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iPhone 4S challenges Galaxy

By Kim Yoo-chul The iPhone 4S has landed in Korea, the land of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy smartphones. The last product introduced while Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs was alive received an enthusiastic initial response. KT as well as SKT, Korea’s top carriers, hosted events to celebrate its arrival, while thousands of people lined up to buy the latest version of the iPhone. Preorders for the phone reached half a million, reflecting its popularity. This time, however, Samsung doesn’t appear to have been caught off guard as it was when the iPhone 4 was introduced. More than 4.2 million Samsung Galaxy S IIs have so far been sold since its introduction a few months ago. Local retailers said 20,000 Galaxy S IIs were being sold on a daily basis. Some 2.5 million iPhone 4s, the precursor to the iPhone 4S, were sold according to data from KT and SK Telecom. The Korean debut of the iPhone 4S comes as carriers and major handset manufacturers including LG are spending large amounts on advanced smartphones that support Long Term Evolution (LTE), which is regarded as t

Nov 11, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

SK won’t issue new shares for Hynix takeover

By Kim Yoo-chul SK Telecom said Friday it has no plans to issue new shares to raise money for the purchase of Hynix. The announcement comes after SK Telecom became the preferred negotiator for the Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) _ the main shareholder of the Icheon, Gyeonggi Province-based Hynix. In a statement, KEB said SK Telecom was qualified to be the new owner of the semiconductor manufacturer. ``SK Telecom won’t make a rights offer for cash to buy the memory chipmaker. We also don’t have a plan to sell some of our core assets for financing,’’ said a senior SK executive. SK Telecom offered 3.5 trillion won to Hynix shareholders to buy 20 percent of Hynix including 10 percent more in a premium for management, officials said requesting anonymity. The SK executive said cash-equivalent assets held by SK Telecom as of the end of the third quarter of this year were 2.2 trillion won. ``SK Telecom will raise the money from local banks and we don’t see any major obstacles in borrowing with a low interest rates as SK maintains a stable credit rating _ AAA,’’ said the exe

Nov 11, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Companies

SKT to go ahead with Hynix deal

By Kim Yoo-chul SK Telecom, the nation’s biggest mobile phone service operator, has decided to move ahead with its bid for Hynix Semiconductor, a mega deal valued at over 3 trillion won. ``SK Telecom’s board has decided to go ahead with the Hynix deal. We’ve submitted the necessary documents to Credit Suisse, the lead manager,’’ SK Telecom said in a regulatory filing to the Korea Exchange (KRX) late Thursday. ``We had a heated debate on whether to continue with the deal, but decided SK Telecom still needs Hynix,’’ said Park Jeong-ho, a senior executive, in a meeting with reporters in Yeouido, where Credit Suisse’s Seoul branch is located. The announcement comes to counter speculation that the Seoul-based outfit was giving up on the world’s No. 2 chipmaker amid an investigation into embezzlement by founding family members of the SK Group. Hynix’s labor union welcomed the decision. ``We respect SK’s decision. SK Telecom is qualified to run the chip business and we hope SK Telecom will be chosen,’’ Park Tae-suk, the head of the union, told The Korea Times by telephone

Nov 10, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Apple’s real target is Google, says ex-executive

By Kim Yoo-chul A former Apple executive, who was regarded as the right-hand man of the late tech giant co-founder Steve Jobs, said Wednesday that Apple and Samsung will eventually end their legal dispute and reach a compromise. “The friction between Apple and Samsung is actually more of an extension of the conflict between Apple and Google, namely Android, and although Samsung’s Galaxy products did irritate Steve Jobs as I remember, I believe that Apple and Samsung will reach a compromise soon,” said Jay Elliot in a news conference Wednesday. Elliot wrote the book, The Steve Jobs Way and worked as Apple’s senior vice president of operations. Elliot called Jobs’ legal fight with Samsung a “matter of pride.” “Design was the issue that’s been causing the battle and Jobs was also upset after looking at the design of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones,” Elliot said. “They’re trying to protect their uniqueness in the market. The phone market was the first market that Apple experienced where they encountered competitors who could match their uniqueness with their own uniquen

Nov 9, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Google boss accuses MS of false claims

By Kim Yoo-chul Google Chairman Eric Schmidt accused Microsoft (MS) of making unfounded claims Tuesday that its Android operating system (OS) was stolen from MS. ``Microsoft is not telling the truth,’’ Schmidt told reporters in a news conference at Google’s Seoul branch building. Android is the key OS for non-Apple smartphones. Schmidt’s remarks follow MS’s patent dispute with Samsung Electronics that recently ended in a cross-licensing deal. It was seen as part of efforts by Samsung to concentrate on fighting Apple. Schmidt didn’t aim his fiery words at Steve Jobs, the late leader of Apple. In his posthumously-published book, Jobs was quoted as saying, ``I will spend my last dying breath if I need to...to right this wrong. I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product.’’ The Google chief said, ``Most people agree Google is a great innovator. The Android effort started before the iPhone effort.” Schmidt sat on the Apple board for three and a half year. He and Jobs were friends for two decades. “I am still very sad,’’ he said. Schmidt praised Sam

