Korea Times | March 3, 2011 | Kim Yoo-chul
KT and Samsung Electronics are finding themselves closer, ending more than a year of animosity over KT’s decision to introduce Apple’s 3G-based iPhone, here.
Sources say the gradual recovery in corporate partnership with the consumer electronics giant is providing more chances to the telecom company to better compete with its biggest local rival SK Telecom in smartphones and to advance towards network-related businesses amid the growth of data transmissions.
A KT official said that it is purely business. Samsung officials confirmed its relationship with KT was being resumed.
“The restoration of our partnership seems inevitable for both sides because Samsung wants to secure its home-turf by selling more mobile devices. Samsung thinks its Galaxy-branded gadgets have reached a level to better compete with Apple,” said a high-ranking KT executive, asking not to be identified.
“Business is just business. The changed stance by Samsung towards us is more than welcome. More significantly, KT has secured room to soothe investors’ concerns over the procurement of handsets,” added another KT executive on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
A KT spokesman Lee In-won said the nation’s second-biggest mobile carrier led by chief executive Lee Suk-chae doesn’t see any “significant problems” with a healthier corporate partnership with Samsung.
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