iPhone might -or might not- be coming to South Korea before year’s end

South Korea, one of Asia’s most technologically advanced nations, still does not have the iPhone in retail. This is apparently due to complicated local rules that require all foreign software manufacturers -Apple being one of them, since these rules also apply to all foreign manufacturers of mobile phones that support mobile data transfers- to comply with South Korean “WIPI” (wireless platform for interoperability) standard, which Apple apparently has no intention to do.

However, the situation is slowly changing, as due to pressure from the USA, one of South Korea’s main trade partners, the Korea Communications Commission that oversees the WIPI standard implementation has agreed to take a look into changing these rules. “A decision could be soon, and it wouldn’t go past early next year at the latest,” said an official from KCC’s policy bureau.

That’s why KTF, South Korea’s second largest mobile carrier, is cautiously optimistic about being able to launch the iPhone by Christmas 2008, although it admits that it won’t be easy. “There is no need for us to call it impossible, but releasing iPhone within December would indeed be a huge challenge,” said the company’s spokesman. According to sources KTF would have liked to launch the iPhone in South Korea on or around December 1, 2008, but whether this will happen or not only time can tell.

Thanks to The Korea Times

Tags: app, Apple, Asia, iPhone, News, OS, USA

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