December 5, 2004
World's First MP3 Mobile Phone in October, 1999
Seong-ju Lee for Telecoms Korea has published a series of articles on mobile phones with built-in MPS players:
-- World's First MP3 Mobile Phone in October, 1999 - It was found out that a mobile phone with a built-in MP3 player, the biggest hit in the Korea's mobile phone market this year, first appeared in the Korean market four years ago. However, the phone disappeared from the market due to low popularity at that time.
These first-ever MP3 mobile phones, sold in Korea and the U.S., recorded sales of 30,000 units in Korea. However, no further models were developed.
Samsung Electronics emphasized that the company had applied sophisticated design technology and component integration to make the unit a super-slim 19 mm and super-ultra 94g.In addition, the MP3 mobile phones were powered by a standard battery. The MP3 player function was designed to be very energy-efficient, and up to 11 hours of music could be played on a single battery charge.
-- A Dozen of New MP3 Phones Heat Up the Year-End - December will be the final round for Korea's handset makers to compete to boost MP3 phone sales.
December will be the final round for Korea's handset makers to compete to boost MP3 phone sales.
Pantech&Curitel are planning to release 5 new models: 3 models are toward SK Telecom and 2 are for KTF and LG Telecom, respectively.
Samsung Electronics is to bring out 3 to 5 new releases as well as one with 1.5GB HDD.
LG Electronics is preparing 2 to 3 models for this month.
Motorola also joins the tournament by adding 1 model.
-- Exclusive: LG Telecom Boycotts Samsung to Support LG Electronics - LG Telecom has boycotted Samsung Electronics' handsets to help LG Electronics raise MP3 phone sales, according to Telecoms Korea Research Team Sunday.
Samsung Electronics launched 17 MP3 phones this year but not a single model was sold to LG Telecom. There is concern that LG Telecom's behavior is depriving consumers of the right to choose.
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