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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject: Wifi-less iPhone a possibility in Korea |
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http://www.mobiledia.com/news/70439.html
The iPhone is being launched in China with the Wifi disabled. If it can happen in China, I guess it could happen here in Korea too.
At first I didn't think they would do it, but now its looking like a distinct possibility. |
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Chokse
Joined: 22 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:00 am Post subject: Yes and No |
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| I know someone on the inside of the Apple/KT negotiations (I know everyone says they know someone, but I really do). Apparently things are pretty much set for a release of the iPhone in late September or early October. However, WiFi will be disabled UNLESS you subscribe to KT's Nespot service. Apparently it is not a hardware disabling of the WiFi chip like in China, but rather a software disabling (maybe through firmware rather than software). What is unclear right now is whether getting Nespot will also allow you to connect to other WiFi networks, or if it will limit you only to Nespot. The good news is that since it is either a firmware or software limitation, someone should come out with a crack pretty quickly. |
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ulsanchris
Joined: 19 Jun 2003
Location: take a wild guess
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| Sounds lame if they do that. I wouldn't be able to use it on my home network. |
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hugekebab
Joined: 05 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:30 am Post subject: |
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| no big deal, the nespot subscription is only 3000 won per month. it's a no brainer. |
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ulsanchris
Joined: 19 Jun 2003
Location: take a wild guess
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:39 am Post subject: |
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| nespot isn't everywhere. My home for instance. |
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ulmaeri
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: |
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I wonder. If they use a software lock on the Wifi, but keep to their word about removing the software lock on the Telecom network, what's to keep us from just using OS3.0 from the states?
I guess I'll wait and see if anyone with a non-Korean Iphone get's theirs on one of the Korean services. I think this is why China pushed for the hardware disabling. The software route is too easy to bypass. |
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dazzed
Joined: 26 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:52 am Post subject: |
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| I might get it if somebody figure out how to bypass the firmware/software lock. But price tag might turn me off even more. Current smart phones in Korea area around 600k-900k. That's ridiculous if you ask me. |
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DCJames
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Yes and No |
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| Chokse wrote: |
| Apparently things are pretty much set for a release of the iPhone in late September or early October. |
or January 2010 or March 2010 or July 2010.  |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| In other news, sterile American breeding cows will be allowed to mix with Hanwoo cattle. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject: Re: Yes and No |
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| Chokse wrote: |
| I know someone on the inside of the Apple/KT negotiations (I know everyone says they know someone, but I really do). Apparently things are pretty much set for a release of the iPhone in late September or early October. However, WiFi will be disabled UNLESS you subscribe to KT's Nespot service. Apparently it is not a hardware disabling of the WiFi chip like in China, but rather a software disabling (maybe through firmware rather than software). What is unclear right now is whether getting Nespot will also allow you to connect to other WiFi networks, or if it will limit you only to Nespot. The good news is that since it is either a firmware or software limitation, someone should come out with a crack pretty quickly. |
So I'm definitely not going to go KT for the iPhone. SK is suppose to release it too. Since SK doesn't have widespread Hotspots like KT, I wonder what they are going to do with the wifi functions.
The Samsung Omnia has Wifi doesn't it? Is that disabled in Korea? |
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red_devil
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:31 am Post subject: Re: Yes and No |
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| DCJames wrote: |
| Chokse wrote: |
| Apparently things are pretty much set for a release of the iPhone in late September or early October. |
or January 2010 or March 2010 or July 2010. |
Yeah, every time a news article comes out the "release date" get's pushed another 1-2 months. |
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chevro1et
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Location: Busan, ROK
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:30 am Post subject: Re: Yes and No |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
| The Samsung Omnia has Wifi doesn't it? Is that disabled in Korea? |
yep and yep. |
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Gnawbert
Joined: 23 Oct 2007
Location: The Internet
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:51 am Post subject: |
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I'm still a bit confused why they disable wifi in Korean phones. Is that because of the companies want to charge you for using their dataplans?
Anyways, I had an iphone 1g before I came to Korea and loved it, but still don't think I'd spring for a wifi-less iPhone here. I'm happy with my iPod Tuch and crappy LG phone. |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Gnawbert wrote: |
Anyways, I had an iphone 1g before I came to Korea and loved it, but still don't think I'd spring for a wifi-less iPhone here. I'm happy with my iPod Tuch and crappy LG phone. |
Exactly. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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| oskinny1 wrote: |
| Gnawbert wrote: |
Anyways, I had an iphone 1g before I came to Korea and loved it, but still don't think I'd spring for a wifi-less iPhone here. I'm happy with my iPod Tuch and crappy LG phone. |
Exactly. |
I think a lot of people are satisfied with having a cell phone and separate Ipod Touch.
The new Touch is suppose to have a camera and Compass also, so you can use 3GS Apps. I think Nearest Tube and the new Augmented Reality Apps are great. Too bad the content won't come anywhere close to the US. In Korea, you'll want to pick a retaurant and only a dozen would come up in a location like Gangnam where there are easily hundreds of places to eat. |
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