Samsung brings 4G-ready Galaxy J to Taiwan
CNA 2013-12-10 17:11
The Samsung Galaxy J phones. (Photo/Wu Hsiao-wen)
Samsung is boosting its 4G-capable lineup in Taiwan with a big new addition: the 5-inch Galaxy J.
The world's largest smartphone maker on Monday announced the Galaxy J, previously unveiled exclusively for Japan's NT DoCoMo network, will come to Taiwan, where it will be compatible with the soon-to-be-rolled out long-term-evolution (LTE) service.
The Taiwan version of the phone will include market-specific features such as a "parent mode" and an energy-saving setting, the company revealed.
When it launches mid-December, the Galaxy J will become the third LTE-ready device that the South Korean electronics giant has launched in Taiwan in the past four months. It follows the Galaxy Note 3 in September and the new Galaxy Note 10.1 in November.
"The 2014 smartphone market in Taiwan is expected to move toward LTE technology. We plan to offer the most LTE devices in the shortest period of time," Andy Tu, general manager of Samsung Taiwan's mobile communication team, said at the product announcement.
Asked if Samsung will partner with Taiwanese operators for custom LTE phones, Tu said he has not ruled out the possibility because local 4G spectrum winners will need phones designed for different spectra.
Given that Taiwan is expected to become the world's first country to launch commercialized 4G networks on the 700MHz spectrum, Samsung will also value this market segment and seek more partnerships, Tu said.
The maximum 4G internet speed is up to 10 times faster than the current 3G networks, which will meet demand for the transmission of high-quality content such as 4K videos, according to industry analysts.
The auction for 4G spectrum in Taiwan began Sept. 3 and came to an end on Oct. 30 after 392 bidding rounds, with the bids made by six companies vying for licenses totaling NT$118.65 billion (US$4 billion), 3.3 times the floor price set by the government.
A total of 270MHz of radio frequencies in the 700MHz, 900MHz and 1,800MHz spectra for 4G services were up for auction.
Local 4G spectrum winners, including Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan's largest mobile operator, have said that they aim to begin 4G operations in the second half of 2014.
