s biggest TV producer in the second quarter with a global market share of 28.5 percent in terms of revenue, according to DisplaySearch. This is the 26th straight winning quarter, said Samsung spokesman Song Cheol-gyu, Sunday. The company is looking to secure its top position for the seventh straight year after it passed Sony of Japan as the top TV maker since 2006. Revenue during the April-June period was $6

Aug 19, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LSIS completes solar plant in Bulgaria

By Kim Yoo-chul LSIS, the nation’s top supplier of industrial components, said Thursday that its massive solar plant in Bulgaria has been completed. In a statement, LSIS said the brand-new facility, located in the Bulgarian city of Yambol, can produce 14.5 megawatts of solar electricity. The plant will produce solar electricity for use in some 4,800 households per month, according to company spokesman Kim Bong-kyu. LSIS formed a consortium with China’s CHINT group for the project and the Korean firm invested some 30 million euros or 44 billion won for the construction. Kim said its first Bulgarian plant will help it bolster its profile in the solar business in Europe. ``In Eastern Europe, LSIS plans to increase its stakes by providing a plant-based solar business, while the company is set to raise brand awareness in Western Europe by exporting various patented solar-related solutions for households,’’ he said. The firm has identified the solar business as its next cash-generator and its vice chairman and CEO, Koo Ja-kyun, is directly leading the way to transform it

Aug 16, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Can Samsung, Apple compromise?

By Kim Yoo-chul The interminable saga surrounding Samsung Electronics and Apple over smartphone design and technology patents feels more dragged out than the ending to “The Lord of the Rings” films. So U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh was perhaps speaking for the rest of the world when she urged the two firms’ chief executives to meet again in hopes of settling the case. Samsung and Apple had previously met twice ahead of the trial to discuss settlements but the court-mandated talks didn’t lead anywhere. Samsung executives in Seoul say they are willing to discuss a settlement with Apple, but insisted that the company isn’t ready to make big compromises just to let the talks go through. Samsung and Apple have been technology’s oddest bedfellows, a foe in finished products like smartphones and touch-screen tablets, but a friend in parts, with Apple one of Samsung’s biggest customers for chips and flat screens. ``Samsung will do its best to respect the order from the court. We can’t comment on whether the chance of a peace treaty is any better now than it was before,’’ said

Aug 16, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

SKT, KT in talks with Apple for LTE service

By Kim Yoo-chul SK Telecom and KT are in talks to offer long-term evolution (LTE) connectivity on Apple’s next handset, tentatively named the iPhone 5, officials from the companies said Wednesday. The two local telecom companies are authorized Korean partners to sell the American firm’s i-branded devices here. The smallest carrier LG Uplus is unable to sell Apple’s products as it doesn’t own a suitable frequency. The new iPhone should feature fourth-generation (4G) LTE support, which will put more of a strain on the battery than the current iPhone 4S’s third-generation (3G) capabilities. It’s widely expected that the new smartphone’s arrival will be announced on Sept. 12 and launched on Sept. 21. ``KT is in negotiation with Apple to persuade the latter to support KT’s 1.8-gigahertz frequency in Korea for the upcoming iPhone,’’ said one high-ranked industry source who is familiar with the situation. The company, which joined the race for LTE-enabled smartphones later rivals SK and LG, is trying to persuade Apple to have its new iPhone support LTE connectivity, accordi

Aug 15, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung beats out Apple in smartphones

By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics has taken a large lead over rival Apple in smartphones, selling 48.7 million smart handsets in the second quarter for a 32.2 percent market share. The figure, based on the latest analysis by Strategy Analytics (SA), is well above the U.S. technology giant’s 17.2 percent. Apple suffered a decline of 6.6 percent from the previous quarter hit by its Korean rival’s aggressive promotion for the latest in its Galaxy line of devices, the S3. Samsung’s handset division reported revenue of 24.04 trillion won for the second quarter, an increase of 60 percent from a year ago, while the operating profit spiked by 145 percent to 4.19 trillion won, according to the company. By contrast, Apple only reported a 20 percent increase for revenue and profit during the same period, with market analysts saying there is an ``iPhone slump.’’ Samsung officials say their firm looks poised to continue its current lead over Apple, though it needs to tackle emerging Chinese handset manufacturers such as ZTE and prepare for the possibility that better Android sof

Aug 14, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

KT boss vows to beef up database security

By Kim Yoo-chul Executives at KT have been taking turns expressing regret after hackers broke into the company’s computer network and stole the personal details of nearly 9 million of its subscribers. It is now the turn of company Chairman Lee Suk-chae, who in an emailed statement vowed to beef up security management systems and install more sophisticated data protection software to prevent any further breaches. One couldn’t help being reminded of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Lee’s comments came just days after KT CEO Pyo Hyun-myung bowed in apology during a news conference while insisting that the company will improve its security standards. Investigators at the National Police Agency’s cyber terror response team arrested two people and are questioning seven others for breaking into KT’s network and stealing the information of 8.7 million of the company’s 16 million wireless customers. The compromised data included names, mobile phone numbers, contract terms and resident registration codes, the Korean equivalent of social security numbers.

Aug 13, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

SK Innovation wins patent lawsuit

By Kim Yoo-chul The landscape of the nation’s car battery market is expected to change as SK Innovation has won a patent suit against LG Chem, the world’s biggest player in the sector. The key affiliate of SK Group was successful in its legal battle against LG Chem, citing a decision by the Korea Intellectual Property Tribunal (KIPO) to nullify LG’s lithium-ion battery separator patent after filing a patent invalidity case late last year. It is as yet uncertain whether LG Chem will pay royalties to its cross-town rival while confirming it will appeal the ruling. ``As an appeals court normally approves the ruling by the KIPO chances are good for SK Innovation to be declared the victor in the patent dispute. But this case also appears different because it’s highly sensitive,’’ said a patent expert in Seoul by telephone, Monday. In December, LG Chem filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court insisting that SK stole its patents. SK countersued, according to officials from the companies. SK looks confident to defeat LG Chem after winning against Japan-based co

Aug 13, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Korean court delays verdict

By Kim Yoo-chul A Korean judge postponed a decision on the intellectual property battle between Samsung Electronics and Apple over smartphones and touch-screen tablets Friday. The Seoul Central District Court said the new date of ruling on Aug. 24 and explained the delay was due to ``procedural reasons.’’ ``This is an important issue and we will need more time to produce a verdict,’’ the court said in an emailed statement. The two companies declined to comment on the delay. Industry observers wonder whether the Korean court is waiting for the results of the trial between the two companies in San Jose, California, and also their courtroom battle in Australia. ``Yes, this is a case where the burden on us is huge,’’ said a court official via telephone. Apple has been filing lawsuits in several countries complaining that Samsung has been copying the look and feel of iPhones and iPads in its Galaxy series of smartphones and touch-screen tablets. Samsung has been countering with lawsuits of its own claiming that Apple has been infringing on its wireless technology

Aug 10, 2012By Kim Yoo-chul
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