Finally, Koreans to get the iPhone

Robert Clark
24 Sep 2009
00:00

Korean mobile users finally have the chance to buy the iPhone, after the Korean Communication Commission (KCC) gave approval Wednesday for the device to be sold.

The decision followed a campaign by consumer groups to allow the wildly popular smartphone into the tightly-controlled market.

Critics complained that while Korea prided itself on being one of the most wired countries in the world, it was falling behind places such as Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in securing the device.

The official reason for excluding the iPhone was because Apple did not have a license for its location service, as required under Korean law. The KCC yesterday decided to waive that rule.

But the country has commonly used technical standards to protect its telecom industry, and in particular the handset sector. Nokia the world’s largest manufacturer, only returned to the market this year after a six-year absence.

Samsung and LG, the world’s second and third biggest phone-makers, between them have more than 70% of the market.

It is not clear when the iPhone would go on sale in Korea. KT, the number two mobile operator, told the Wall Street Journal it had held talks with Apple and that these would continue.

The iPhone has been on sale in Japan since last year, where the 3GS is reportedly the country’s best-selling handset. China Unicom is expected to start selling the device in China next month.

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