Filed under: iPhone
iPhone coming to South Korea
After much delay, the iPhone is finally coming to South Korea. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) had been requiring handsets to use the locally-built WIPI mobile platform. Earlier this week, that changed:"...considering global industry trends toward the use of general-purpose mobile operating systems, we concluded that there was a need to allow carriers the freedom to decide whether to use WIPI or not,'' said Shin Yong-sub, the director of KCC's policy bureau.
This restriction prevented many foreign manufacturers, like Apple, from selling handsets in South Korea. So, what happens now? First off, it looks like carriers KTF and SK Telecom will be handling the iPhone in South Korea. Finally, would-be customers will still have to wait until next spring, as the rule requiring WIPI will be effective until April of 2009. But that's better than "never," right?
[Via MacDailyNews]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
a said 4:47PM on 12-10-2008
I'm do glad I read this post!
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directeco said 4:56PM on 12-10-2008
By April the new one will be coming out in a few months...
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Alex Morach said 4:58PM on 12-10-2008
Nice to see more countries are getting the world's best cellphone.
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Kevin Gass said 7:29PM on 12-10-2008
But this post said nothing about the Blackberry Storm going for sale in Korea. Focus!
Swimatm said 12:11AM on 12-11-2008
Well, yes, that's a good one too.
daniel said 7:42PM on 12-10-2008
i bet samsung lobbied the KCC so they could sell the Omnia without real competition for five months. as if they need until April!
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gregg mancari said 9:51PM on 12-10-2008
Doesnt KTF use CDMA?
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ChiefBozz said 9:26AM on 12-11-2008
Yes, I don't know of any GSM towers in South Korea. I have been stationed there for about 6 months and have yet to get a signal for my iPhone 2G.
Keil Miller said 10:39PM on 12-10-2008
Hmm... Will my AT&T plan work over there???
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andrewchoi said 11:51AM on 12-11-2008
there is gsm roaming in korea, dunno if that's what they'll use for iphone or not tho
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