Latest news with #SKTelecom
GSM Arena
13 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy Z series sets pre-order record in Korea, Fold tops Flip for the first time
The new Galaxy Z series from Samsung is a hit. Just as analysts predicted, it set a new record for pre-orders of foldable devices in South Korea. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 (and presumably the Z Flip7 FE) saw 1.04 million pre-orders in the week spanning July 15 to 21. That topped the previous record set by the Z 5 generation of 1.02 million pre-orders. More importantly, it beats last year's Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 pre-orders by a solid 14% (those managed 910,000 pre-orders). The Galaxy Z Fold7 saw more pre-orders than the Z Flip7 The report by ETNews contains some interesting statistics. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is now the most popular model, accounting for 60% of pre-orders registered with the three major carriers: SK Telecom, KT and LG U+. The FE model is not mentioned explicitly in the report, so we don't know how the remaining 40% are divided between the two flips. For context, last year the split was 60/40 in favor of the Z Flip6. And in 2023 the gap was even wider with a 70/30 split in favor of the Z Flip5. This is the first time that the Fold has beaten the Flip. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 The demographic breakdown is quite interesting too. According to data from SK Telecom, 83% of Z Fold7 buyers were male, while the Z Flip7 skewed female with 59%. The typical buyer of a foldable phone is older now with more than 60% of pre-orders coming from people aged 30-50 years old. For comparison, more than half of Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 pre-orders last year came from people in their 20s and 30s. Blue Shadow, the most popular color for the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 Finally, the most popular color for both the Fold and the Flip proved to be the new Blue Shadow. The second most popular picks were Jet Black for the Z Fold7 and Coral Red for the Z Flip7. While this report is primarily focused on South Korea, it does include a tidbit about the Indian market – the Galaxy Z 7 series saw 210,000 pre-orders in India in just the first two days. This is comparable to the pre-orders for the Galaxy S25 phones earlier this year and a record for foldables in the country. Source Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE 5G
Asia News Network
2 days ago
- Business
- Asia News Network
South Korea ends phone subsidy law: Are cheaper smartphones coming?
SEOUL – South Korea is to officially repeal its decade-old handset subsidy law on Tuesday, opening the door to bigger discounts and potentially cheaper smartphones — just in time for the launch of Samsung Electronics' new Galaxy Z Flip7 and Fold7 later this month and Apple's iPhone 17 in the fall. Industry insiders say a 'subsidy war' is likely to break out, as mobile carriers rush to regain market share with aggressive pricing and subsidies. SK Telecom, in particular, is expected to take bold action after losing over 800,000 subscribers in a major April data breach. The repeal marks a major shift in the mobile phone market. Carriers and retailers will no longer be restricted by government-set subsidy limits, allowing for more flexible and competitive pricing. Phones could even be sold at 'zero-cost,' depending on the plan and promotions. To help consumers understand what the repeal means and how to make smart choices in the new free-market landscape, The Korea Herald answers key questions below. Q: What is the subsidy law and why is it repealed? The Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act was passed in 2014 to make phone pricing more transparent and fair. It capped store discounts at 15 percent on top of official carrier subsidies and required carriers to publish fixed subsidy amounts. But over time, critics said it had the opposite effect — inflating smartphone prices, limiting consumer benefits and making the market harder to navigate. After years of complaints from consumers and industry players alike, the government decided to repeal the law to encourage more competition, bigger discounts and greater pricing flexibility. Q: What's changing now that the law is gone? Carriers no longer need to publicly post fixed subsidy amounts and retailers are no longer restricted to 15 percent discounts. That means devices could be sold with much higher discounts — even for free, depending on the plan. However, retailers must now clearly explain all subsidy conditions in their contracts. Q: Can I still see how much of a subsidy I'm getting? Yes, but only voluntarily. The major carriers — SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus — have agreed with regulators to continue posting subsidy information online by rate plan, although it is no longer legally mandated. Q: Where do I find extra discounts from stores? Discounts will vary by store. Authorized dealers and independent shops may offer different incentives, so it pays to compare offers before signing a contract. Q: Can I combine the 25% discount with store deals? Yes. You can still choose the 25 percent discount for going contract-free and also get additional discounts from retailers, thanks to looser rules. Q: Do discounts depend on how I sign up? Yes. Retailers can now offer different discounts depending on whether you are switching carriers, starting a new plan or upgrading. That kind of 'discriminatory pricing' was previously restricted, but is now allowed. Q: Is there a limit on how much discount I can get? No. There's no longer a cap on discounts. The carrier, phone-maker and store can set subsidy amounts freely. In theory, this means that even the latest phones could be priced at zero, but only under specific plans or conditions. Q: What counts as unfair pricing now? While pricing can vary by plan and contract type, stores must offer equal subsidies to everyone under the same conditions — the same phone, plan and type of contract. The telecom regulator will monitor for violations. Q: Will phone-makers reveal more about