Mobile in Korea

   Korean mobile users can connect to their own personal computers using mobile mini PC service. Users can read all documents of their personal computers on their mobile handsets. Users must subscribe this service on the mobile internet which is provided by mobile operators and install a software on their personal computers.

  If a user install the software on his computer and execute it, he can see a small icon (the left picture) on the left-side tray. The software enables that the user access stuffs of his computer with his mobile handset.


  After excuting the software on his computer, he must execute an application (the left picture) on his mobile handset. He can read all documents and see all pictures of his computer.

  Although it is sure that the service is very convenient, the service does not have sufficient functions that an user can access all files of his computer without any incovenience. For example, if a file is 50 page word file, it takes a few minutes in order to load the file. Moreover, the size of screen is too small for user to read the file without difficulty. He must zoom in each page in order to read each character on the page.

  The tariff is another barrier of the growth of this service. This service requires that user subscribes the flat-rate mobile data plan (about $30) of mobile operator and pay $1.5 separately in order to use this service.


The service provider and mobile operator should improve the tariff and functions in order to make the service grow. In addition, the widespread us of PDA and smartphone might make the service grow. (In Korea, few users use PDA and smartphone.)

my2pac

   "Gifticon" means "Gift" and "Icon". "Gifticon" is a new convergence service of SK Telecom, which is the biggest mobile operator in Korea. You can send a real present to your friend using instant messenger (NateOn) and mobile data service (Nate). While you are chatting with your friend on instant messenger, you can send a exchange ticket for a cup of Starbucks coffee to your friend through just clicking a button on the messenger and paying with your credit card. Your friend get a mobile exchange ticket and can exchange a real product in shops including Starbucks, Seveneleven and so on.

   When your friend get the exchange ticket having a bar code like the left image and can set the image as a background of the handset. When your friend visit a shop in order to exchange the ticket to a real product, your friend only need to let a clerk see the exchange ticket on his handset in order to get a real product.

   Next time, I will make a video clip having a process for sending a "Gifticon" and share it here. The bottom image shows the process of "Gifticon".

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