14 DAY TRIAL // According to the latest news on the Web, mobile phone users in South Korea might see Android-powered handsets available for them to purchase this year. The carrier that is expected to bring said devices to its lineup is KTF, the second largest mobile carrier in the country.
The operator is reported to be in talks with companies like Samsung and LG for the development of an Android phone meant for the Korean market. For the time being there are no specific details on which of the makers will unveil said device, or whether both Samsung and LG will be working on its development, yet there are high chances that the handset becomes available for purchase before the end of the ongoing year.
In addition to an Android-powered handset, users in South Korea might also benefit from the Android Market this year. It seems that Google, the company that launched Android, intends to launch the app store in the country as soon as the third quarter of this year.
For what it's worth, Google might have a few issues to fix before being able to launch the Android Market in South Korea, given the fact that its checkout system has not been yet implemented in the country. Given the fact that Google's app store uses this payment system alone, the company won't be able to launch the portal if it is not implemented.
Most of the smartphones that are currently available in South Korea are based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system, accounting for about 90 percent of the market. The Android platform, in case it manages to enter the country this year, would be a new thing for consumers in Korea, and it is rather uncertain for now whether it will manage to prove successful or not.