who can forget the moment on January 2007 MacWorld where Steve Jobs’ KeyNote Address announced the venerable iPhone, to an astonishing crowd with “Ah~s” and “WoWs” . meanwhile, LG Electronics in sheer desire to flash their technology in a cocoon of an Italian Designer Brand, released ‘Prada Phone’ on May 2007 . early adopters snatched it as it was the only choice in South Korea then, for iPhone was foreign news . then iPhone debut June 2007 to a line of awaiting fans States-side who made news World-Wide .
December 2007 saw the follow-up of ‘Prada Phone’ in the form of LG-SH210 ‘Beauty Phone’ (bLogged here on March 24th 2008 ) but due to its clumsiness both design-and-operation (in comparison to iPhone) it wasn’t until April 2008 when SamSung belatedly came out with their (more sleek design & fluid operation) version in AnyCall SCH-W420 ‘Haptic Phone’ that Korea took whole-heartily onto Touch-Screen Bar-Type Phones . and now nearing Valentines Day 2009 as SamSung releases their 4th version, I now group-up the transcending (OK, OK, it’s evolution) models . still, not many people have them mainly due to its unfaltering price tag, where normally it would crumble after few months of release .
- all models here are of SamSung’s AnyCall Brand, for SKT Carrier with few KTF Carrier models with an extra ‘0’ digit at the end of the model number, with minor changes .
- model name is accompanied by their ‘nickname’ use extensively on ads and marketing then used by early adopters and the young to code them in conversation . while some nicks catch-on better than others, (such as one of the former generation of thin, sliding phones named “Mini-Skirt” Phone : a magic coordination of machine, ad theme, modeling character and the moment when you finally hold it and attempt to slide it to realize it was all~ true . oh and LG’s “Chocolate” Phone stuck too) it is whether you memorize all the nicks that divide trendy packs from others . look them up yourself to judge if the meaning justify the content of their respective device .
- price is near official retail price, about the same as exchanging phones within the same Carrier . these are the 2 most expensive options so no one really purchase on this plan though the others such as : [A] partial payment support from the device manufacturer, [B] one or even two-year contracts, [C] Carrier-Migration (when you change Carriers) the lesser-known, elusive practice of [D] ‘Aging’ can save a mile on your wallet .
SCH-W420 ‘Haptic Phone’ introduced April 2008 currently W400,000
- 2,000,000 Pixels / 3.2″ WVGA LCD / DMB TV / Micro SD / BlueTooth 2.0 / Full Browsing / MBank / Mobile TMoney / posh sliding black leather case / Global Video Phone
- SCH-W4200 for KTF lacks MBank
SCH-W550 ‘Haptic 2’ introduced September 2008 currently W600,000
- 5,000,000 Pixels / 3.2″ WQVGA TFT Touch LCD / DMB TV / Micro SD / BlueTooth 2.0 / Full Browsing / MBank / Mobile TMoney / 3820MB Memory / patterned backside to reduce scratch
- unpacking user review at http://xenix.kr/1162
- SCH-W555 is 16GB Limited Edition
- SCH-W5500 for KTF uses KBank instead of MBank
SCH-W490 ‘Omnia Phone’introduced November 2008 currently W750,000
- 5,000,000 Pixels / 3.3″ WVGA TFT LCD (export models 3.2″) / Satelite DMB TV / Micro SD /BlueTooth 2.0 / Full Browsing / TMap Navi / Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional with WiFi / 20pin connector as new standard
- SCH-W495 is 16GB Limited Edition
SCH-W740 expected to debut February 4th .. oh delayed another week, for over W900,000 (or save some more to rather buy HyunDai Automobile’s popular subcompact ‘Morning’ – perfect for riding-out the hard times)
- 8,000,000 Pixels / 3.3″ 262K Color WVGA TFT Touch LCD / Zenon Flash / Micro SD /
and just when you thought SamSung had it, gruesome year of 2008 closed with news of iPhone finally making into Korea . oh, meanwhile Koreans have been consoling their weary souls with iTouch (the iPhone WITHOUT the Phone duh – huh ? ), where 2nd Generation iTouch has been out since September 2008 .