incentives? Yes. Companies like Samsung and Apple must now report monthly data on incentives they give to carriers and retailers. This info will be submitted to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission. Q: What should I check before signing a contract? Always review: Who is providing the subsidy (carrier or retailer) How it's being applied Any extra fees or plan requirements Retailers must disclose everything clearly and if they don't, they could face penalties. Q: Are my consumer rights still protected? Yes. Protections remain in place, including bans on: Discrimination based on age, region or disability Being pushed into expensive plans Misleading or false advertising Q: What about vulnerable groups like the elderly? The government says it will pay special attention to 'information-vulnerable' groups like seniors and teenagers, ensuring they are not excluded or misled in the new competitive environment. Q: How is the government keeping watch? A joint task force of regulators and telecom firms will meet at least twice a week to monitor the market and respond quickly to any signs of chaos or abuse. Q: Can I buy new phones cheaper now? Possibly soon. Industry insiders say a 'subsidy war' is inevitable, at least in the short term, as mobile carriers ramp up aggressive marketing and offer larger discounts to win over customers. SK Telecom, which lost over 800,000 subscribers after a major hacking incident in April and dropped below 40 percent market share, is widely expected to launch a bold pricing strategy to regain ground. The timing also adds fuel to the fire: Samsung's latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Fold7, hit the market on July 25, while Apple's iPhone 17 is expected later in the third quarter. These high-profile launches are seen as key moments that could set the tone for how the postsubsidy market unfolds — and whether Korean consumers will finally get their hands on premium smartphones at lower prices.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korea ends phone subsidy law: Are cheaper smartphones coming?
Samsung's new foldables, Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 to test new free-market phone pricing South Korea is to officially repeal its decade-old handset subsidy law on Tuesday, opening the door to bigger discounts and potentially cheaper smartphones — just in time for the launch of Samsung Electronics' new Galaxy Z Flip7 and Fold7 later this month and Apple's iPhone 17 in the fall. Industry insiders say a 'subsidy war' is likely to break out, as mobile carriers rush to regain market share with aggressive pricing and subsidies. SK Telecom, in particular, is expected to take bold action after losing over 800,000 subscribers in a major April data breach. The repeal marks a major shift in the mobile phone market. Carriers and retailers will no longer be restricted by government-set subsidy limits, allowing for more flexible and competitive pricing. Phones could even be sold at 'zero-cost,' depending on the plan and promotions. To help consumers understand what the repeal means and how to make smart choices in the new free-market landscape, The Korea Herald answers key questions below. Q: What is the subsidy law and why is it repealed? The Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act was passed in 2014 to make phone pricing more transparent and fair. It capped store discounts at 15 percent on top of official carrier subsidies and required carriers to publish fixed subsidy amounts. But over time, critics said it had the opposite effect — inflating smartphone prices, limiting consumer benefits and making the market harder to navigate. After years of complaints from consumers and industry players alike, the government decided to repeal the law to encourage more competition, bigger discounts and greater pricing flexibility. Q: What's changing now that the law is gone? Carriers no longer need to publicly post fixed subsidy amounts and retailers are no longer restricted to 15 percent discounts. That means devices could be sold with much higher discounts — even for free, depending on the plan. However, retailers must now clearly explain all subsidy conditions in their contracts. Q: Can I still see how much of a subsidy I'm getting? Yes, but only voluntarily. The major carriers — SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus — have agreed with regulators to continue posting subsidy information online by rate plan, although it is no longer legally mandated. Q: Where do I find extra discounts from stores? Discounts will vary by store. Authorized dealers and independent shops may offer different incentives, so it pays to compare offers before signing a contract. Q: Can I combine the 25% discount with store deals? Yes. You can still choose the 25 percent discount for going contract-free and also get additional discounts from retailers, thanks to looser rules. Q: Do discounts depend on how I sign up? Yes. Retailers can now offer different discounts depending on whether you are switching carriers, starting a new plan or upgrading. That kind of 'discriminatory pricing' was previously restricted, but is now allowed. Q: Is there a limit on how much discount I can get? No. There's no longer a cap on discounts. The carrier, phone-maker and store can set subsidy amounts freely. In theory, this means that even the latest phones could be priced at zero, but only under specific plans or conditions. Q: What counts as unfair pricing now? While pricing can vary by plan and contract type, stores must offer equal subsidies to everyone under the same conditions — the same phone, plan and type of contract. The telecom regulator will monitor for violations. Q: Will phone-makers reveal more about incentives? Yes. Companies like Samsung and Apple must now report monthly data on incentives they give to carriers and retailers. This info will be submitted to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission. Q: What should I check before signing a contract? Always review: Who is providing the subsidy (carrier or retailer) How it's being applied Any extra fees or plan requirements Retailers must disclose everything