my timesThe Korea Times

Kim Yoo-chul

Korea Times Business Reporter

Go to Email

Read more

Tech & Science

Stereoscopic TV battle brewing

By Kim Yoo-chul Amid sharpening technology, there is no doubt that 3D TV is here to stay with the whole industry currently at the same stage as when high-definition (HD) was introduced. 3D was a key issue at the recently finished IFA electronics fair in Berlin where most TV majors displayed their latest 3D solutions with hopes to take the lead in the booming market. ``3D will be everywhere next year,’’ said Jim Chabin, president of the International 3D Society. Now, attention is being shifted as to whether latecomer LG will break down the current domestic lead of Samsung. Price matters for 3D hopefuls because there is little 3D-only content on the market and consumers don’t have much knowledge, in general, of viewing differences offered by the different technologies used by Samsung and LG. ``That’s why we are confident to completely beat Samsung’s technology in China by the end of this year and our next targets are the United States, Europe and Japan,’’ said Kwon Young-soo, the chief executive of LG Display, in a meeting with reporters, Thursday. LG Display, the

Sep 8, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Business

3D, tablets, smart captures IFA fair

By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN ― This year’s IFA, one of the world’s longest-running consumer electronics exhibitions, has highlighted “three dimensional (3D),” tablet” and “smart” as its key words. Technology majors at this year’s IFA, held in Berlin, Germany, from Sept. 2 to Sept. 7 are keen to stress their latest products, including 3D and Internet-connected TVs, as major developments in a changing market. Tablets are also big news at the fair, with Sony displaying its new series, while Samsung, Toshiba, Lenovo and others are also offering peeks at their latest devices. ``The onslaught of tablets, 3D TVs and so-called smart products, sees Internet connectivity in everything from the latest range of 3D TVs to long-term evolution (LTE) smartphones and fridges and hold the main spotlight at this year’s exhibition,’’ said a spokesman for the exhibition organizer in an interview, Monday (KST). The spokesman added technological advances are making general consumers want to be ``future-proof,” resulting in this year’s trade fair seeing such devices. Last year’s notable IFA

Sep 5, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LG eyes 35 million in TV sales

By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN ― LG Electronics is optimistic about seeing double-digit growth in international television markets next year as it plans to release more premium models capitalizing on 3D. An LG executive said Saturday that economic uncertainties and a lack of confidence will pose big challenges but the world’s second-biggest TV maker sees demand in 3D televisions to soon grow across the world. ``We are not fully positive that the global economy will see a drastic upturn next year. But the situation is going to get better,’’ Kwon Hee-won, head of LG’s TV division, told reporters in a meeting on the sidelines of the IFA tech fair in Berlin. ``We project that the global TV demand will rise 7 percent next year and we aim to see 15 percent in annual growth.’’ He did not mention specific figures but considering LG’s sales guidance of around 30 million TVs for this year, the target for the Seoul-based firm seems to sit at somewhere in the vicinity of 35 million for 2012. LG cut this year’s goal to 30.5 million from the previous 40 million citing worsening economi

Sep 4, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung to renew focus on white goods

By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN ― Samsung Electronics says it will invest more money and effort to strengthen its position in household appliances ― refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners ― in Europe. ``We have been quicker than our Asian rivals LG Electronics and Panasonic in releasing products and have been seeing faster growth than them as well,’’ Hong Chan-wan, head of Samsung’s home appliances division, told Korean journalists in Berlin on the sidelines of the IFA consumer electronics fair. ``Our home appliances business is expected to grow at least 5 percent this year, as the market for white goods is less affected by volatility in the global economy.’’ Samsung is the top maker of televisions and the No.2 handset vendor behind Nokia, a rival that it expects to surpass by the end of the year. However, the company has been flexing only a smaller muscle in white goods and has been struggling to compete with established global brands Whirlpool and Electrolux. Hong, a key lieutenant of Samsung CEO Choi Gee-sung, said that improving the company’s reputation

Sep 4, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

KT unveils converged wireless tech in IFA

With 'Spider phone,' KT aims to make big splashes By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN ― KT, South Korea’s top-tier mobile carrier, is ready to make a big splash in the ongoing IFA consumer electronics fair with a completely new digital device called the ``Spider Phone.’’ This is the first time for KT to set up its own booth in the fair and send a senior-level executive to present its new device. The Spider uses the Google-powered Android mobile operating system (OS) and can be connected to many different screens such as tablets, laptops and game consoles, according to KT. ``Those devices don’t function, independently, because they’re not loaded with a CPU, OS or memory and consumers who are using various digital devices don’t need to pay to buy separate things because the Spider has it all,’’ said Lee Kyeong-soo, a senior company executive during a briefing, Friday. The announcement comes after the demand for converged telecom services has been on the rise thanks to the popularity of Internet-connected portable devices including smartphones and tablets. ``The Spider is also m

