Korean markets of smart phones have short history and many changes have occurred in a short time. With the competition between iPhone and OmniaII, Smart phone markets are rapidly growing according to the launch of terminals with Android operating syst...
Korean markets of smart phones have short history and many changes have occurred in a short time. With the competition between iPhone and OmniaII, Smart phone markets are rapidly growing according to the launch of terminals with Android operating system. However, stabilized markets are not constructed due to the rapid growth so much concern is being voiced. Therefore, this study aims to analyze actual conditions of smart phone markets inside and outside the country and suggest causes and solutions through the survey in order to make the constant growth, not mere curiosity about new technology.
The survey of Korean mobile phone subscribers analyzed general characteristics of smart phones and the use of application store and wireless internet and value-added services.
The general factors preventing smart phones activation were expensive prices of terminals, difficult directions, and too simple terminals. Korean telecommunications firms have tried to activate application stores by opening advertisements and contest exhibits through many media, but they failed to get good effects due to low awareness and complex purchase procedures. In addition, Korean application developers are having difficulties in developing contents suitable to various platforms due to telecommunications firms’ different policies.
The activation of smart phones expands the opportunity and the use of wireless internet, but Korean wireless internet markets reduces its use due to bad connection, slow speed, and expensive connection charge. If the smart phone is not connected to wireless internet, it would be just a highly functional mobile phone like a normal phone.
This study suggested the following activation plans to solve the problems.
First, it needs to expand various terminal supplies. The smart phone manufacture should be strengthening partnership with mobile companies. The smart phone manufacture should be provided to customers to have a variety of OS and innovative design featured smart phone.
Second, it needs to expand terminal subsidies. It is recommended to increase subsides to large-quantity smart phone purchases so that the customers can better afford the purchase.
Third, it needs to expand user's opportunities for education. Because the use of teenagers and forties besides twenties for each thirties who are main customers has increased, the customized education for each age should make users realize the smart phone is no difficult.
Fourth, it needs to expand Application store. Multi platforms should be provided to developments to operate contents regardless of mobile phone companies and platforms, and mobile phone companies have to integrate different policies.
Fifth, it needs to expand wireless internet. Wi-Fi technology needs to be actively used to activate wireless internet, which can actively use wireless internet that has been useless due to the expensive charge. The range of wireless internet AP(Access Point) should be expanded regardless of mobile phone companies and safe communications should be constructed.
With the growing smart phone markets, the importance of smart phone security is getting higher. The reason is that smart phone has a high possibility to be exposed to internet security accidents because it is the wireless internet terminal like a personal computer. Due to that reason, Korean smart phone is certainly hard to expand.
Follow-up studies should be conducted to prepare more convenient and safe smart phone environments by analyzing methods for mobile phone related companies to get benefits through new business models as well as solutions to solve weak points of smart phones.