The Korea Times

Samsung wins $500 million LCD deal for iPad 2

By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics has won a $500 million deal to provide Apple with liquid crystal displays (LCDs) for its upgraded iPads. Under the deal, Samsung will provide some 8 million LCD panels for Apple’s upcoming tablet computer, sources told The Korea Times, Wednesday. “Apple asked Samsung to supply 8 million panels,” said a source, asking not to be identified. “There could be more forthcoming.” Apple’s 9.7-inch retina display and touch screen interface in its iPads are the most expensive components, each costing $80. Apple is likely to release new versions of its iPad soon, but it will be smaller than those currently being marketed. Although LG Display, Samsung’s rival, is supplying at least 20 million panels for Apple, the latest Samsung-Apple contract is expected to help strengthen the two firms’ cooperation. The former earlier developed its new Super PLS technology, which the company says has improved specifications. A Samsung spokesman declined to comment, while Steve Park, a representative of Apple’s South Korean branch, was not available.

Jan 5, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Lee Kun-hee’s big plan

Samsung Electronics says it will invest record W43 tril. this year By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics is planning to invest a record 43.1 trillion won or $38 billion in order to strengthen its leadership in chips and flat-screens and even to expand into new businesses. It is also hiring 25,000 new employees. The investment is an increase of 18 percent from last year’s 36.5 trillion won, the company said Wednesday. Of the total, 29.9 trillion won is set for capital expenditure, while 12.1 trillion is earmarked for research and development (R&D). The mega investment plan came just two days after Chairman Lee Kun-hee said he was planning to spend big for the future. ``Samsung Electronics accounts for 25 percent of the combined capital expenditure of the top 600 companies,’’ said Rhee In-yong, the head of the company’s communication team, in a media briefing at its headquarters in southern Seoul. Samsung said it plans to invest 10.3 trillion won and 5.4 trillion won on chips and LCDs in 2011. The plan comes in stark contrast to top-tier overseas chip and L

Jan 5, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Samsung dukes it out with Japanese rivals

In-house manufacturing system offers long-run competitive edge By Kim Yoo-chul For Japanese makers of memory chips and flat-panel displays, offshore production has been a silver lining as an alternative way to offer price competitiveness on global markets against their rival Samsung Electronics. In particular, the strengthening yen prodded Japanese giants Sony, Toshiba and Elpida to further count on the strategy instead of their time-honored methods of manufacturing products in their own country. However, market observers point out that the easy solution might wreck havoc on Japanese players over the long haul even though they may present short-term benefits. ``It’s very interesting that Samsung Electronics and top-tier Japanese manufacturers have shown different moves in management strategies,’’ said a top-ranking industry executive who labeled the Japanese trend as an outsourcing frenzy. ``In my view, the outsourcing frenzy provides short-term advantages at the expense of long-term profits. At the end of the day, it would be better to keep core production capac

Jan 4, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Samsung vs. Apple: round 2

With Player, electronics giant will go toe to toe with Jobs By Kim Yoo-chul With the Galaxy smartphones and Tab tablet computers, Samsung Electronics has been engaged in close combat with Apple. Now the Korean technology giant is also planning a personal media player, the Galaxy Player. The Player will be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s iPod Touch. Samsung hopes to better compete with Apple as it has just realized the full lineup of its Galaxy products. ``The release of the Galaxy Player clearly shows that Samsung is building up pressure on Apple. The competition with Apple has entered the second round,’’ said an electronics industry source. ``There are some differences in terms of product specifications and sizes. But the message is clear: Samsung is ready to take on Apple,’’ he said. The player, scheduled to make its global debut next month, is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird processor. It supports the Android 2.2 operating system with access to Android Market and Samsung Apps. Other noticeable features include both front and rear facing cameras. ``The chief

Jan 3, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Doosan aims at record sales

By Kim Yoo-chul The main businesses of the Doosan Group range from desalination and heavy equipment to construction and targets 2011 to be a record year both in sales and profit. The conglomerate said Sunday it is aiming to earn 2.2 trillion won or about $2 billion in operating profit for this year _ up 22 percent from last year’s estimated operating profit of 1.8 trillion won. The group set its sales target at 27.7 trillion won, which is also an increase of 13 percent from last year’s forecast of 24.6 trillion won, it said in a statement. ``Doosan is putting emphasis on value-added growth for corporate sustainability,’’ Park Yong-hyun, the group chairman, was quoted as saying in the release. Doosan is also planning to expand its corporate social responsibility programs and customized educational programs. ``Doosan is enhancing a win-win strategy with suppliers,’’ said Bae Hyung-sik, a senior group spokesman. Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, the nation’s leading power equipment maker, has won orders valued overall at over 11 trillion won thanks to projec

Jan 2, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

LG set to counter Sonys accusations

By Kim Yoo-chul LG Electronics, the world's third-biggest handset maker, said Friday that it is mulling over counterattacking Sony's latest claims over the South Korean maker's infringements on patents owned by the Tokyo-based electronics company. LG and Sony have been involved in a neck-and-neck battle from televisions to handsets in their critical markets including Europe and North America. LG, which also sells flat-screen TVs and home appliances added Sony’s accusations won’t have any major impact on its handset business in the strategic U.S. market. ``Our legal team has acknowledged the

Dec 31, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Is Nexus S doomed?

