갤럭시S5가 출시된 27일 서울 SK텔레콤 T월드 카페종각점에서 갤럭시S5 1호 가입자(맨 오른쪽)가 가입 신청을 하고 있다.(연합)
국내 1위 이동통신업체 SK텔레콤과 삼성의 힘 겨루기가 결국 SK텔레콤의 승부로 끝났다.
24일 코리아헤럴드의 단독 보도대로 SK텔레콤은 갤럭시 S5를 오늘 (27일) 조기출시한다고 공식 발표했다.
전날 삼성전자 무선사업(IT)부분 신종균 대표이사가 “조기출시 안한다”는 발언을 하며 불편한 심기를 드러냈음에도 SK텔레콤이 삼성을 밀어붙여 갤럭시 S5 출시를 강행한 것으로 보인다.
4월 5일 영업정지를 눈 앞에 둔 SK로서는 현재의 50%대 시장 점유율을 사수하고 말그대로 ”체면유지"를 하기 위해서는 수단과 방법을 가리지 않고 신제품을 받아올 수 밖에 없었다는 입장이다.
한 SK텔레콤 대리점업주는 “살아남으려면 어쩔수 없다" 라며 통신사 입장을 대변하기도 했다.
한편, SK의 갤럭시 출시 발표 이후 KT와 LG유플러스도 이날 각각 보도자료를 배포하고 갤럭시 S5출시를 알렸다.
(코리아헤럴드 김영원 기자)
Galaxy S5 hits Korean shelves
Korea’s three major mobile carriers--SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus--began selling Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S5 on Thursday, which was days ahead of the original global release date of April 11.
The move was seen to signal SK Telecom’s victory over Samsung, as the mobile carrier has successfully persuaded the world‘s largest maker of handsets to launch the latest smartphones in Korea first.
This is rare for Samsung, which chooses to simultaneously launch new products in major global markets.
”SK Telecom, by using its position as the market’s No.1 carrier, has pushed the envelope as far as it can to get Samsung to bend over,“ said one industry watcher.
Samsung Electronics mobile unit CEO Shin Jong-kyun on Wednesday had denied the news about the Thursday release and was visually uncomfortable about the reports.
Among the three carriers, only SK Telecom is capable of signing up new subscribers as the rest two are currently under business suspensions, meaning they are banned from recruiting new customers.
SK Telecom‘s business suspension will start on April 5.
The suspensions were handed down by the government to respond to the telecom companies’ illegal subsidies.
KT and LG Uplus, the nation‘s second and third largest mobile network operators, can only sign up customers who have been using their current mobile network services for at least two years, or those whose phones are out of order.
SK said the new smartphone priced at 866,800-won ($808) will initially come in two colors--charcoal black and shimmer white. Black and blue models will follow.
“SK Telecom is constantly working to provide the best handsets and services for customers. We will continue to improve our products and services,” said Yoon Won-young, head of SK Telecom’s marketing division.
SK Telecom will conduct promotion events through which new customers can receive a price discount of up to 200,000 won, and provide those first 50,000 customers with free 5GB data.
The new Galaxy handset model on the SK’s network comes with pre-installed apps including T Phone, a smart dial platform that filters spam calls and shows frequent contacts,
KT and LG Uplus will also offer benefits such as free insurance coverage and discounts for the Samsung Gear Fit in attempts to attract customers.
By Kim Young-won (
wone0102@heralcorp.com)