Korean Job Discussion Forums

[matthews_world]

So the iPhone has recently become contract-free.

How does one go about getting the Iphone set up with a provider in Korea?

Is it expensive to go through a Korean provider?

I've heard you have to 'unlock' the iPhone to get it to work here?

[orosee]

You'd need the new 3G iPhone, the original one won't work here. Well, maybe as an iPod Touch, which is fun enough.

Regular 3G phones seem to work well with the USIM cards here but I couldn't get the text messaging to work.

[matthews_world]

Do you use your phone with a regular Korean provider? Do you get a Korean phone number then?

[orosee]

I use an LG Viewty with a local USIM (010-number) which I could switch to a 3G Nokia N80 bought in Thailand. The problem as far as I am aware is that the text settings (also internet and MMS) of the Nokia are still for the Thai provider AIS. The N80 has auto-settings for many countries but NOT for Korea

Unfortunately I have not yet been able to extract the settings from the Viewty - normally it is something trivial such as "sms" or "mms.ais.com", I don't remember now.

If I could use the Nokia here with full options - SMS, MMS, internet - I would switch immediately since this "ancient" phone is vastly superior in ergonomic to the more recent LG one... no Seoul subway map though

[orosee]

Hmmm, I forgot to say that the iPhone v1 (non-3G) simply cannot work here for hardware reasons. It does connect to local WiFi networks, which means internet functionality is there and might be used.

I love the thing but still say that it is only a 2nd grade phone compared to Nokia N series or HTC Touch. Best touch screen and looks at the moment in my opinion. iPhone gains some usefulness after installing a few dozen applications, but before that... meh.

[keseki]

if you could get an unlocked 3g iphone working here, i would grab one in a heartbeat!

[red_devil]

Apple has no concrete plans right now to introduce the 3G iPhone to Korea. It will be coming to Japan and Hong Kong, July 11th though as listed on the Apple website. Since the iPhone 3G is a UMTS/HSDPA and GSM handset it should work just fine on Korea's 3G network.

Currently the rumor is that KTF is negotiating with Apple on bringing the iPhone to Korea but have been having a few issues. One is that the iPhone has a built in WIFI platform that allows for free internet browsing, but the government enforces mobile carriers to use a Korean-developed platform called WIPI. Either way even if an agreement is reached it'll probably be another year before it hits Korean markets.

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-eastasia.asp?parentid=93753

[Bigfeet]

You think Apple is going to dedicate development time just to serve the Korean market?

[ulsanchris]

Korea is thinking about getting rid of WIPI. Read about in the Korean Herald and Chosun Ilbo. We might get our iphones, nokias, and blackberries yet.

[Temporary]

Yeah.. Its cause Korea is getting pressured by everyother damn country on earth since Samsung and LG are flooding markets with their garbage and no one else can export stuff to Korea.

I would give my right testicle for a blackberry.

[keseki]

ulsanchris: got a link?

[ulsanchris]

I am lazy when it comes to posting links. You can, if you wish, search google for the websites that I mentioned.


I don't think i would ever buy a blackberry. I tend to go for the smallest phone that I can find and blackberries seem to be a bit bulky. Also I just want a phone for making phone calls.

[n0mad65]

[orosee]

[Alexander]

Bugger. I waited (PATIENTLY) for the iPhone to hit AUS...which it finally has, and I'm not there to get one!

Now that I'm in Korea, nothing's changed.

There must be SOME movement on this!

I'd grab one today if it was launched here!

How the hell does Korea get away with this shiznit? Surely there must be consequences on the world trade front (doesn't look that way though).

Japan's looking pretty good....


NB: YES, I do want one THAT MUCH...