Telecom carriers clash over LTE-A ‘world first’ claim

Tensions are growing among local network operators as they clash over the coveted title ― the world’s first provider of the newest tri-band LTE-A service. SK Telecom, the nation’s largest telecom carrier, announced on Dec. 28 that it was starting a pilot program allowing 100 customers to use the tri-band LTE-A service for the first time globally. “The tri-band LTE-A will pave the way for the next fifth-generation wireless service in Korea,” said Lee Jong-bong, network chief of SKT. Its archrival

Jan. 12, 2015

[Graphic News] Singapore’s broadband speed fastest in world: report

Broadband speed in Singapore is now the world’s fastest, according to a Federal Communications Commission report. In the third quarter of last year, Singapore recorded an average connection speed of 105.3 Mbps. Other Asian countries that topped the global list for fastest Internet speeds are Hong Kong (95.7 Mbps), Japan (69.7 Mbps) and South Korea (34 Mbps).Globally, the average connection speed was 4.5 Mbps, remaining above the 4 Mbps “broadband” threshold but declining by 2.8 percent from the

Jan. 11, 2015

[Weekender] Convergence begets technological innovation

LAS VEGAS ― Brimming with cross-industry innovations, this year’s International CES, the world’s largest electronics trade show, was a hotbed of collaboration and technological convergence. From tennis rackets, watches, jewelry and clothing to household appliances, the event showed how conventional products were getting high-tech upgrades for the coming era of the Internet of Things.One noticeable feature of this year’s CES, which closed Friday, was the slew of technological collaborations for a

Jan. 9, 2015

Samsung profits beat estimates on chip demand

Samsung Electronics on Thursday posted an operating profit of 5.2 trillion won ($4.7 billion) for the fourth quarter, up 28 percent from the previous quarter when the company suffered an almost 60 percent on-year fall in profits. The earnings figure also beat analysts’ 4.7 trillion won average estimate as complied by local market researcher FN Guide.Industry watchers cited strong demand for its chips and a weaker Korean won as the key factors behind the Korean tech giant’s higher-than-expected p

Jan. 8, 2015

Men in 60s, women in 40s most vulnerable to alcohol-induced mental disorders

A state-run health research institute said it has found that Korean men in their 60s and women in their 40s were most vulnerable to alcohol-induced mental conditions including dementia and alcoholic hallucinosis among all Koreans.The number of Koreans who sought medical help for the condition has increased from 2008 to 2012, from 63,821 to 75,925. The total cost spent to treat the condition increased from 136.3 billion won ($124.5 million) in 2008 to 217.5 billion won in 2012.According to Dr. Le

Jan. 8, 2015

Heart attack (acute myocardial infarction)

Heart attack has been the No. 1 killer in the world for the last decade and deaths from the disease are still on the rise. As the human heart works continuously during one’s lifetime, a healthy coronary artery, which supplies it with blood, is vital for a healthy heart. As people age, the arterial wall gradually thickens and hardens, which is called atherosclerosis. Enlarged atherosclerotic plaque can become unstable and rupture suddenly. A blood clot is formed in ruptured plaque within minutes

Jan. 8, 2015

LG to provide ‘total home solutions’

LAS VEGAS ― LG Electronics CEO Cho Seong-jin apologized for having caused public concerns over his alleged involvement in damaging a washer made by its rival at a global consumer electronics show last year.Speaking at a news conference at the 2015 International CES here, Cho said, “I would like to make a sincere apology first for the latest incidents.” Cho, who is in charge of the company’s home appliance and air solution unit, has been accused of having masterminded a plot to damage Samsung Ele

Jan. 8, 2015

Samsung, LG compete with premium TVs

LAS VEGAS ― Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are competing with premium TVs at the 2015 International CES, which opened in Las Vegas on Tuesday (local time). But the two tech giants are jockeying for position in the high-end TV market with different display technologies. Samsung, the world’s largest TV-maker by sales, said it would push for the growth of the SUHD TV, based on liquid crystal display technology, while its local rival LG has been trying to gain traction with organic light-emi

Jan. 7, 2015

Samsung’s smart-home master plan: Leave the door open for others

The most important product at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show may not actually be a product at all. It’s a policy. Samsung Electronics has pledged that 90 percent of all devices it creates, including televisions and mobile devices, will be Internet-enabled by 2017 ― just two short years away. The remaining 10 percent will come on board by 2020. Considering that in 2014 Samsung delivered more than 665 million products to consumers around the world, it’s hard to understate how important this is

Jan. 7, 2015

Sony’s Walkman makes comeback

A Sony Walkman NW-ZX2 digital media player. (Bloomberg)Sony Corp. is bringing back the Walkman, with a new model of the music player pioneer that comes with high-resolution playback and Bluetooth-connected headphones.The new Walkman, targeting audiophiles and set to cost about $1,200, is a high-end version of a model Sony released in 2013 after retiring the classic cassette player in 2010. The first-generation, clunky-looking Walkman went on sale in July 1979, redefining the way people listened

Jan. 7, 2015

Korean tech start-ups seek global footing at International CES

Baek Won-in (third from left), the chief executive of ImageNEXT, inspects his company’s booth at 2015 International CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday. (Kim Young-won/The Korea Herald)LAS VEGAS ― A handful of small but tech-savvy Korean companies are ramping up efforts to gain a footing in the global technology industry during the 2015 International CES here.Among those start-ups debuting at the world’s largest consumer electronics show is ImageNEXT, the developer of the OmniPAD, consisting of 360 degr

Jan. 7, 2015

ICT evolving for consumers in 2015

The following is the fifth in a series of articles on the prospects for the world economy in 2015. ― Ed.Over the last few years, the impact of information and communication technologies on society has been enormous. ICT has deeply affected and reshaped most parts of our society, while radically influencing the global economy. No one can predict with certainty what role it will play in the future, but we do know that it will be significant. One aspect of the growth of ICT in 2014 has undoubtedly

Jan. 6, 2015

[Graphic News] Changes after handset subsidy law took effect

Nearly one hundred days have passed since the controversial handset subsidy law took effect.The law, which prohibits telecom firms and handset makers from providing subsidies higher than 300,000 won to attract customers, has affected the pattern of subscription of mobile phones.Due to the subsidy limit that started on Oct. 1, the number of new subscribers sharply decreased in the first month. But then it started to recover, which government officials said indicates that the mobile phone market d

Jan. 6, 2015