Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s largest maker of computer memory chips and the second-biggest semiconductor company, reduced its gap with industry leader Intel Corp. in 2010, according to an industry report Sunday, fueled by its memory business.Samsung accounted for 9.2 percent of the global chip revenue in 2010, up from a 7.6 percent share in 2009, according to the latest report from IHS iSu

Industry May 15, 2011

Hynix Semiconductor, the world’s No.2 memory-chip maker, won a patent infringement appeal against Rambus Inc., a U.S.-based technology licensing firm, the South Korean company said Saturday. If the ruling stands, Hynix will not have to pay the hefty compensation it was slapped with in 2009.“We welcome this ruling as it has helped us establish the basis for pursuing future negotiations with Rambus,

Industry May 15, 2011

Shinsegae Co., South Korea’s second-largest retailer by sales, said Friday that it has finalized a deal to acquire Kim’s Club Mart Co., the supermarket chain operator of leading local fashion retailer E-Land Group.Kim’s Club Mart will be purchased by Shinsegae’s discount unit E-Mart Co., Shinsegae said. The purchase price is reported to be less than 200 billion won (US$184.5 million). 　On May 2, S

Industry May 15, 2011

South Korea logged a trade surplus in April for the 15th straight month, fueled by exports of petroleum products, ships and vehicles, the nation’s customs office said Sunday.The trade surplus reached $5.14 billion last month, according to data released by the Korea Customs Service. The figure marks the 15th consecutive month of surplus since February 2010.Exports stood at $49.15 billion in April,

Industry May 15, 2011

Samsung Electronics, despite its current legal squabble with Apple Inc., will out roll out so-called “Retina Displays” to secure demand from the California-based company and win a bigger share in the rapidly-growing tablet PC market. Samsung is expected to start mass-producing the displays by the end of this year, industry sources said. The new displays, based on the PenTile RGBW technology, will

Industry May 15, 2011

Samsung Group on Wednesday denied news reports that its owner Lee Kun-hee instructed his company to reconsider the plans for developing solar batteries, saying Samsung has already earmarked the business as one of its future engines of growth.“We will continue to push forward in the (solar battery) business,” said Rhee In-yong, vice executive president of Samsung’s communications team, in a press b

Industry May 11, 2011

The wireless Internet connection through WiFi networks in public places is set to improve following joint efforts from the nation’s three telecommunication companies to set up more networks. Industry sources on Monday said the trio ― SK Telecom, KT Corp. and LG Uplus ― has already reached a consensus on the need to jointly establish networks at city halls, airports, train stations and government a

Industry May 9, 2011

The buzz about the May 19 meeting of the Federation of Korean Industries’ executives has begun to fizzle as industry sources said chiefs of the nation’s top conglomerates are unlikely to attend. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo have all tentatively notified the FKI that they will not be

Industry May 9, 2011

Prices of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels bounced back for the first time in 20 months earlier this month, industry data showed Sunday, signaling that the flat-screen panel industry is set to buck a downturn.   The price of 40- to 42-inch LCD panels for TVs stood at US$235 in early May, up $3 from late last month, according to market research firm DisplaySearch. Since peaking at $360 in Septem

Industry May 8, 2011