KT to Release iPhone in Korea
KT, South Korea’s largest broadband Internet operator, said Sunday it will start selling Apple’s iPhone handsets here this week, a move expected to challenge the nation’s smart-phone market dominated by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics
KT, which is also the nation’s No. 2 mobile phone operator, will officially introduce iPhone on Saturday, the company said in a statement.
The official debut of iPhone in South Korea will come 10 days after the nation’s telecom regulator, the Korea Communications Commission, approved the sale of the device.
“I’m very happy that we are set to unveil iPhone for local customers,” said Kim Woo-shik, head of KT’s division for individual customers.
The price of the 32-gigabyte iPhone 3GS is set at 396,000 won (US$341.30) for customers who subscribe with a monthly service fee of 45,000 won, while the price is 264,000 won for customers who subscribe with a monthly fee of 65,000 won, according to the statement.
Officials at Apple’s Korean unit weren’t immediately available for comment.
In tech-savvy South Korea, about 46 million people out of the population of 48 million are mobile-phone subscribers, according to the telecom regulator’s Web site.
YonhapNewsAgency
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I’ve got mine pre-ordered! Can’t wait for Nov30/Dec1!
I tried to order it through my korean friend and couldnt. When she entered my bank account number it recognized that i am a foreigner.
real angry about it
Yeah… I had to use my wife’s ID number and info
Foreigners can not get the Iphone. KT has said the Iphone is only available witha 2 year contract, and foreigners are not eligible for a 2 year contract. Even foreigners on an F Visa can not get an Iphone. Steve Jobs coudln’t get an Iphone in Korea.
Hi, Paul,
I checked the problem.
KT spokesman said, foreigners should buy the iPhone at offline store, not online.
Thanks.
I have a quick question. I use the iphone in the u.s but will be moving to korea soon. can i activate it with KT with no problems?
thanks
Does anyone know if the iPhone will be available in English? I assume Ian can answer that…
I tried to get the Sony Xperia X1 because I like the full keyboard, but Sony Korea, Sony US, or the vendor wanted to help me. I thought about trying to flash it and load Google Android (Linux) but I think that’s a post for another forum.
Oscar, I don’t think you can use your iPhone from the states here. One of my friends had one and they wouldn’t do, but that was before the release of the Korean iPhone.
Thanks,
Rich