Mobile Internet Comes Into Life

By Cho Jin-seo

Internet capability is becoming a key feature of mobile phones as handsets with faster, easier and friendlier Internet access come on the market.

Makers such as Samsung Electronics, Motorola and Nokia are vigorously developing handsets that are capable of showing PC-based Internet contents on the tiny mobile phone screens. Telecom firms are also cooperating with Internet portals and news services in improving Mobile Internet services.

Samsung Electronics last week announced it will start to ship the so-called Google Phone and Yahoo Phone soon. The phones provide direct, quick and easy access to the two most frequently visited Web sites.

Using the High-Speed Download Packet-link Access (HSDPA) network, the Google Phone incorporates Google Mobile search, Google Maps and Gmail applications for Google. For the Yahoo Phone, Yahoo oneSearch, Yahoo Mail and Yahoo Messenger will be included for one-click services.

``Samsung recognizes consumers’ need for Internet access through their mobiles anytime, anywhere,’’ said Lee Ki-tae, President of Samsung’s mobile phone division. ``Through the relationship the companies will also help drive consumer adoption of mobile Internet services by making it easy for consumers to get more done while on the go.’’

Currently, users can view a handful of Internet sites in specially designed formats only. They also have to use pay-per-minute or pay-per-view Internet services like Nate and Magic N to access sites such as Naver, Daum and Cyworld.

Many people find it a cumbersome and ponderous process. It is also quite pricey, as users pay about 100 won per minute of Internet use on average.

Cell phone makers have tried to introduce a more affordable and a user-friendly way of accessing the Internet. Apple last week unveiled iPhone, a hybrid mobile phone and handheld PC.

Due this summer in the United States, the iPhone has a large screen and built-in wireless Internet connection, which make it an ideal device for mobile Internet use. While other phones use phone company’s networks to connect to the Internet, the iPhone uses WiFi Internet network, just as PCs and laptops do.

This means consumers do not have to use SK’s Nate or KTF’s Pimm. Instead, they will be able to use free PC-based networks in places such as Starbucks, McDonalds or anywhere else where there is a wireless network.

Though the date of the launching of the iPhone in South Korea has yet to be decided, the innovation is having a big impact on the market. SK Telecom and KTF announced last week that they are lowering mobile Internet charges by 30 percent. Also, the faster HSDPA network will cover the whole nation within the first half of this year.

indizio@koreatimes.co.kr