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Telecommunications industry

KTF Signs Deal with Sun Microsystems for Wireless Internet Technology, Challenging Qualcomm's Grip

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

South Korea's second-largest mobile phone operator, KTF Co., has partnered with Sun Microsystems Inc. to develop and build mobile phone applications using Java technology, a move that could significantly impact Qualcomm Inc.'s dominance in the wireless Internet platform market. The deal, announced at the ITU Telecom Asia convention in Busan, will enable KTF to transition from its current use of Qualcomm's BREW platform to a home-grown wireless Internet platform based on Sun Microsystems' Java technology, named WIPI. This shift is mandated by the South Korean government, which requires the use of a locally developed platform from April next year.

Key Takeaways:

  • KTF Co., South Korea's second-largest mobile phone operator, has signed a contract with Sun Microsystems Inc. for wireless Internet technology.
  • The deal will help KTF develop and build mobile phone applications using Sun Microsystems' Java technology, challenging Qualcomm Inc.'s grip on the market.
  • KTF, with 11 million mobile phone subscribers in South Korea, is the only customer for Qualcomm's BREW platform, which will be replaced with WIPI-based applications.
  • The decision could severely impact Qualcomm's position in South Korea's fast-growing wireless Internet platform market.
  • The deal is expected to help Sun Microsystems gain an upper hand in a wireless Internet standard competition with Qualcomm in South Korea.
  • The South Korean government requires the mandatory use of a locally developed wireless Internet platform, WIPI, from April next year.
  • KTF's partnership with Sun Microsystems is a significant step in the shift towards a home-grown wireless Internet platform, with over 36 million mobile phone subscribers in South Korea.
  • The move is part of a broader effort to promote the use of Java technology in mobile phone applications, with KTF now leveraging the existing mobile Java ecosystem.

Statistics:

  • 11 million – Number of mobile phone subscribers KTF has in South Korea.
  • 36 million – Total number of mobile phone subscribers in South Korea.
  • 48 million – South Korea's population.
  • 1 – Year the mandatory use of WIPI, a home-grown wireless Internet platform, will go into effect.

Sources:

  • Asia Pulse, "KTF Signs Deal with Sun Microsystems for Wireless Internet Technology" (Sept 7).
  • Yonhap, unnamed article (date unknown).

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