South Korea’s KT Corp has announced that it will be selling the 2G iPad in the Asian country from the next month.
KT’s hometown rival and the country’s largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom has stated that it is actively considering offering the tablet device in the domestic market.
From April, SK Telecom will begin selling four tablet computer models, including Motorola Mobility Holdings’ Xoom, Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Tab devices and LG Electronics’ Optimus Pad.
Axiom Telecom and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading mobile phone provider, today staged their first ever Product Preview event together to reveal the new Samsung Galaxy Pro smartphone that will go on sale in the UAE during the second week of April 2011.
The preview is yet another initiative that strengthens the existing regional partnership between Samsung Electronics and Axiom Telecom. The two companies came together today to introduce the Samsung Galaxy Pro smartphone to select customers and media during a special demonstration.
During the event, select Axiom Telecom customers had the opportunity to experience live units of the new Samsung Galaxy Pro first hand and join discussions with representatives from both Samsung and Axiom Telecom about this latest Samsung smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy Pro is the latest user-friendly device from the company with a QWERTY keyboard and is powered by the Android Operating System that gives access to a vast array of applications. With advanced messaging, social networking capabilities and business solutions, the Samsung Galaxy Pro can handle both high business demands and the requirements of a very active social lifestyle.
“Axiom’s Telecom’s retail experience, reach and ability to bring new products first into the market complement with Samsung’s legacy of innovation, creative designs and constantly bringing new products that fit into consumers’ lifestyles in a meaningful way,” said Young Woo Jun, Director at Samsung Gulf Electronics.
Today’s session is in response to growing consumer demand to experience new phones and gain even more information before making a purchasing decision. This helps consumers to make the very best choice for their individual requirements in an increasingly complex, rapidly-moving and cluttered marketplace. Recognizing this need, Axiom Telecom is the first telecom retailer to offer such Product Previews and will continue to work with Samsung in the future to bring consumers the opportunity to experience tomorrow’s technology today.
This is particularly needed in the more sophisticated Smartphone sector, which Axiom Telecom explained has grown significantly since last year. “Our retail experience has shown the importance of high levels of knowledgeable staff to give customers guidance and the need for live phones and dedicated space within stores to allow customers to try-out products before purchase,” said Matthew Ramljak, Group Retail Manager at Axiom Telecom.
“Today’s event is part of our broader strategic partnership with Samsung and we look forward to supporting Samsung in bringing unique products, services and experiences to UAE consumers,” added Matthew Ramljak.
Currently Axiom Telecom provides specialized Samsung ‘Solution Bays’ across numerous Axiom Telecom retail outlets in the UAE. The Samsung Solution Bays will showcase the brand’s devices and demonstrate various mobile solutions such as navigation, music, email and messaging. In addition, Samsung will train in-store staff to provide customers with expert advice about Samsung’s offerings. Additionally, Axiom Telecom distributes Samsung’s wide range of mobile handsets and accessories across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Axiom Telecom currently has 900 retail points across the Middle East in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
Samsung Electronics has highlighted its ‘Smarter Life’ concept at the third annual Samsung European Forum at Mucsarnok, Budapest.
The Smarter Life concept centres on three principles:
Samsung’s Galaxy devices will be expanded with the Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Gio and the Galaxy mini.
Mobily has inked a deal with Samsung Electronics for LTE and mobile WiMAX equipment.The agreement is part of Mobily’s plans to invest US$120 million on 4G technologies.
As per the terms of the deal, the South Korean vendor will install LTE base stations in over 30 cities in Saudi Arabia, as well as upgrade Mobily’s mobile WiMAX network.
Mobily, part-owned by Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates, ended in 2010 as Saudi Arabia’s second largest mobile operator by subscribers, claiming a 40% share of the market.
Samsung Electronics has shown of an upgraded version of its Galaxy Tab – the Vodafone exclusive Galaxy Tab 10.1, a Dual-Core Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablet device.
The updated device comes with a 10.1″ WXGA TFT LCD display (hence the name) supporting a 1280 x 800 screen resolution, as compared to the 7 inch model the company released last September.
The device also includes 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with Auto Focus and 2 megapixel front-facing camera, along with surround-sound speakers.
No details about the pricing or availability were provided by the company.
NTT DoCoMo and KT Corp have announced a joint agreement to develop cross-border services for mobile payments based on NFC technology, which they will launch in their respective markets of Japan and South Korea from around the end of 2012.
With the joint Business & Technology Cooperation Committee, the two companies are developing NFC common specifications that will be incorporated in devices, networks and billing platforms for seamlessly connected mobile NFC services. Customers travelling between South Korea and Japan will be able to access the services using compatible Android handsets embedded with contactless IC chips.
DoCoMo has tied-up with payment technology company brand Visa, NFC chip and mobile handset manufacturer Samsung Electronics and SIM card vendor Gemalto. In addition, DoCoMo will collaborate with Sumitomo Mitsui Card and bitWallet for cross-border services.
Furthermore, DoCoMo and KT will accelerate development of their existing infrastructures, as well as seek the participation of NFC-based service providers in various industries. DoCoMo has been providing NFC-based Osaifu-Keitai mobile-wallet services in Japan since 2004. KT has been operating a post-paid mass transit service in South Korea since 2002.
