Rival mobile carriers join hands, challenge KakaoTalk with upgraded messaging service

In a rare case of collaboration among rivals, South Korea’s three mobile carriers  jointly introduced an advanced version of an integrated messaging service Tuesday to compete with the country’s top messenger app, KakaoTalk. 　According to SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus, Chatting Plus is now available to mobile subscribers with all three carriers -- but only for Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. 　Thanks to Rich Communications Services technology, users can

Aug. 13, 2019

SK hynix develops highest bandwidth DRAM for mass production in 2020

SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chip provider, said Monday it has developed DRAM with the industry’s highest bandwidth for use in machine learning, supercomputers and artificial intelligence. Unlike conventional DRAM products, high bandwidth memory chips are closely interconnected to processors like graphic processing units and logic chips, which allows faster data transfers. HBM is rising as an optimal memory solution for high-end GPUs, supercomputers, machine learning a

Aug. 12, 2019

Samsung partners with Xiaomi on new hi-def image sensor

Samsung Electronics said Monday it has developed the highest definition image sensor for mobile devices in collaboration with Chinese smartphone vendor Xiaomi. The South Korean tech giant revealed it will start production of the industry’s first mobile image sensor with over 100 million pixels, dubbed as ISOCELL Bright HMX. The sensor boasts 108 megapixels, which enable mobile devices to offer a resolution equivalent to that of a high-end DSLR camera, according to the company. Samsung has

Aug. 12, 2019

Samsung operates chip plants at full capacity despite Japan curbs

Samsung Electronics said Friday its plans to mass-produce high-end memory chips for global customers are on track so far, despite initial concerns of the possible disruption of production lines due to Japan’s trade restrictions on hi-tech materials. The company announced it has begun mass production of the world’s most capable solid-state drives for next-generation servers -- non-volatile memory express SSD PM1733 -- and DRAM modules with the largest storage capacity of up to 4 terab

Aug. 9, 2019

Betting on 5G, preorders for Galaxy Note 10 begin

Preorders for the latest Galaxy Note 10 smartphones are now available globally, raising expectations on the new race in the global mobile device market and expansion of the 5G network, according to industry sources on Friday. Samsung started taking preorders for the newest gadgets one day after its Unpacked event for electronics retailers and mobile carriers in the United States, South Korea and other countries across the world. In the US, the Galaxy Note 10 is available both on LTE and 5G netwo

Aug. 9, 2019

Chip expert Choi Ki-young nominated to lead ICT Ministry

President Moon Jae-in conducted a major Cabinet reshuffle on Friday, nominating Choi Ki-young to lead the Ministry of Science and ICT.Choi, currently a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University, is dubbed an expert in the fields of artificial intelligence and semiconductors. He has a bachelor’s degree in SNU, master’s from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and a doctorate from Stanford University.Within the field

Aug. 9, 2019

Kakao’s operating profit surges 47% in Q2

South Korea’s largest mobile messenger app operator Kakao said Thursday its second-quarter operating profit surged 47 percent on-year, as it benefited from new businesses and contents. The company’s operating profit reached 40.5 billion won ($33.4 million) in the April-June period on a consolidated basis, compared to 27.7 billion won a year earlier.As its sales rose 25 percent on-year to reach 733 billion won, Kakao attributed the latest outcome to increased profit from its messenger

Aug. 8, 2019

Number of 5G subscribers in S. Korea surpasses 2 million

 　Four months after South Korea commercially launched the fifth-generation cellular network, the number of 5G subscribers here has surpassed 2 million as of this week, amid growing competition among major mobile carriers. 　According to industry data, the country’s three major carriers -- SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus -- reached combined subscribers of 2.01 million Tuesday, about two months after they topped the 1 million threshold in June. 　Growth is expected to further accelerate when

Aug. 8, 2019

Samsung unveils largest-ever Note 10 with most compact version

Samsung Electronics unveiled two models of the 10th anniversary edition of its flagship premium Galaxy Note smartphone Wednesday, featuring a magic stick-like S Pen that is much more detachable from the main device. Along with the enhanced S Pen with remote control technology, the South Korean tech giant for the first time, offered two size choices for the smartphone model during its Unpacked event at Barclays Center in New York, the US, which was attended by around 4,000 media and industry offi

Aug. 8, 2019

79-year-old with artificial heart reaches 1,000-day milestone

A woman, 79, who received a partial artificial heart transplant has lived for over 1,000 days since surgery, Samsung Medical Center said Wednesday.The patient was fitted with the then-latest third-generation left ventricular assist device in September 2016. This is the longest a patient has lived with a third-generation heart assist device in South Korea, according to the hospital.The hospital’s heart failure/transplantation team, which performed the surgery, said the patient was healthy a

