South Korean authorities have allegedly conducted a raid of Apple's offices in Seoul earlier this week ahead of the scheduled iPhone X launch on Samsung's home turf tomorrow.
Korean authorities raided Apple’s offices prior to iPhone X launch
South Korea
Samsung likely to set up 7G flexible OLED factory
Samsung's display-making arm is likely to set up a seventh-generation manufacturing plant in South Korea solely dedicated to flexible OLED panel production, Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes reported this morning citing UBI Research. Samsung Display produces more than 90 percent of all OLED panels for smartphones and tablets. The company is expected to churn out OLED panels for iPhone 8 on an exclusive basis until rivals Sharp, LG Display and Japan Display join the mix in 2018 and 2019.
Apple planning to open first retail store on Samsung’s home turf
Apple is planning to open a retail store in Seoul, South Korea, reports Reuters. This will be the company's first official store in the country, which also plays home to the headquarters of Samsung, Apple's largest competitor in the smartphone space.
A spokesperson for Apple confirmed the plans with Reuters via email, saying "We're excited about opening our first Apple Store in Korea, one of the world's economic centers and a leader in telecommunication and technology, with a vibrant K-culture."
Korean watchdog may launch investigation into iPhone 6s shutdowns
As Apple has admitted that unexpected iPhone 6s shutdowns are plaguing other models “outside the affected batch”, South Korea's Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) is considering launching an investigation into the issue. “The agency is well aware of recent iPhone issues and is taking a close look at it,” an official told the The Korea Herald.
App Store refund policy under fire from Korean game publishers
Apple's app refund policy on the App Store has come under fire from South Korean game developers who are complaining about a loophole that permits ill-minded users to purchase charged content multiple times, request refunds and continue to consume the content without actually paying for it.
The Korea Times is reporting that the issue stems from Apple's policy of withholding information about those who have been issued a refund.
Spotify could finally turn a profit in 2017, expand to China, Russia & South Korea
Apple Music rival Spotify could finally turn a profit in 2107, one of its board members told the media Thursday. Asked if the Swedish music service could become profitable soon, Par-Jorgen Parson, one of Spotify's first investors, told Reuters that it was “absolutely” the case.
Spotify currently operates in 60 markets and has more than 40 million paid subscribers. Apple Music is available in 115 markets and has 17 million paying customers and over 30 million songs in its catalog.
Apple Music officially launches in South Korea
It's taken longer than anticipated and Apple CEO Tim Cook himself has had to personally negotiate deals with local right holders and copyright associations, but Apple Music as of today is finally available to music lovers in South Korea. Launch in Samsung's home turf, home to 50 million people, comes hot on the heels of the service's debut in Israel yesterday.
Korea’s watchdog is investigating Apple for possible anti-competitive practices
Reuters reports that Apple is currently under fire in South Korea as the country's antitrust regulator launches an investigation into “some matters”, without disclosing further details. Jeong Jae-chan, the head of the anti-competition body, said during a parliamentary hearing Tuesday that the agency was taking a closer look at Apple's business practices in the country.
According to local media, the agency was reviewing details of Apple's contracts with South Korean wireless carriers earlier this month.
Obstacles to launching Apple Music in Korea reportedly removed
Although Apple had previously attempted to roll out its subscription-based music-streaming service in Korea, the Cupertino firm ultimately failed to reach a consensus with local music copyright associations. But as of recently, Tim Cook & Co. have apparently managed to cut deals with local right holders and copyright associations.
As a result, the service could launch in South Korea, a 50 million people market, sooner than later, according to a news report today by The Korea Herald. No firm date for the launch was given at post time.
iPhone 6 pre-orders on Samsung’s home turf top 100,000 units, outpacing Galaxy Note 4
Ahead of the scheduled October 31 launch, carriers in South Korea have managed to collect 100,000 pre-orders for Apple's new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, three times the amount of pre-orders for Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Carriers KT Corp., LG Uplus Corp. and SK Telecom Co., South Korea’s largest mobile carrier, started accepting pre-orders for the new devices this past Friday, October 24.
iPad tops customer satisfaction in South Korea
In what could only be described as a one-two punch to Samsung of South Korea, Apple's iPad has now been named the top tablet in the country's National Customer Satisfaction Index. Just yesterday, you'll remember, the iPhone beat Samsung in Quality Insights customer satisfaction rankings in the Galaxy maker's home territory.
The National Customer Satisfaction Index by the South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy gave the Apple tablet the #1 ranking for the third consecutive year since the program's inception in 2010, praising the ecosystem of apps tailored specifically for the iPad, along with an "excellent touch user experience"...
iPhone leads customer satisfaction in Samsung’s home turf of South Korea
There's nothing like winning over your competitor's hometown audience. Apple, accustomed to topping nearly every customer satisfaction survey, must take particular pleasure in being named best by smartphone owners in South Korea, home of rival Samsung.
The survey found even a year after purchase, iPhone owners were more satisfied overall, as well as happy with the repair experience. Customer satisfaction is an often-cited metric by Apple CEO Tim Cook, a quality in which some see him well-suited...