DoCoMo is also planning to submit an outline of the common specifications to global industry associations and standardization bodies, such as the GSM Association.
Samsung Electronics and IBM have announced a patent cross-license agreement, under which the companies will license their respective patent portfolios to each other.
Over the past several decades, IBM and Samsung have built strong patent portfolios covering a wide range of technologies including semiconductors, telecommunications, visual and mobile communications, software and technology-based services. The companies said the cooperation fostered by cross-licensing reinforces their ability to provide better products and services while maintaining their competitiveness.
According to Dr. Seungho Ahn, Executive Vice President and Head of the IP Center, Samsung Electronics, this licensing agreement will help both companies expedite innovation and achieve business growth by providing each company access to the other’s patents for basic technologies. The company also hopes that the agreement will open new opportunities for wider collaboration between two of the leading innovators in the technology industry.
As per Ken King, Vice President, Patents, Software & Services IP Licensing for IBM, patents and innovation are a critical component of IBM’s high-value business strategy. In addition to protecting the huge investment we make in R&D, patents also allow them to establish cross-licenses, which provide IBM and partners like Samsung significant freedom of action, which is essential in the competitive global business environment.
Specific terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.
SK Telecom today revealed the first step to commercialize LTE by announcing the selection of Samsung Electronics, LG-Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks as key equipment suppliers for its 4G LTE network. The company will begin providing commercial LTE services in Seoul by July this year and plans to expand the service to the Seoul metropolitan area and six other metropolitan cities by 2012. The service will become nationwide by 2013.
LTE is a next-generation data-only network that allows up to 75 Mbps downlink and 37.5 Mbps uplink speed – respectively, five times and seven times faster than that of WCDMA networks. LTE is also expected to bring a three-fold increase of data capacity compared to existing 3G networks.
Bae Joon-Dong, President and Head of Network CIC of SK Telecom, said: “We’re very excited with this major milestone. As we begin this journey in the evolution of our wireless network, we are delighted to partner with top LTE equipment suppliers to build our 4G network. Once we have full-pledged service, we expect huge market demand and a new wave of mobile innovation with higher quality multimedia contents and advanced smart devices.”
? Selects Samsung Electronics, LG-Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks as LTE equipment vendors
SK Telecom picked Samsung Electronics, LG-Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks as key equipment suppliers for its 4G LTE network – Samsung Electronics and LG-Ericsson will particularly supply switching equipment while all three companies will provide base station equipment. The company began benchmark quality tests of equipment in September 2010 and chose its partners based on price and compatibility with other suppliers.
SK Telecom plans to apply the multi-vendor interoperability technology in order to simultaneously use different vendors’ switching equipment and base station equipment to service one area. This will allow SK Telecom to select optimized equipment according to different network coverage levels, thus creating a higher quality LTE network.
? To introduce SCAN method to realize effective 4G coverage
SK Telecom will adopt its own Smart Cloud Access Network (SCAN) method to set up a truly effective and integrated LTE network. A base station largely consists of Digital Unit (DU) and Radio Unit (RU). With SK Telecom’s SCAN method, LTE network DUs will be stored together in one area, while Remote Radio Units (RRU) – along with the antenna – will be set up in various locations.
SCAN is a highly effective cloud-based network deployment method especially optimized for wireless communication as multiple RRUs can be installed according to varying network capacity needs of each area.
Furthermore, upon receiving approval from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to utilize the 800 MHz bandwidth for LTE service, SK Telecom plans to provide flawless LTE service underground and inside of buildings from beginning of deployment.
? To launch LTE smartphones, tablet PCs and data modems in 2011
SK Telecom will start offering data modems with plans to commercialize LTE network for the first time in Korea in July. Additional plans to launch diverse LTE devices including smartphones and tablet PCs by end of this year are underway.
LTE smartphones will use 3G network for voice service and LTE network for data service through DBDM (Dual Band Dual Mode) format. Until the company secures nationwide coverage for LTE, all the LTE devices will be launched in DBDM formats. In the areas where LTE coverage is not secured, SK Telecom will offer seamless data service through current WCDMA networks. The DBDM device strategy is also selected by diverse mobile operators that already commercialized LTE service.
? To boost network capacity in small areas by deploying 62,000 Wi-Fi zones and over 10,000 femtocells
SK Telecom plans to handle data traffic flawlessly in small areas by increasing the number of Wi-Fi zones to 62,000 this year and by deploying additional 45,000 Wi-Fi zones by the end of 2011, as well as expanding the 1,000 femtocells deployed last year to 10,000 femtocells. Also, SK telecom plans to offer femtocells that can handle voice and data traffic at the same time in small areas. Furthermore, the 6-sector solutions, which can double the capacity of current base stations, will be expanded to 500 base stations this year from 20 base stations beta-tested at the end of last year.
NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s mobile operator is reportedly planning to launch a tablet computer that will be produced by LG Electronics and run on software developed by Google.
According to reports, the device, which is scheduled to be released in Japan by the end of March, is expected to have a smaller than 9-inch screen, but other details have yet to be determined.
The tablet PC would compete with a slew of models from the likes of Dell, Samsung Electronics and Sharp to challenge Apple’s iPad in the new gadget segment.