Aug. 7, 2019

[Graphic News] Cigarette sales down 0.6% in H1

　Sales of cigarettes in South Korea edged down 0.6 percent in the first half of 2019 from a year prior, data showed, amid an anti-smoking campaign and higher prices.　South Korean smokers purchased 1.67 billion 20-cigarette packs in the January-June period, compared to 1.68 billion packs in the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.　The figures represent a 17.8 percent drop from the first half of 2014. (Yonhap)

Aug. 6, 2019

Major corporate groups on high alert against Japan impact

South Korea’s major corporate groups are tightening their supervision of key businesses as they brace for repercussions from the possible expansion of Japan’s trade curbs, according to industry sources Tuesday.Samsung Electronics’ de facto leader Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the company’s semiconductor packaging plant located in Onyang, South Chungcheong Province, to check out the chipmaking operations. He held a meeting with the top executives of the chipmaking, TV

Aug. 6, 2019

Future Class Network hopes to cultivate entrepreneurship among youth

[THE INVESTOR] For many students in South Korea, acing tests at school and going to prestigious universities remain the primary goals. Students and parents still tend to believe academic qualifications ensure success in the form of jobs, income and future relationships.In an effort to send as many of their students as possible to top-tier colleges and universities, high schools also focus on preparing students for the national college entrance exam. But according to Jung Chan-pil, secretary-gene

Aug. 5, 2019

[Herald Interview] Whynot Media CEO talks about origin, appeal of web dramas

The rise of YouTube in Korea poses a dilemma for content houses.The platform lowers the entry barrier for producers, spurring competition and interest, but also allows hobbyists to vie with professional productions."We are living in an era where a 9-year-old kid can generate and distribute online content and make a business out of it,” Lee Min-seok, co-founder and CEO of web content production startup Whynot Media, said in an interview with The Investor.“The question is what con

Aug. 5, 2019

KAIST launches technical advisory group for SMEs amid Japan’s trade curbs

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, one of the nation’s leading research universities, launched an advisory board consisting of its technicians to support companies amid trade tension with Japan.KAIST Advisors on Materials & Parts officially kicked off Monday, following Japan’s decision to remove South Korea from its whitelist of preferred trade partners last week. The advisory group consists of more than 100 incumbent and honorary professors of the institute

Aug. 5, 2019

Tech firms expand mobile payment services offline

Seeking to introduce a series of advanced mobile payment services targeting the offline market this year, tech companies are up for heated competition over the smartphone-based payment market here.Dominant Korean internet portal Naver said last month that it would soon launch a mobile payment system available at local stores and restaurants. Combined with its incumbent Naver Pay mobile payment platform, offline service “Table Order” is expected to launch in the third quarter of this

Aug. 4, 2019

Korean firms brace for worse situation after Japan’s delisting

The top-tier tech companies in South Korea, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, have their hearts in the mouth after Japan voted Friday to remove the country from its whitelist of countries that enjoy preferential trade treatment.The semiconductor industry sees the current situation as an “unprecedented emergency” that could directly hit productivity, especially now during a market downturn. “The delisting decision is making matters even worse for the chipmaking industr

Aug. 2, 2019

SE Asia brims with opportunities for startups: WeWork Labs chief

Region is fast becoming Asian hub for startups based on advanced technologies[THE INVESTOR] BANGKOK -- Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam are well-known tourist destinations. What is not so evident is how fast they are transforming into startup hubs, implementing a range of support measures and adopting advanced technologies like smartphones and artificial intelligence.The likes of startup unicorns Grab and Gojek are prime examples of the exponential growth of the ecosystem i

Aug. 1, 2019

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 features first gesture-controlled S Pen

Samsung Electronics on Thursday unveiled its first table PC Galaxy Tab S6 that can be controlled by hand gestures.The sixth edition of Galaxy Tab features remote control functionality enabled by Samsung’s signature S Pen.S Pen has built-in Bluetooth Low Energy remote control technology that allows users to take selfies and videos and control multimedia without actually touching the device. A 10-minute-long wireless charge lasts 10 hours. Other features include converting handwritten notes

Aug. 1, 2019

LG CNS to introduce AI-based X ray analysis system for public health center

　South Korean information technology firm LG CNS said Thursday it will install an artificial intelligence-based X-ray analysis system at a local public health center to offer patients speedier medical assessments. 　Starting from late September, the AI-based X-ray assessment will be brought to a public medical facility in the Eunpyeong district of Seoul. The system is expected to help doctors and patients receive accurate X-ray images within 20 seconds, LG CNS added. 　According to the IT solution

Aug. 1, 2019