iPhone 3G in South Korea?

Written by admin on July 17, 2008 – 7:25 pm -

Since it’s launch on 11 July, the iPhone 3G has sold more than 1 million units. Meanwhie Apple fans in South Korea have been left hanging if the iPhone 3G will ever hit the streets. 

There seems to be a glimmer of hope on the horizon at the The Chosun Ilbo reports that Apple has posted a job listing on its website for ‘Korea iPhone Account Manager’. The job description indicates that the person will be responsible for managing day to day issues with Apple’s chosen carrier. 

The biggest hurdle is the South Korean governments requirement for all mobile phones that access the internet to support WIPI. There is a possibility that they will scrap WIPI all together by the end of the year. The second hurdle are Apple’s demands such as revenue sharing.

My opinion is that pressure should be put on the S. Korean government to open up the mobile phone market here considering they have been flooding the international market with Samsung and LG phones. As much as I would love seeing the iPhone 3G here, I would also like to see Nokia, Blackberry and Sony Erricson get into the Korean market.

 


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Posted in South Korea, Tech | No Comments »

Mobile Phone coverage

Written by admin on July 16, 2008 – 5:19 pm -

Seoul has excellent mobile phone coverage no matter which telecom provider you decide to go with. Even basements will get almost a full signal. Compared to the U.S. for example, mobile phone signals are only good when you’re outside, for example walking into almost any IKEA store will guarantee an ‘out of service area’ message. Other asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines fare relatively well compared to the U.S. So why does Korea have great coverage?

Well besides the normal cell towers that dot the landscape, there are numerous smaller antennas in basements, elevators, malls,and rooftops that boost the signal. Some of these antennas are privately purchased from the mobile provider and installed in their offices to provide better service for both people who work their and their clients. 


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Posted in Observations, South Korea | 2 Comments »

Awww crap!!! No iPhone for the ROK

Written by admin on June 19, 2008 – 11:17 am -

I guess I finally have to swallow the cold hard fact that Apple’s new iPhone 3G is not going to hit Korean shores in the foreseeable future unless the South Korean government makes changes to it’s policies regarding mobile phones with internet access. 

All mobile phones sold in the ROK are required to have WIPI installed. WIPI or Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability is a middleware platform developed by  the Korea Wireless Internet Standardization Forum (KWISF) that  allows mobile devices to access the internet regardless of manufacturer or service provider.

As ideal as the intention sounds this platform is what has been hindering the entry of foreign mobile makers such as Nokia, Sony Erricson, and more recently Apple’s iPhone into the Korean market. I’m pretty sure the home team mobile phone makers Samsung and LG are pretty happy to keep it this way. On the other hand South Korea despite its technological advances and claims of being one of the most ‘wired’ countries in the planet is being hindered by this rule. This has also prevented the likes of Nokia and Sony Erricson in selling their phones in South Korea since modifying their existing models solely for the Korean market is just not financially viable.

The South Korean government recently revised this rule to exclude mobile devices that do not have internet functionality. As for me I’m one the thousands of expats living in the ROK who just wants to be rid of the hassles of getting mobile phone service by being able to use a phone that I already have. C’mon Samsung and LG why don’t you lighten up a bit a let a little foreign competition battle you on your home turf? 

So what’s your only option if you must have an iPhone 3G? Go get an international roaming plan, but that’s something that I’m not willing to do or spend extra cash on despite my desperation to own the iPhone 3G.

STOP PRESS - Pinoys will be able to get their grubby hands on the iPhone 3G from Globe Telecom by the end of the year.


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Posted in South Korea, Telecoms / Internet | No Comments »

Professional Movers Korean Style

Written by admin on June 18, 2008 – 2:50 pm -

On my way to work a few weeks ago I snapped a photo of a unique way of how movers do things in South Korea. A boom similar to a fire truck ladder extends from the truck bed but instead of having steps a platform moves up and down.

The platform can handle refrigerators, bedroom closets, washers and just about anything you have at home.  It’s a very clever way to move stuff if you ask me and saves a lot of time too compared to the usual house moving that we’re all accustomed to. I have not seen this method of moving in most of the countries I’ve lived in. It makes me wonder if there are any other countries that do this kind of thing.

 


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Posted in Observations | 8 Comments »

Odusan 오두산 Unification Observatory

Written by admin on May 26, 2008 – 1:47 am -

I’ve been getting information about places to visit in South Korea from the numerous bloggers .  This time I’m going to give something back to the community and write about our visit to the Odusan Unification Observatory. 

Built in 1999 this facility was to commemorate the efforts in unifying North and South Korea. To this date the Korean War has not yet ended and is the only divided country in the world even after the end of the Cold War.

Getting there from Seoul is fairly easy, just get on the westbound Gangbyeon expressway and you won’t miss the signs as you get closer After parking the car at the Paju City public parking lot the kids and I  took a free shuttle bus to get to the observatory. There is an admission fee of W 2,500 for adults and W 1,700 for kids. Upon entering there are various exhibit halls and an A/V presentation in english describes the propaganda village to the north and it’s surrounding geography. Binoculars are available in two outdoor viewing decks that afford an excellent view of the area. Restaurants, souvenir shops and snack kiosks are available. 

I’ve always been fascinated about North Korea and have watched almost every documentary that’s been shown on the Discovery and NatGeo, and can’t believe that just across that river bank are people who are hungry, oppressed, and have been brainwashed into thinking that their ‘Dear Leader’ is looking after their best interests. 

The top half of the photo is the North Korean propaganda village, Kim Il-sung Historiacal Monument Hall, Primary School, People’s Cultural Assembly Hall and the Anti-South Media Propaganda Base while the bottom part shows the riverbank on the South Korean side. Take note of the heavily barbed fence which is guarded 24/7.

The expressway which runs alongside the riverbank is heavily fenced with barbed wire with watch towers every 1000 meters. 

For more info click here. 

More photos here.

 


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Posted in Seoul, South Korea, Tourist Destinations, Travel | 4 Comments »
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