The Korea Times

Samsung targets BlackBerry with new phone

Andriod-powered `Galaxy Q' ready for US debut By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter Samsung Electronics is planning to expand its "Galaxy" lineup of smartphones and the next device to trickle down its pipeline has been tentatively named Galaxy Q, according to company sources. The new smartphone will highlight the series of Samsung devices powered by the Google-backed Android operating system, which is considered the mobile industry's best bet to challenge the supremacy of the Apple iPhone. Samsung, the world's No. 2 handset vendor behind Nokia, is talking with major North American carriers to launch the new Galaxy. Despite its impressive overall handset share, Samsung has been reduced to an also-ran in the lucrative smartphone segment, which provides larger margins than conventional phones. Premium handsets like the Galaxy signify the company's attempts to get rolling in this area. "Galaxy Q _ based on the Android mobile platform _ will be all about providing simplicity in user experience, although it will still feature a full QWERTY keypad. The full touch-scree

Jun 18, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

KT to sell latest Google phone next week

By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter KT, the nation's second-biggest mobile carrier after SK Telecom, said Thursday that the premium Android smartphone ― Nexus One ― will be on local shelves starting from next week. "We will get pre-orders for the Nexus via its official online shopping mall ― phonestore.show.co.kr ― from June 21. Initial volume will be 4,000 units," a company spokeswoman Kim Yoon-jeong said. Nexus One is a critical device for KT as the carrier has been unable to secure more smartphone models from the nation's top handset vendor Samsung Electronics after Samsung turned to SK Telecom in a retaliatory action over KT's exclusive partnership with Apple for iPhones. The Nexus is equipped with the latest Android mobile platform ― version 2.2 ― boosting data processing speed by fivefold at maximum compared to the previous 2.1 version. The phone also offers 16GB external memory to help users access more applications. The system is also being offered with echo cancellation and enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity, the spokeswoman added. Suggested retail price has been s

Jun 17, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Sony, Apple, Dell are Samsungs big buyers

By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter In component-related businesses, securing big buyers is a critical factor to boost corporate earnings and to maintain healthy sustainability. The other way around is also true since finished product makers need reliable suppliers. This rule applies especially to Samsung Electronics as well as its big buyers ― the world's top manufacturer in both computer memory chips and flat-screens. In an analysis to review Samsung's first quarter performances, Japan's Sony was its biggest buyer, followed by Apple and Dell of the United States. The second tier in Samsung's overseas buyers include Hewlett-Packard, Verizon Wireless and AT&T ― all American companies, according to earnings reports released by Samsung. For the first quarter this year, the Tokyo-based Sony accounted for 3.7 percent of Samsung's total sales. Sony bought 1.28 trillion won ($1 billion) worth of components from its biggest Korean rival. Samsung reported 34.6 trillion won in first quarter sales. Sony has been acquiring flat panels used in everything from television

Jun 16, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Samsung to wage price war with rivals

Chairman receives regular reports on Japan’s recovery By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter Samsung Electronics is planning to undercut its rivals by offering more competitive prices. The realignment in its marketing strategy comes at a time when its Japanese rivals are recovering fast. Samsung executives told The Korea Times that their company will initiate what they say is a "pricing war," based on cash abundance. "Leading Japanese consumer electronics companies including Sony and Panasonic have started to turn profits, after a years-long slump," a company executive said, Wednesday. "A weak yen is one part of the story. It is also due to a more structural reason," the executive said. "They have become confident thanks to massive restructuring amid last year's economic downturn." Samsung Electronics competes with Sony and Panasonic in consumer electronics-related markets globally, while it also faces off with Toshiba in the flash-type memory chips, widely used in smartphones and other high-end digital devices. Considering Samsung's cash-holdings, the Korean f

Jun 16, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

LG Telecom offers user-friendly pricing

By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter LG Telecom ― the nation's smallest telecom carrier after SK Telecom and KT ― said Tuesday it will introduce price-friendly charging services in a bid to boost the number of its subscribers. During a news conference, LG Telecom CEO Lee Sang-chul said a possible fall in its operating profit will be offset by a series of new billing plans that will draw a large number of new subscribers. "LG Telecom's operating profit will decrease due to the latest accounting measures. In the meantime, we expect more new customers," Lee said. "LG is ready to take on any short-term operating risks,'' according to the top company executive. LG Telecom, which merged fixed-line affiliates LG Dacom and LG Powercom last year, has seen stalled growth in its local market share. It had 17.9 percent of the mobile phone market at the end of April, compared with SK Telecom's 50.7 percent and KT's 31.4 percent, according to latest government data. LG said it will offer a maximum 50 percent discount to a subscriber who sign on the company's "Yo" and "OZ 070" serv

Jun 15, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Companies

LG Display sets up joint venture in China

By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter LG Display, the world's No. 2 manufacturer of LCD panels, is setting up a joint venture in China at a time when LG and Samsung are vying to establish a big display factory there. The joint venture between the firm and iriver is also part of LG Display's chief executive Kwon Young-soo's efforts to pay more attention to finished products. Analysts and LG Display officials say this was aimed at diversifying the company's cash sources. ``In addition to the LCD business, we are showing more focus on finished consumer electronics products. Driven by the chief executive, we will seek more earnings drivers,'' spokesman Kim Jun-kyu said, Monday. The remarks came after the Korean manufacturer agreed with MP3 player maker iriver to set up a $5 million e-book joint venture in China. LG Display will provide e-book displays such as electronic paper displays, or EPD, while iriver is tasked in charge of product design and platform development. LG will own 51 percent of the joint venture - L&I Electric Technology - with iriver holding the rest.

