iPhone 5 to hit Korean shelves in early December: sources

Apple’s iPhone 5 is finally expected to hit the local market early next month, three months after its initial unveiling in San Francisco.

Industry sources said the handset with a bigger 4-inch display will be available in Korea possibly on Dec. 7 through local mobile carriers SK Telecom and KT.

Running on the fourth-generation Long Term Evolution networks, the iPhone 5, first released in September, is the Cupertino-based firm’s thinnest and lightest addition to its iPhone lineup.

However, the launch of the iPhone 5 is taking longer than expected, as many speculated that it would arrive earlier this month. On top of a delay caused by its parts supply shortage, it was also later found that Apple Korea had filed three times with the Korean government for radio wave approval.

Electronics manufacturers are mandated to get the approval ahead of their release of new wireless gadgets in Korea.

“The date can’t be confirmed but the handset is likely to be launched by early next month,” said an industry source.

Another handset that is being highlighted nowadays is LG Electronics’ Nexus 4, which is Google’s latest reference phone featuring the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean mobile operating system.

An LG official confirmed that it is in talks with Google on whether it will roll out the new smartphone here, which is a change of plans for the electronics manufacturer.

The handset, operating only on third-generation communications networks, was exempted from launch in Korea, whereas it rolled out in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Spain and Australia this month.

“We’re currently discussing with Google the roll-out of the Nexus 4 in Korea due to rising consumer demand and we will reach a conclusion at the earliest date,” said on LG official.

The new Nexus 4 came under the spotlight following KT mobile business president Pyo Hyun-myung’s message posted on Twitter that the telecom has asked LG to have the smartphone be serviced by the firm for local users.

The handset, which is receiving positive feedback from its overseas users, has been receiving attention especially due to its affordable pricing on the Web ― $299 for the 8-gigabyte model and $349 for the 16-gigabyte model without a contract.

But according to industry insiders, the pricing differs depending on the country and the method people use to buy the gadget ― such as online or offline purchase.

The 4.7-inch smartphone is LG’s first Google reference phone, which delivered a symbolic message that the Seoul-based electronics maker had strengthened its alliance with Google.

Designing a reference gadget with Google indicates that Android partners and developers will use the product to test the most recent Jelly Bean mobile platform.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)