SKT to launch 30 smartphones this year

Published : Jan 14, 2011 - 10:02 Updated : Jan 14, 2011 - 10:02

Nation’s biggest mobile carrier also plans to release up to five tablet PCs

SK Telecom Co., Korea’s No. 1 mobile operator, said on Thursday it plans to roll out around 30 new smartphones and up to five tablet computers this year, aiming to lead the rapidly evolving market of smart devices.

Its new smartphone lineup includes LG Electronics’ Optimus 2X, Samsung Electronics’ Personal Media Phone, Motorola’s Atrix and Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc.

The carrier will also release four or five tablet computers made by global leaders such as Samsung, LG, Pantech, Motorola and Research In Motion, a company official said.

“The upcoming next-generation smartphones feature numerous innovative technologies differentiated from existing products,” chief marketing officer Jang Dong-hyun said.

“This year will mark a new era in which smartphones based on plentiful services outstrip feature phones in terms of sales.”

With the new releases, the portion of smartphones in its total mobile phone lineup will rise to 60 percent from last year’s 50 percent. SK controls about half of the local wireless market.

(From left) LG Electronics’ Optimus 2X, Samsung Electronics’ Personal Media Phone, Motorola’s Atrix and Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc

New chief executive Ha Sung-min reaffirmed the company’s plan to shift to the fourth generation Long-Term Evolution wireless network.

“SK Telecom will build a strong, smart network and open, intelligent platform to be a global leader in information and communications technology,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

LG Electronics’ Optimus 2X is the first to hit the market this year. It carries a dual-core processor produced by California-based visual computing technology leader NVidia Corp., which enables fast multitasking and powerful data handling.

Running on Google’s Android operating system, it has a four-inch display with high definition multimedia interface mirroring to provide exceptional graphics performances, LG said.

SK will take exclusive pre-orders for the Optimus 2X beginning on Friday online or at local stores to deliver around next weekend, a spokesman said.

Other new products including Samsung Electronics’ Personal Media Phone, Motorola’s Atrix and Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc will be available in the first or second quarter of the year at the latest, he added.

The Atrix drew much attention from tech-savvy crowds at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show that drew the curtain on Sunday in Las Vegas.

It also features a dual core processor and a piece of “Webtop” software that allows it to serve as a desktop, laptop or television when connected with related devices, the developer said.

The Xperia Arc is a lightweight, super-slim smartphone equipped with a slick design. Its 4.2 inch display also used in Sony Corp.’s Bravia TVs offers graphic multimedia services, SK said.

Tablet PCs will give an impetus to the company’s mobile device business this year.

SK has sold more than 150,000 units of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab since mid-November.

LG and Motorola unveiled their Android-based tablets at the CES last week. Canada-based Research In Motion introduced its PlayBook last year.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)

<한글 기사>

SKT, 2011년 스마트폰 라인업 공개

윈도우7폰 등 30여종 출시

4세대 스마트폰도 하반기에

SK텔레콤이 올해 출시할 스마트폰 라인업을 공개했다.

SK텔레콤은 차세대 네트워크인 롱텀에볼루션(LTE), 하드웨어(듀얼코어, 초슬림), 서비스(N-Screen, NFC)을 특징으로 하는 다양한 스마트폰과 태블릿PC를 올해 안에 30여종 이상 출시할 계획이라고 13일 밝혔다.

우선 지난 ‘CES2011’에서 공개돼 화제가 된 LG전자의 ‘옵티머스2X’, 모토로라 ‘아트릭스(Atrix)’ 소니에릭슨 엑스페리아 아크(Xperia Arc), 삼성전자의 ‘퍼스널 미디어(Personal Media, N-Screen)폰’ 등을 올 상반기 안에 출시한다.

마이크로소프트의 야심작인 운영체제(OS)가 탑재된 스마트폰인 ‘윈도우7폰’은 SK텔레콤을 통해 하반기 국내에 소개된다. 대용량 콘텐츠 이용 증가 등 고객 트렌드 변화를 적극 반영해 하반기에 4세대(G) 스마트폰도 출시할 계획이다.

SK텔레콤은 이들 기종 외에도 상반기 중 다양한 개성을 담은 전략 스마트폰 및 실속형 스마트폰을 대거 출시하는 한편 삼성전자, HTC를 포함한 글로벌 제조사들의 차세대 스마트폰, 태블릿PC 출시 일정을 추가로 공개하겠다고 덧붙였다.

한편 SK텔레콤은 듀얼코어 탑재 스마트폰 ‘옵티머스2X’의 예약가입을 이달 14일부터 실시한다. 예약 가입은 온라인 홈페이지(www.tsmartshop.co.kr) 및 전국 대리점에서 신청할 수 있으며, 예약가입 판매가는 올인원45 요금제 선택 시 27만 원, 올인원55 선택 시 19만원 선이다.

장동현 SK텔레콤 마케팅부문장은 “앞으로 대거 출시할 차세대 스마트폰들은 기존 스마트폰과 차별화된 혁신기술을 많이 탑재하고 있다”며, “금년에는 풍부한 서비스를 바탕으로 스마트폰이 일반폰 판매량을 넘어서는 스마트폰 대중화 시대가 본격적으로 열릴 것”이라고 말했다.

(헤럴드 경제)