clearly and if they don't, they could face penalties. Q: Are my consumer rights still protected? Yes. Protections remain in place, including bans on: Discrimination based on age, region or disability Being pushed into expensive plans Misleading or false advertising Q: What about vulnerable groups like the elderly? The government says it will pay special attention to 'information-vulnerable' groups like seniors and teenagers, ensuring they are not excluded or misled in the new competitive environment. Q: How is the government keeping watch? A joint task force of regulators and telecom firms will meet at least twice a week to monitor the market and respond quickly to any signs of chaos or abuse. Q: Can I buy new phones cheaper now? Possibly soon. Industry insiders say a 'subsidy war' is inevitable, at least in the short term, as mobile carriers ramp up aggressive marketing and offer larger discounts to win over customers. SK Telecom, which lost over 800,000 subscribers after a major hacking incident in April and dropped below 40 percent market share, is widely expected to launch a bold pricing strategy to regain ground. The timing also adds fuel to the fire: Samsung's latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Fold7, hit the market on July 25, while Apple's iPhone 17 is expected later in the third quarter. These high-profile launches are seen as key moments that could set the tone for how the postsubsidy market unfolds — and whether Korean consumers will finally get their hands on premium smartphones at lower prices.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Perplexity sees India as a shortcut in its race against OpenAI
While OpenAI has cemented its lead in the U.S., Perplexity is taking a different route — quietly expanding into India to compete in the next phase of AI adoption. The search-focused AI startup is rapidly adding millions of users in the world's second-largest internet and smartphone market, positioning itself for mass-market scale. This week, Perplexity partnered with Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator after Reliance Jio, to offer a free 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription — normally worth $200 — to all 360 million Airtel subscribers. Airtel confirmed to TechCrunch that the deal is exclusive, meaning no other telco in the country can offer Perplexity's services, including free access, to their subscribers. The Airtel partnership is one of Perplexity's most significant moves yet in a global expansion strategy that includes partnerships with more than 25 telcos globally, including those recently announced with SoftBank in Japan and SK Telecom in South Korea. It comes down to volume. India, the world's most populous country, brings a mass market that the San Francisco-based startup will not find in other geographies. Perplexity is already gaining major traction in the country. In Q2, Perplexity's downloads in India surged 600% year-over-year to 2.8 million, according to Sensor Tower data shared exclusively with TechCrunch. In comparison, OpenAI's ChatGPT saw a 587% increase, reaching 46.7 million downloads in the same period. The growth trend extended to active users as well: Perplexity's monthly active users (MAUs) in India increased by 640% year-over-year in Q2, while ChatGPT's MAUs grew by 350%. India was also the largest market by MAUs for Perplexity in the last quarter, per Sensor Tower. However, ChatGPT maintained a significant lead in absolute numbers, with 19.8 million MAUs versus 3.7 million for Perplexity. Building on earlier partnerships, Perplexity has been working to leverage India's user base to leapfrog Western markets, where OpenAI dominates paid subscribers. Earlier this year, Perplexity partnered with the Indian fintech giant Paytm to offer access to its AI-powered search through the Paytm app, which has over 500 million downloads and is among the top-three apps on the Indian government's Unified Payment Interface network, processing over 1.2 billion transactions worth over ₹1,34,000 crores (approximately $15.6 billion). Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has also taken direct steps to expand in India. In January, he announced plans to hire an Indian executive in the country, which he later put on hold after receiving an 'overwhelming' response. He further announced a $1 million investment and a commitment of five hours a week of his time to a group building AI in India. The startup has also internally discussed offering its AI search engine to Indian students to grow its reach, sources told TechCrunch. One reason Perplexity views India as a key growth market is the relatively limited number of local AI startups, particularly in the AI search space. At the same time, the country has a large and active base of tech-savvy users — a fact that has even prompted Perplexity's archrival, Google, to launch AI-powered search features like AI Mode and AI Overviews in India ahead of many other markets. Monetizing that large user base remains a challenge. Perplexity still lags far behind ChatGPT globally in terms of revenue, even as both offer the same $20-per-month starting price. In Q2, ChatGPT's in-app purchase revenue worldwide surged 731% year-over-year to $773 million, while Perplexity saw a 300% increase, reaching $8 million, per Sensor Tower. The revenue challenge is particularly acute in India, where consumers are notoriously price-sensitive. Still, there are promising signs. ChatGPT saw an 800% year-over-year increase in in-app purchases to $9 million in the country in Q2. Perplexity has not generated any notable in-app revenue from India, but the startup has room to expand its paid subscriber base through India. Deals like the one with Airtel could help Perplexity effectively increase its subscriber base, at least in the short term. Strategic partnerships in markets like India could help Perplexity catch the eye of investors who value user growth and geographic diversification. But to turn that attention into long-term backing, the startup will need to show that it can convert its expanding user base into revenue. Srinivas did not respond to requests for comment.
