Korea Leading Video Mobile Phone Race

A new mobile service will allow users to use their mobile phones while watching the receiver concurrently. South Korea is the first country to thus commercialize video mobile phone technology.

SK Telecom announced on May 16 that it has commenced its high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) mobile phone service in 25 cities including the metropolitan areas of Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Daejeon, and Jeju. The service area will be expanded to 84 cities by the end of the year.

The phones servicing HSDPA include Samsung Electronics’ “W200.” Next month LG Electronics will introduce the “SH-100,” with four or five other models to be introduced within this year.

While conventional cell phones only permit transactions through voice, the HSDPA service has the advantage of allowing users to see the other person as well. SK Telecom explained that the high definition screen allows the users to observe the other person’s face clearly.

Phone rates will be 120 won per 10 seconds. Compared to voice phone which is approximately 20 won, the rates are six times more expensive. HSDPA handsets can be also used for voicemail.

Though the price of the handset is in the 700,000 won range, the company will provide 300,000 won in subsidies, lowering the price to 400,000 won.

However, to subscribe to the service, users must change their numbers to 010. Subscribers who have phone numbers that start with 010 can maintain their numbers, but 011, 016, and 017 users must change their numbers to 010.

KTF plans to start its HSDPA service in 50 cities starting from June.

As a 3.5 generation mobile communications service that allows video phones and the high-speed transmission of data, the “high speed internet mobile phone” can also be used simply for verbal transactions.