Sep 2, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LG mulling appliance MandA deals

Company opens to healthcare acquisitions By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN ― LG Electronics is mulling the possibility to acquire healthcare-companies the business has a stronger growth potential amid an aging population. LG, which competes with U.S.-based Whirlpool and Electrolux of Sweden to rank the top global home appliances maker has also announced a plan to reap $20 billion in appliances sales from 2015 ― the revenue scale necessary for first place. ``The healthcare business is more than attractive and has higher growth potential. LG is mulling the possibility of M&As in this sector, though nothing has been decided yet,’’ said Lee Young-ha, the head of LG’s home appliance unit, in a lunch meeting with South Korean reporters in Berlin, Germany, Friday. LG’s home appliance division is LG Electronics’ major cash-cow amid struggles in LG’s television and handset businesses. ``Also, LG will outsource needed technologies in the healthcare business as an initial step to tap marketability,’’ added the top company executive. Lee was at the IFA consumer electronics trade exhib

Sep 2, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung in transition game with Apple

No cross-licensing deal, HP's webOS acquisition expected By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN - Samsung Electronics is in a transition game with Apple and regards the ongoing patent disputes with Apple as ``destiny’’ before the next progress in corporate growth. Samsung, South Korea-based tech giant, is aiming to become the world’s top-tier software firm by the end of 2013, at the earliest and its chief executive said it will heavily boost its spending on software. ``Samsung regards court battles with Apple as destiny. We are clashing with Apple in certain areas. Current situations will make us stronger,’’ said the company CEO Choi Gee-sung in a dinner meeting with Korean reporters, Friday. ``There had been heavy doubts about Samsung whether we can pass over Sony of Japan and even Nokia. But the results are telling everything,’’ said the top company executive. Such remarks are very rare considering Samsung’s long tight-lipped policies about its key clients. Apple is Samsung’s biggest overseas client, followed by Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Sony. Choi came to Berlin to participa

Sep 2, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LG forms alliance with Phillips, Sharp

By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN, Germany ― LG Electronics will collaborate with rivals Phillips and Sharp to develop software and content ecosystems to be used in Internet-connected televisions. These products, dubbed smart televisions, are touted as the next-generation sets along with three dimensional (3D) flat screen TVs. The trio of electronics makers will introduce a streamlined software development kit, which will be the first step toward building a content platform to do for televisions what app stores did for smartphones. This is the first time major television makers agreed to jointly pursue creating a content environment for smart televisions, said LG spokesman Oh Sea-chun. ``LG Electronics, Philips and Sharp will keep their own systems for management, but will share applications and other television content. The software will be produced in the standardized formats of HTML 5, CE-HTML and HbbTV,’’ Oh said. ``The intention is to help app developers create more added-value content with reduced costs, while shortening the time it takes to reach customers. The softwa

Sep 1, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung vows to cement TV lead

By Kim Yoo-chul BERLIN, Germany ― Samsung Electronics aims to keep its title of the world’s No. 1 flat-screen television manufacturer for a sixth consecutive year in 2011, based on improved product line-ups and advanced supply chain management. While its competitors are cutting sales targets amid the global economic slowdown, Samsung’s TV segment head Yoon Boo-keun said the company will keep its sales target of 45 million for the year. Rivals including LG, Sony and Panasonic have warned of a toughening marketing situation in the United States and Europe as consumers are unwilling to splurge on big-ticket items. Sony is looking to overhaul its TV business while LG is thinking of cutting its annual sales goal by 20 percent. ``There’s no question that Samsung should lead the global TV market for the sixth straight year because we have more varied products coupled with highly customized content,’’ Yoon Boo-keun told a press conference Thursday on the sidelines of the IFA technology fair. ``Prices are dropping and that’s a problem. But Samsung thinks the global TV marke

Sep 1, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Companies

Levi Strauss Foundation boosts spending in Korea

By Kim Yoo-chul The Levi Strauss Foundation is planning to increase its budget for distinguished financial programs in South Korea as part of its decades-long anti-AIDS initiatives, a senior executive from the organization said. The plan comes after Levi Strauss has seen growth here, by sticking to its “profits-through-principles” business approach. AIDS is now considered a long-term illness rather than a fatal disease thanks to the steady development of advancements such as multidrug-cocktail therapies, which have become standard treatments for those infected with HIV. But the U.S.-based foundation still hopes to create a stronger national network as part of its strategy to boost AIDS awareness, said Daniel Lee, an executive director of the Levi Strauss Foundation, in an interview Tuesday. “We have a plan to increase our annual budget for financial programs to South Koreans suffering from AIDS,” said the executive. In the last 15 years, the foundation has spent over $700,000 in grants in South Korea, which Levi Strauss officials say is “quite sizable.” Lee adde

Aug 31, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
previous page
240241242243244
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.