Jun 14, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Can Samsung manage software leap alone?

Handset giant may rely more on outsourcing By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter Debate is heating up on whether Samsung Electronics will be able to better utilize its hardware-driven strategy for mobile phones amid its rivals' focus on software due to the continued frenzy in smartphones. Samsung only trails Finland-based handset giant Nokia in the global mobile phone industry. However, its relatively lackluster lineup of smartphones is blamed for cutting the company’s overall performances. Analysts and experts say Samsung could make "big differences" in its smartphones in terms of advanced specifications if the technology giant increases its outsourcing in manufacturing. "It's quite debatable. I think producing hardware-focused components doesn't make a distinctive difference anymore because lifecycles of smartphones are getting shorter and the quality of outsourcing companies is reaching a competitive level," an industry executive told The Korea Times, Sunday. "Samsung could become a fast-follower chasing Apple in the smartphone sector. But it cannot become the leader i

Jun 13, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Tasting Apples bitter fruit

SK Telecom slams Apple over after-service, belittles iPhone 4 By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter Conflicts between Korea’s top mobile carrier SK Telecom and Apple are reaching a peak after the SK chief executive officially asked the iPhone maker to ameliorate its inadequate after-sales policies. "Unless Apple implements improved after-sales policies, SK Telecom's elimination of iPhones will continue," CEO Jung Man-won told reporters at an industry forum held in downtown Seoul, last week. The request at the CEO-level of a certain company for the changes in consumer policies to suit Korean customers is the first since the iPhone arrival, here, late last year. "An improved after-sales service is the top pre-condition for SK Telecom to negotiate with Apple. Because we feel a greater responsibility to deal with service-related issues as the nation's top carrier, SK Telecom's next-step will follow up on the situation," according to the executive. SK Telecom is experiencing a rapid deterioration of business ties with Apple after the U.S. company formed an exclusive partners

Jun 13, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

LG trying hard to fill smartphone gap

Electronics giant planning to unveil 20 models By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter LG Electronics CEO Nam Yong was deemed an agent of change promising to bring a razor sharp, Samsung-like competitive edge to the conglomerate. Nam’s promise is still hanging on but barely considering the firm’s current dismal performance. This month, the LG CEO has another chance to convince his boss Koo Bon-moo, the LG chairman, that his way is the right way. Koo is expected to conduct an overall review of his conglomerate this month. Koo retained Nam to keep his post, asking him to strengthen the existing business portfolios and find new growth engines. That was late last year. So far, the 61-year-old CEO, who had worked as secretary to Koo Ja-kyong, Bon-moo’s father, is obviously trying but is falling short in positive results. It is a matter of course that this doesn’t mean Nam’s job is in jeopardy, considering LG’s tradition of not easily firing its employees. But the writing appears to be on the wall. Stocks of LG Electronics were underperforming, compared to the nation

Jun 9, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

KT chief accuses Samsung of siphoning off its top talent

By Kim Yoo-chul Staff reporter A confrontation between KT and Samsung Electronics is reaching its climax after the chief executive of the nation’s second-biggest carrier that is tied in with Apple’s iPhones threw another jab at Samsung. At an event to mark the opening of KT’s ``mobile application development center’’ in downtown Seoul, its CEO Lee Suk-chae blamed Samsung for snatching KT’s software developers. ``Amid the growing popularity of smartphones, having necessary content developers is the most critical issue. But we are losing our software developers. KT has some 10 competitive engineers but most of them have moved to Samsung,’’ Lee told reporters, Wednesday. ``Since the iPhone’s arrival, Korea’s mobile eco-system has seen a drastic change, creating more jobs centering on content developement. Samsung is taking advantage of it to scout employees from my company rather than spending more to expand the number of such developers.’’ Samsung Electronics, which is urgently tasked to boost its software capability amid the ``smartphone era,’’ has hired former KT e

Jun 9, 2010By Kim Yoo-chul

Kim Yoo-chul

Read more

Samsung targets BlackBerry with new phone

KT to sell latest Google phone next week

Sony, Apple, Dell are Samsungs big buyers

Samsung to wage price war with rivals

LG Telecom offers user-friendly pricing

LG Display sets up joint venture in China

Can Samsung manage software leap alone?

Tasting Apples bitter fruit

LG trying hard to fill smartphone gap

KT chief accuses Samsung of siphoning off its top talent

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