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Sony Ericsson Enters the South Korean Market
Sony Ericsson is to enter the South Korean market for the first time - as it prepares to offer its Windows Mobile based Xperia X1 smartphone on SK Telecom's mobile network. Although the government has dropped the requirement that all handsets sold in the country use the proprietary WIPI platform - Sony Ericsson has chosen to retain that for its first product launch.
WIPI (Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability) is a middleware platform used in South Korea that allows mobile phones, regardless of manufacturer or carrier, to run applications. Much of WIPI is based on Java, but it also includes the ability to download and run compiled binary applications as well.
Sony Ericsson Korea has worked with SK Telecom to customize the X1 in consideration of the local Korean customers. The result was the development of three new panels - "My smart panel," "DAUM panel" and "My PC panel" and the localization of the "SPB panel" in Korean for the local user's convenience.
The sales of the Xperia X1 will start before the end of the month.
"My smart panel" is a wireless Internet service for smart phones developed by SKT, which provides users easy access to online services including mail, messenger and internet browsing. "DAUM panel" is a customized service by Sony Ericsson which gives users instant access to services found on the DAUM portal, such as mail, web search and T-story whilst "My PC panel" allows users to experience ubiquitous and individualized media services by connecting the mobile to the content and software of a PC through WiBro. In addition, the "SPB panel" is a panel which gives quick finger-friendly access to menu services.
"We are very excited to establish Sony Ericsson's presence in Korea and firmly believe that we have the right product to offer to Korean consumers," said Hirokazu Ishizuka, Corporate Vice President and Head of the Asia Pacific region. "Working closely with our strategic partner, SK Telecom, we will build the Sony Ericsson brand awareness and increase our mindshare within the marketplace."
Posted to the site on 15th March 2009