The Korea Herald

CES organizer hopeful of first Asia version in China

Aug 22, 2014

The Consumer Electronics Association, the organizer of the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show, International CES, is on track with its preparations for hosting the Asian version of the electronics trade show, called the 2015 International CES Asia in Shanghai in May 2015. “The Chinese government was very supportive and has been really wanting to host the show,” Gary Shapiro, chief executive of the CEA, said in a press meeting in Korea on Thursday. CEA CEO Gary Shapiro (Lee Su-hwan/D
KT ordered to pay 100,000 won each to data-leak victims

Aug 22, 2014

South Korea's No. 2 mobile carrier KT Corp. was ordered by a local district court Friday to pay 100,000 won (US$97) in compensation to each customer who had personal data leaked in 2012.The Seoul Central District Court's ruling came after some 28,000 KT users filed a lawsuit against the mobile carrier for the leak of sensitive personal information, demanding compensation of 500,000 won per person.Police earlier discovered that the personal information of 8.7 million users, including social secur
Mobile carriers fined for subsidies

Aug 21, 2014

The Korea Communications Commission on Thursday imposed fines of some 58 billion won ($57 million) against the country’s three mobile carriers for offering illegal subsidies to smartphone buyers.South Korea’s telecommunication regulator held an internal meeting presided over by KCC chairman Choi Sung-joon, and decided to slap SK Telecom with 37.1 billion in penalties, KT with 10.8 billion won and LG Uplus with 10.6 billion won.The three telecoms were fined for misconduct in giving away subsidies
IBM launches cloud computing platform in South Korea

Aug 21, 2014

IBM launched Bluemix, an open-source cloud computing development platform, in South Korea on Thursday.The platform enables developers to create applications for smartphones, running on both Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.More than 50 types of services are also available on the platform to develop applications for databases, the Internet of Things, big data and security. Adam Kocoloski, chief technology officer of Cloudant, an affiliate of IBM, speaks to the press about IBM’s newly launched clo
Samsung tops flatscreen TV market for 34th quarter

Aug 21, 2014

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday it has topped the world’s market for flat-screen TVs for the 34th consecutive quarter in the April-June period, backed by robust sales in emerging markets.Quoting data released by industry watcher DisplaySearch, Samsung said its global market share for flat TVs came to 31.8 percent in the second quarter, rising 1.2 percentage points on-quarter, keeping the company in the top spot.It biggest rival, LG Electronics Inc., saw its market s
LG rolls out new 3G models in L smartphone series

Aug 21, 2014

LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday it will roll out two new smartphone models in its low-end L series later this month that will feature high-tech features similar to the more expensive G series.The L Bello and L Fino come with 5-inch and 4.5-inch screens, respectively, along with an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 1 megapixel camera on the front.The L Bello is equipped with a 2,540 mAh battery and 1.3 GHz quad-core processor, while the L Fino has a 1,900 mAh battery and 1.2 GHz quad-core p
Mobile carriers slapped with 58.4 bln won in fines for illegal subsidies

Aug 21, 2014

South Korea's top mobile carriers were fined 58.41 billion won (US$57.15 million) by the telecom authority on Thursday for continuing to pay illegal subsidies to win new clients.The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said two of the three carriers being punished -- SK Telecom Co. and LG Uplus Corp. -- will also be banned from signing on new customers for one week starting at the end of this month. KT Corp. was excluded from the suspension.SK Telecom, the biggest carrier, was ordered to pay a
Samsung TV prices fall as company seeks bigger market share

Aug 21, 2014

Samsung Electronics Co.'s average sales price for its flat-screen TVs fell 13 percent in the first half of 2014 from last year, apparently as the firm sought a bigger world market share over profit, data showed Thursday.The price of the company's flat TV lineup averaged US$646 in the January-June period, while the combined shipment advanced 16 percent, the data compiled by Strategy Analytics showed.The industry tracker said demands for Samsung products gained in Latin America due to the FIFA Wor
LG Chem inks battery deal with Audi

Aug 20, 2014

LG Chem said Wednesday that it had clinched a deal to supply lithium-ion batteries to Germany-based premium automaker Audi for its next-generation electric automobiles.The materials and battery giant said the deal could pave the way for the company to supply its batteries to other auto units of Volkswagen Group as some share automobile platforms to manufacture cars.Its batteries, for instance, could be used in the Audi A3 E-Tron and Volkswagen e-Golf as they share the same platform for the hatch
SK Telecom launches ICT center for children

Aug 20, 2014

SK Telecom, the largest mobile carrier in Korea, opened a hands-on experience center, called T.um Mobile, where children can learn about the history and latest trends of information and communications technology in Seoul on Wednesday.The telecom firm will first run the center at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan for three days from Wednesday, and will open 20 others across the nation including in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, and Taebaek, Gangwon Province. Aimed at providing more opportun
Kakao Talk launches new service for small firms

Aug 20, 2014

South Korea’s top messenger application operator Kakao Corp. said Wednesday it has started to allow small enterprises to open a business-only account via Kakao Talk, providing them a means to communicate with consumers more easily.Named “Yellow ID,” the service gives users a second Kakao Talk ID for business purposes. Previously, the country’s most used mobile messenger only allowed one account for each phone number.While Kakao already operates “Plus Friend,” it said the new service was differen
Wearable robots coming soon

Aug 20, 2014

Exoskeletons to lead way in augmenting human capabilities
Kakao Talk launches new service for small companies

Aug 20, 2014

South Korea's top messenger application operator Kakao Corp. said Wednesday it has started to allow small enterprises to open a business-only account via Kakao Talk, providing them a means to communicate with consumers more easily.Named "Yellow ID," the service gives users a second Kakao Talk ID for business purposes. Previously, the country's most used mobile messenger only allowed one account for each phone number.While Kakao already operates "Plus Friend," it said the new service is different
Samsung pushes aggressive takeovers for new biz

Aug 20, 2014

South Korea's tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. has acquired 10 companies since last year at home and abroad, industry data showed Wednesday, apparently in line with the firm's efforts to expand its business portfolio amid the slowing smartphone sector.The world's No. 1 smartphone maker purchased stakes in firms from various sectors encompassing health care, solid state drive software and video streaming, successfully clinching 21 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals since 2007, the data showed.I
LG to take on rivals with expanded G series

Aug 19, 2014

LG Electronics is seeking to ascend in the global smartphone market with plans to roll out new models in its flagship G smartphone line in the near future.The smartphone maker has been filing trademarks for the G4 to G9 since last year at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, according to industry sources Tuesday.The trademark filings are in line with the tech giant’s announcement last year to boost its focus on high-end brands after dropping its previous Optimus smartphone brand. LG Electron