[The Chosun Ilbo, November 2 2007] Global Smartphone Competition Heats Up

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was brandishing a Samsung smartphone when he gave his keynote speech at the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment expo in San Francisco on Oct. 23. Ballmer predicted mobile phones will soon be the primary device to access the Internet for most people.

The global IT industry is all a-flutter about smartphones, the BlackJack 2 Ballmer was wielding included. They were the biggest attraction at the CTIA, which brought together 350 global IT companies. Smartphones today are almost on a par with PCs, with their e-mail, camera, music player, and even Internet phone functions. Visitors Googled and checked their e-mail on the new smartphones -- as Ballmer said, the question now before the firm is, “How do we evolve the phone so it participates fully in this world, fully in the lifestyle side of this world, and the work style side of this world?”

...

◆ Korea lags behind

The smartphone boom has yet to reach Korea. Having developed the code division multiple access (CDMA) technology for mobile phones, there is as yet insufficient demand for smartphones here due to the high PC penetration rate, and the off-putting service price. That is why there are growing concerns that Korea could lose its edge in a rapidly evolving mobile phone market. One Korean mobile phone contents provider at CTIA said, “It’s not easy for Korean software companies to boost their competitiveness since large mobile operators have such a firm grip on the market. Various contents must be developed in order for Korea to maintain its leading status as IT powerhouse.