A group of South Korean wireless carriers and mobile content providers have announced plans to launch an industry association to promote a locally developed mobile phone internet platform.
The launch coincides with a plan by the country’s three wireless phone operators ?? SK Telecom, KTF and LG Telecom ?? to fully expand the use of homegrown wireless software-downloading technology, called Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (WIPI), starting in April. The Ministry of Information and Communication has decided to introduce the compulsory use of WIPI technology in order to standardise the wireless internet platform. All this is expected to adversely affect Qualcomm Inc.’s hold on the South Korean market.