TechCrunch
5 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Perplexity sees India as a shortcut in its race against OpenAI
While OpenAI has cemented its lead in the U.S., Perplexity is taking a different route — quietly expanding into India to compete in the next phase of AI adoption. The search-focused AI startup is rapidly adding millions of users in the world's second-largest internet and smartphone market, positioning itself for mass-market scale. This week, Perplexity partnered with Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator after Reliance Jio, to offer a free 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription — normally worth $200 — to all 360 million Airtel subscribers. Airtel confirmed to TechCrunch that the deal is exclusive, meaning no other telco in the country can offer Perplexity's services, including free access, to their subscribers. The Airtel partnership is one of Perplexity's most significant moves yet in a global expansion strategy that includes partnerships with more than 25 telcos globally, including those recently announced with SoftBank in Japan and SK Telecom in South Korea. India, the world's most populous country, brings a mass market that the San Francisco-based startup will not find in other geographies. Perplexity is already gaining major traction in the country. In Q2, Perplexity's downloads in India surged 600% year-over-year to 2.8 million, according to Sensor Tower data shared exclusively with TechCrunch. In comparison, OpenAI's ChatGPT saw a 587% increase, reaching 46.7 million downloads in the same period. The growth trend extended to active users as well: Perplexity's monthly active users (MAUs) in India increased by 640% year-over-year in Q2, while ChatGPT's MAUs grew by 350%. India was also the largest market by MAUs for Perplexity in the last quarter, per Sensor Tower. However, ChatGPT maintained a significant lead in absolute numbers, with 19.8 million MAUs versus 3.7 million for Perplexity. Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch Building on earlier partnerships, Perplexity has been working to leverage India's user base to leapfrog Western markets, where OpenAI dominates paid subscribers. Earlier this year, Perplexity partnered with the Indian fintech giant Paytm to offer access to its AI-powered search through the Paytm app, which has over 500 million downloads and is among the top-three apps on the Indian government's Unified Payment Interface network, processing over 1.2 billion transactions worth over ₹1,34,000 crores (approximately $15.6 billion). Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has also taken direct steps to expand in India. In January, he announced plans to hire an Indian executive in the country, which he later put on hold after receiving an 'overwhelming' response. He further announced a $1 million investment and a commitment of five hours a week of his time to a group building AI in India. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch The startup has internally discussed offering its AI search engine to Indian students to grow its reach, sources told TechCrunch. One reason Perplexity views India as a key growth market is the relatively limited number of local AI startups, particularly in the AI search space. At the same time, the country has a large and active base of tech-savvy users — a fact that has even prompted Perplexity's archrival, Google, to launch AI-powered search features like AI Mode and AI Overviews in India ahead of many other markets. But monetizing that large user base remains a challenge. Perplexity still lags far behind ChatGPT globally in terms of revenue, even as both offer the same $20-per-month starting price. In Q2, ChatGPT's in-app purchase revenue worldwide surged 731% year-over-year to $773 million, while Perplexity saw a 300% increase, reaching $8 million, per Sensor Tower. Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch The revenue challenge is particularly acute in India, where consumers are notoriously price-sensitive. Still, there are promising signs. However, ChatGPT saw an 800% year-over-year increase in in-app purchases to $9 million in the country in Q2. Perplexity has not generated any notable in-app revenue from India, but the startup has room to expand its paid subscriber base through India. Deals like the one with Airtel could help Perplexity effectively increase its subscriber base, at least in the short term. Strategic partnerships in markets like India could help Perplexity catch the eye of investors who value user growth and geographic diversification. But to turn that attention into long-term backing, the startup will need to show that it can convert its expanding user base into revenue. Srinivas did not respond to requests for comment.
