Korea's lackluster 3-megapixel phone market

August 16, 2004 - source: Telecoms Korea

Handsets with 3-megapixel cameras are expected to challenge stand-alone digital camera market, but their supplies are disappointingly limited, according to industry Monday.

Samsung Electronics began to supply KTF, the country's second-largest mobile carrier with the 3-magapixel camera phone, SPH-S2300 July 19, but the total supplies were only 400 units, so far.

LG Electronics provided KTF with only 100 units of KP3500 released on the same day as SPH-2300 was launched, but there have been no further supplies

Later, Pantech&Curitel also provided KTF with 3-magapixel camera phones, PH-K1000V, but the supplies were only 50 units.

The poor performance is attributed to the operation ban imposed on mobile carriers that are controlling handset supply to prevent stock surplus.

The market is expected to regain momentum starting from August 19 when, the business suspension on KTF is lifted, but at the same time the operation ban will be applied to SK telecom, further hampering expansion of 3-megapixel phone market.