SK Telecom announced that it had established an MOU for cooperation in the “TD-SCDMA Project”, the first non-Chinese telecom service provider to agree on cooperation with China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on development of TD-SCDMA, China’s 3G mobile telecom technology standard.

TD-SCDMA(Time Division-Synchronous CDMA) is a 3G mobile telecom technology standard that has been submitted to the ITU by the Chinese government, and has been acknowledged as a next-generation mobile telecom technology standard by the ITU along with CDMA2000 and WCDMA.

With the establishment of the MOU, SK Telecom and China’s National Development and Reform Commission have agreed on building a cooperative model for joint Korea-China development in the telecommunications industry, for not only TD-SCDMA technology but also beyond 3G technology and 4G, and to make use of the resulting diverse achievements in a direction that adheres to the interests of both parties.

By next year, SK Telecom plans to deploy a TD-SCDMA experimental station in Korea’s Bundang area, make use of the Company’s network deployment and service operation experience to proceed with tests on TD-SCDMA technology and various value added services, enabling the improvement in TD-SCDMA network performance and its commercialization in China.

Also, SK Telecom and China’s National Development and Reform Commission will establish a TD-SCDMA service development center to pursue joint research and development in 3G multimedia services, value added services and platforms.

With the establishment of the MOU for cooperation on TD-SCDMA technology, SK Telecom will make use of its world’s best operation technology and expertise in CDMA, EV-DO, and HSDPA to assist in development of TD-SCDMA related technology, acquire understanding and capability in TD-SCDMA technology, and search for numerous business opportunities in China’s convergence area.

Moreover, through such a working relationship between the two parties, SK Telecom expects its China business, into which SK Telecom has committed a great deal, to gain much momentum with the support of the Chinese government.

Also, SK Telecom and its business partners(handset makers, equipment manufacturers and solutions providers) may develop TD-SCDMA products and services based on the experimental station, resulting in opportunities to enter the China market in IT-related industries as well as diverse economic repercussions.

A personnel from China’s National Development and Reform Commission expressed high expectations about the cooperative relationship, saying, “We will do all we can in providing the necessary support and cooperation so that the project with SK Telecom can be conducted smoothly.”

SK Telecom’s CEO Shin-Bae Kim remarked on the significance of the agreement, saying, “The Ministry of Information and Communication has continuously pursued Korea-China cooperation in the IT industry, and the MOU has been realized with its interest and support. With companies around the world actively seeking entry into China’s telecommunications market, SK Telecom being the first foreign telecom service provider to establish a cooperative relationship with China’s NDRC on TD-SCDMA technology signifies the full recognition of SK Telecom’s technological prowess.”

China’s National Development and Reform Commission is an economic policy department that manages the establishment of China’s macroeconomic policies, management of economic indicators and conduct of large-scale national projects, and is responsible for the approval and licensing of major policy issues.

SK Telecom and China’s National Development and Reform Commission held a ceremony to sign the MOU on TD-SCDMA Project Cooperation on August 29, 3 p.m. at the Lotte Hotel located in Sogong-dong, Seoul, and discussed means of cooperation for development of the telecommunications industry of the two countries. Before signing of the MOU, SK Group Chairman Tae-Won Chey met with China’s National Development and Reform Commission to discuss cooperation for business with China, saying, “We will develop the cooperative relationship between Korea and China in not only mobile telecommunications but other diverse business areas as well.”

From August 28, SK Telecom (CEO Shin-Bae Kim, www.sktelecom.com) begins “PocketOne” services, a wireless, wireline integrated business support solution which can be used via the PC in the office and the mobile phone or PDA out-of-doors.

“PocketOne” is a wireless, wireline integerated business support solution which assists private businessmen, small and medium commerce, professionals or start-up entrepreneurs that must manage numerous customers and clients, through the PocketOne website (www.pocketone.co.kr) when in the office, and the mobile phone or PDA when out of the office or on a business trip.

Major services of PocketOne include
1) client management (schedule management, business management, service management, 100~130 free text messages),
2) groupware (mail, address book, bulletin board, e-settlement),
3) account book (receipts/withdrawals management, resource management), and is useful for individuals, private businesses and SMEs.

Managing Director Im Gyu-Gwan, head of SK Telecom’s Solutions Business Division, remarked “The greatest competitiveness of PocketOne services is the low usage fee compared to similar existing services, and its ability to be used out-of-doors. PocketOne will greatly enhance the business productivity of individuals, small businesses and small and medium commerce, and we will develop it into a representative wireless/wireline linked U-Office solution that can be used easily and stably.”

The service usage fee ranges from a minimum of KRW 5,000 to KRW 18,000 per month per individual in private businesses and small companies, and can be subscribed to through PocketOne’s website(www.pocketone.co.kr).

Text messages no longer play a supporting role in communications, but are now a common, main mode of communication. They are not only a means of communication, but also an important method for information delivery.

The frustration one feels when one cannot receive an important text message is inexpressible. When the text message has been automatically deleted because the message box has reached its limit, when one has left their mobile phone at home, or the power is off, making it impossible to check an important text message… An additional service has been released to resolve such inconvenient situations.

The “Text Manager” service that SK Telecom has launched is a comprehensive messaging manager service that manages the text messages and color mail (MMS) sent and received via mobile phone. Text messages and color mail sent and received via mobile phone can be viewed, searched and saved, and replies can also be sent.

Subscribers to this service can save 2,000 text messages and 30 MMS messages (up to 10 megabytes), with a monthly fee of KRW 900. The service can be used for free together with the free 100 messages provided each month on the Web to SK Telecom customers, and a per message fee of KRW 30 when exceeding the number of free provisions.

Also, with the “Text Manager” services, sent and received messages can be searched by number and name, and the”My Log” function allows saved messages to be decorated with a photo to save in one’s PC or to send to a friend via email. There are also diverse functions such as “Fun Text Statistics”, that allows messages frequently sent or received to be viewed by date or ranking.

To enable customers to experience the convenience of the “Text Manager”, SK Telecom is holding an event for free application to the “Text Manager” from August 24 to the end of September. Those that subscribe during this period can use the services for free for one month. Prizes such as a Honda motorcycle, Sony laptop, Sony DSLR camera, Lamborghini bicycle, and Tiffany couple ring will also be provided during the event.

The service can be applied to via wireless Nate – “My” -> “monthly flat fee” -> “Text Manager” – as well as through the NateOn text transmission window (Free Plus), E-station (www.e-station.com), and SK T-World(www.sktworld.com).

When a user has left his/her mobile phone at home, voice calls can still be received through call forwarding, but text messages could not be received until now.

To resolve such problems, on August 25 SK Telecom launched the “Forwarding Plus” services, and text messages can be forward at KRW 1,500 per month, while a fee of KRW 1,900 allows usage with call forwarding services. By the second half of this year, services will also be provided for forwarding of MMS messages.

Services can be applied to through online, offline, mobile customer centers and SK Telecom agencies.