By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
It remains to be seen whether the Internet will ever run out of room, but one could image the endless stream of iPad drooling stretching its limits.
After months of anticipation, iPad, Apple's notepad-sized tablet computer, has finally reached American shelves, and its Korean debut is expected sometime during the second-half of the year, likely around June or July.
And judging by the massive amount of ink and electrons spent on describing or in anticipation of Apple's newest creation, and discussing how it could revolutionize computing experience, it seems obvious that there hasn't been a digital device garnering this much hype since, well, the iPhone.
However, there is a heated debate among industry watchers whether the iPad will be a success or failure, and in Korea, with a unique Internet environment that is equally inspiring and frustrating, the truth may lie somewhere in between.
``I think the impact of the iPad in Korea will be limited, at least at first. Many Korean Web sites are built to work only on Microsoft's Web browsers, with all those Active-X tools and all, and that may prevent users from a smooth computing experience with the iPad,'' said an official from a Web technology firm.
``However, there is a possibility that iPad could establish a niche market as educational computers or e-book readers for schools. I don't think iPad will eat up the sales of laptop computers and `netbooks,' but it could have the makers of portable multimedia players and e-book readers sweating.''
IPad, basically an oversized version of Apple's iPod Touch multimedia player, allows users to watch movies, browse the Web, play games and read e-books. The slate-like computer intends to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptop computers and could initiate a change in the way people use computers and access information.
There is also hope among the dead-tree media of newspapers, magazines and book publishers, who are bleeding red ink everywhere, that iPad will throw them a new lifeline by providing better ways to present their content, and eventually motivate readers to pay for it.
Worth the Hype?
Although opinions differ on iPad's chances as a true, game-changer, there appears to be little doubt that Apple's slate-like gadget will become the most popular tablet computer ever, considering that the bar is set so low.
The annual market for tablet computers has been struggling to hit the 2 million mark and the enthusiasm by Apple fanatics alone would assure that iPad will blow that figure out of the water.
According to market watcher iSuppli, worldwide iPad sales are expected to amount to 7.1 million in 2010, double to 14.4 million in 2011, and nearly triple to 20.1 million in 2012.
However, it bears further watching how much Korea will impact those figures. The lack of an e-book ecosystem might prevent iPad from making a bigger splash.
Device makers like Samsung Electronics and iRiver are experimenting with e-book readers here, while book retailers like Kyobo Bookstore and online retailers like InterPark (www.interpark.com) are devoted on the content side, but the efforts have yet to yield visible results.
As with iPhone in the smartphone market, the biggest advantage iPad will have over other tablet computers and e-book readers would be its wealth of content. IPad will run most of the 150,000 applications made for iPhone and iPod users available at Apple's App Store.
It remains to be seen whether iPad will gain enough popularity in Korea to get things going on the content front for e-readers. There seems to be an interest among media companies, both in print and in broadcasting, with newspapers appearing to be a little more desperate than their television counterparts.
``Newspapers have been trying hard to diversify their revenue sources through mobile offerings, but the small screens and limited capabilities of current mobile phones have prevented them from finding ways to effectively monetize their content,'' said Kim Doh-yeon, a Kookmin University media professor.
``Products like iPad, with larger screens, better networking capabilities and higher image quality, will finally give newspapers the tool to deliver information in a way that optimizes the reader's experience.''
The iPad model featuring Wi-Fi wireless connectivity will be available in Korean stores sometime this summer, industry sources say. Although Apple will release another iPad that offers both Wi-Fi and third-generation (3G) cellular connectivity in the U.S. later this month, it's hard to predict when this model will be available in Korea.
KT, the wireless carrier that provides iPhone here, and SK Telecom, the largest carrier that controls more than half of Korea's mobile phone users, both say they have yet to engage in serious negotiations about releasing the 3G-capable iPad here.
thkim@koreatimes.co.kr
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