SKT joins hands with Magic Leap for AR devices

Ryu Young-sang, left, head of SK Telecom's mobile network division, with Omar Khan, chief product officer at Magic Leap, after signing a contract to distribute Magic Leap's augmented reality (AR) devices in Korea, during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Wednesday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom

Telecom firm to develop AR content with 'Pokemon Go' developer

By Baek Byung-yeul

SK Telecom is seeking to take the lead in the fast-growing augmented reality (AR) market after signing an exclusive deal with a leading device maker to sell its AR glasses here, the firm said Wednesday.

Korea's No.1 mobile operator said it signed the deal with the U.S.-based Magic Leap on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It also established strategic ties with U.S.-based AR software maker Niantic to co-develop content for fifth-generation (5G) networks and localized AR platforms.

SK Telecom will jointly develop 5G-enabled AR services and conduct research and development (R&D) projects with Magic Leap. It will be the exclusive mobile distributor of Magic Leap's devices in Korea. The two also agreed to support local AR content developers to expand the market here.

Magic Leap, established in 2010, has been leading in the AR industry with its quality devices such as the Magic Leap One. Thanks to its technology, the company has raised $2.45 billion in investment capital from global ICT firms such as Google, Alibaba and AT&T.

A model tries an augmented reality (AR) service wearing a Magic Leap device during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Wednesday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom

SK Telecom has continued to seek more business ties with global firms in a bid to expand its capabilities for the introduction of fifth-generation (5G) network services. The firm said the ultra-low latency for data transmission enabled by 5G will increase the use of AR-based content.

“Magic Leap is delighted to partner with SK Telecom, as we forge relationships with the world's preeminent telecom providers to bring the next generation of computing to people around the globe,” said Omar Khan, Magic Leap's chief product officer.

“SK Telecom is advancing 5G with extreme speed, stability and security, providing its customers the framework necessary to experience the power of Magic Leap's spatial computing platform.”

SK Telecom also aims to take the initiative in the AR content market here with Niantic.

The company will distribute Niantic's new AR games. Niantic is developing the AR-based mobile game “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,” which is based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels. The game is scheduled for release this year.