Nov 8, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
  • Schmidt’s trip not entirely unworthy
Opinion

Schmidt’s trip not entirely unworthy

By Kim Yoo-chul Eric Schmidt has just left Korea. It was his first visit in four years and there was a great deal of possibility ― buying Korean portals, boosting the Android operating system (OS) alliance, channeling K-pop on YouTube. Although he received the red carpet treatment and even got to meet President Lee Myung-bak, there was little to show for the chairman of Google now that he’s come and gone. ``Schmidt declined to unveil details as the talks were confidential, however, the chairman’s visit failed to meet my expectations,’’ said an official from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), Korea’s top telecom regulator, Tuesday. Still, it would be a mistake to dismiss his trip as being uneventful. Schmidt met the President, KCC Chairman Choi See-joong and other key business executives that included Samsung Electronics CEO Choi Gee-sung, SK Telecom Ha Sung-min, KT Chairman Lee Suk-chae, LG Uplus CEO Lee Sang-chul and Woori Financial chairman Lee Pal-seung. “We need Korea and all of us need to be open to new ideas. Korea needs to change the world, you ne

Nov 8, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LG Chem sets new milestone in batteries

By Kim Yoo-chul LG Chem, Korea’s biggest chemicals firm, has signed another battery deal, regarded as ``meaningful’’ in terms of the sustainability of its business. But this time, the agreement is not about batteries for electric vehicles but an even more profitable one. LG said it has signed a long-term battery supply contract with ABB, a leading engineering company based in Switzerland. Under the agreement, LG Chem is going to supply lithium-ion batteries and battery management systems for energy-storage projects directly handled by ABB. ``The latest deal marks LG Chem’s advance into the growing energy storage system (ESS) market in Europe,’’ said C.S. Song, a company spokesman, Monday. ``The agreement will become a cornerstone for LG Chem to get a greater stake in the highly-lucrative ESS-related market,’’ added the spokesman. Song, however, declined to give further financial details such the terms of the contracts. Last year, Southern California Edison (SCE) selected LG to provide battery packs for a pilot program involving ESS for residential and small commerci

Nov 7, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

3 questions Google chief has to answer

By Kim Yoo-chul After four years away, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has landed in Seoul and expectations are that the U.S.-based Internet giant may make a ``large and substantial’’ investment in Korea’s Internet market. Android software has gained a larger user base internationally and South Korea is a big supporter. Samsung Electronics, the world’s biggest smartphone maker, is heavily betting on the Android systems on its popular Galaxy-branded devices, followed by LG Electronics and Pantech. Also, the nation’s leading mobile carrier SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus have helped the Android system achieve significant growth, raising anticipation for ``Schmidt’s gifts.’’ ``We don’t know whether Google will publicize talks with Choi See-joong, the chairman of South Korea’ top telecom regulator, but Schmidt confirmed Google’s support for the nation’s Internet space to chairman Choi,’’ said a high-ranking official from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), Monday. Schmidt met with SK Telecom chief executive Ha Sung-min, KT Chairman Lee Suk-chae and LG Uplus Vice Chairma

Nov 7, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Will iPhone 5 be haunted by Jobs’ phantoms?

By Kim Yoo-chul Apple has been a pathfinder in the world of smartphones and the U.S.-based consumer electronics giant so far proved its capability to wow industries and consumers. Timely releases of new iPhone models offering highly-competitive software-focused details have made the handsets extremely popular. But Apple could be left trailing of its corporate foe and friend, Samsung Electronics. With the passing of charismatic, visionary and iconic Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, its new chief executive Tim Cook is being challenged to prevent further business pitfalls, according to industry executives with a deep knowledge of Apple solutions, products and services. ``Apple is losing luster in some ways. What’s really important to Apple right now is now is to regain confidence from investors by clarifying its business roadmaps and releasing i-branded products matching its previous patterns,’’ said a senior executive from one of Apple’s key parts suppliers in Korea, Monday. Not surprisingly, the executive asked not to be identified. The remarks come after Apple has been

Nov 7, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

’Samsung, Apple to cross-license’

By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics may eventually sign a peace treaty with Apple over patents, and the continuing clashes with the iPhone maker will have no rating impact on Korea’s top chaebol, said a top-level credit ratings agency. The legal tussle between the two electronics giants entered a new phase after European regulators began investigating whether Samsung breached EU anti-trust laws. The EU Commission has requested information from Apple and Samsung concerning the enforcement of standards-essential patents in the mobile telephony sector, it said in a statement. “If the situation escalates to a point where both companies do not see any benefit in the ongoing legal battle, it will likely lead to a compromise that serves the interests of both,” Alvin Lim, associate director at Fitch Ratings, said in an interview with The Korea Times Monday. Fitch said Samsung will maintain its aggressive countermeasures against Apple in an attempt to prevent any further negative impact on sales of its mobile devices. “Should Apple suffer any damage from Samsung’s counter c

Nov 7, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
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