SKT, KT, Samsung uninterested By Kim Yoo-chul Nexus S, Google's brand-new smartphone is facing an uncertain future with major telecom carriers reluctant to sell it. The latest edition of Google’s Nexus “superphone” lineup is now available in the U.S. but SK Telecom and KT are showing no signs of marketing it anytime soon. According to sources, the problem is that Google is insisting on its distinctive software applications, making it difficult for the carriers to launch locally-customized telecom services. The Nexus is the result of a Google-Samsung collaboration but Google is making all the key decisions such as marketing campaigns and services. “Currently, we have no plans to introduce Google’s latest Android handset,’’ said Lee In-won, a senior spokesman for KT, the nation's second-biggest mobile carrier, Thursday. KT, which has been selling the Nexus S predecessor Nexus One since mid-July this year, with about 50,000 sold so far, according to KT officials. SK Telecom, the nation’s top carrier which has a stronger partnership with Samsung Electronics, is

Dec 30, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Hynix uses thinner technology

By Kim Yoo-chul Hynix Semiconductor, the world’s second largest maker of dynamic random access memory or DRAM chips, said Wednesday it has successfully developed the advanced 4-gigabit DDR3 DRAM using a finer 30-nanometer level technology. Its brand-new chip with the 38-nanometer processing technology is used to increase productivity by 70 percent over the existing 40-nanometer technology. Hynix said it has been the first case of the technology’s industrial application for chips to be used in faster processing, bigger-storage computer servers and PCs. ``The development will help us further widen gaps with our rivals,’’ said Son Kyung-bae, a Hynix spokesman. Son added the memory chipmaker will begin shipping its 2-gigabit DDR3 DRAM chips with 30-nano class technology next year. Separately, the 2-gigabit DDR3 DRAM chips used in servers is designed to cut energy consumption by 60 percent compared to the same product with 40-nanometer level technology, Hynix said. ``Hynix is producing DRAM chips with 2-gigabit density for about half of the total output. This will

Dec 29, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Brokerages recommend KT shares

By Kim Yoo-chul Local brokerage houses are advising investors to buy shares in KT, the nation's top broadband operator and second-largest wireless carrier, citing its balanced business portfolio to exploit the recent trends of converging telecom industries. They positively evaluated the expanding customer base of KT thanks to the growing popularity of advanced mobile gadgets. Its subscribers for high-speed Internet services are also on the increase. ``We maintain a `strong buy’ position for KT shares as its businesses are attractive and quite balanced involving both the wireless and broadband sectors,’’ Kim Dong-june, an analyst at Eugene Investment, said Tuesday. The brokerage, which presented 67,000 won as its target price, added that KT’s broadband unit ranging from high-speed Internet, Internet protocol TV (IPTV) and Web-based calls, has recorded firm growth this year. As of the end of November, KT has been securing a total of 2.65 million smartphone customers including 1.8 million for the iPhone. Also, the number of its Internet users rose by half a million ― th

Dec 28, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

LG targets $136 bil. in sales next year

Top-tier chaebol looks to reverse fortune By Kim Yoo-chul LG Group, the nation’s fourth-biggest conglomerate, is looking to chalk up double-digit growth in 2011 through spending more on its key businesses in hopes of leaving this year’s struggles behind. LG announced an ambitious plan Tuesday to rack up a total of 156 trillion won ($136 billion) in revenue next year, up 11 percent from a 2010 estimates of some 141 trillion won. The group’s cash cow electronics division, which produces mobile phones, displays and home appliances, will strive to reach 97.3 trillion won sales next year, while the chemical division is aiming for 27.3 trillion won. The target for the group’s telecommunication business, headed by the No. 3 wireless operator LG Uplus, has been fixed at 31.4 trillion won. ``The targets are in tandem with Chairman Koo Bon-moo’s requests for bold investments to regain market share,’’ said a senior LG spokesman, adding the group will aim at business expansion in strategic overseas markets. The group’s flagship ― LG Electronics ― has failed to yield any s

Dec 28, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Kim Yoo-chul

Read more

Samsung wins $500 million LCD deal for iPad 2

Lee Kun-hee’s big plan

Samsung dukes it out with Japanese rivals

Samsung vs. Apple: round 2

Doosan aims at record sales

LG set to counter Sonys accusations

Is Nexus S doomed?

Hynix uses thinner technology

Brokerages recommend KT shares

LG targets $136 bil. in sales next year

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