hi…
i would like to know is there any chance that people from the other country like me, from malaysia could stand a chance to buy the limited edition Samsung Haptic POP Sch-W750 a.k.a the flower boys phone right now… please let me know. i really want to have that phone right now…..thank you…
if you are serious about this I suggest you visit a shopping area where Koreans in Malaysia gather .
locate telecommunications offices there and you can inquire there .
this is because some Koreans living abroad often opt.for Korean domestic cell phone models
for they are much more familiar reading ‘Korean menus’ 😉
Can you tell me where can i buy that celphone in the philippines
same reply as above : inquire at a Korean cell phone store in Korea Town in your city . above phones has been out for a few months now, so chances are some Korean sellers abroad have had time to hack it to be used by Koreans there . I myself would LOVE to buy these for you in exchange for juicey Philippino Mangoes that I adore, but is NOT a simple task as cell phones in South Korea are sold in conjuction with a dedicated Telecommunications carrier .
I will be selling 1 & 2 year old then-popular cell phones soon however for use locally on SKT and KTF carriers . still Good Luck to you !
hi. im jazel. from manila. im selling my samsung haptic pop, open line na xa. my kasamang charger, 2gb mmc at strap. 5500 only. openline na xa kya wla kna proble. very slightly use kya mkinis pa. contact me 09466856640 or 09236944944. thanks!
I have lived in Korea for 2 years now, and really want to upgrade to a HAPTIC for both my wife and I. Trouble is, our local phone store doesn’t want us to do it. They tell us it is a waste of money, and make the process seem so complicated that we give up.
Is it possible to buy a phone from someone other than them, and just have our new phone activated on our current account, so we can keep our current plan and phone number? Our plan is with SKT for 200 minutes a month and works just fine. Having been here for 2 years I really want to avoid changing my number, because of the amount of people that have my current one.
Is there a good place for english speakers to go and shop for phones, easily? Please let me know how this works!
Thank You,
Michael
Michael :
1) now there are several choices of Haptics in South Korea and a good time to buy when price drops a bit is 3~6 months after initial release – enough to keep on the fad AND not having to dump all your earnings on a cell phone,
2) your original phone store may be too greedy simply trying to keep all the commission from sign-up and all the following billings . they probably think speaking English is their main weapon AND your weak spot thus the premium price and/or contract . I suggest you NOT talk to them any more unless you are here illegally . there are a few independent cell phone stores around iTaewon presumeably speaking English but I have not experience with them .
as I have explained extensively on my Cell Phone Page on top of my BLog (NOT blog posts) : THE most “correct” AND “safest” way is to go to your telecommunication company’s HeadQuarters or a branch run directly by them, and where you have much better chance of finding staff eager to try their English with you AND tell you the truth, since their main interest is NOT commissions but keeping you signed up with their carrier instead of switching over to another (where LGT has better service for foreigners BUT is the last of the 3 in this arena). but again, this may NOT be your cheapest option AND you CAN switch carriers while keeping your number . in a myriad of cell phone buying procedures the most expensive approach is keeping your number and changing devices after short use, say within 6 months (most won’t allow you to change within 3).
however if you have stayed here 2 years you SHOULD have a local friend or co-worker who will co-sign for you, thus all the benefits (mainly the price AND various options you can control from their website). this is the best way although your colleague will have to bear all legal responsibility for your behaviour much like co-signing for an automobile in the States .
South Korea is past times when you bought cell phones from your favourite store in your neighborhood, since on-line stores have been offering competitive rates AND plans since say .. 2004 – meaning : you SHOULD have your local virtual identity AND bank/credit account registered legally – and if NOT : have a friend or co-worker who has .
3) just keep in mind the newest cell phone will sell for aproximately W120,000 off list price for a year or 2 years’ contract . but you can usually sign off from the 3rd or 6th months of signing up and re-pay the remaining of that discount (minus the 3 ~ 6 months you’ve used) as penalty . so even if you have signed up for the most rigid plan you should be able to switch device rarely with a penalty if you’ve been using it for more than a year, since 2-year plans have only been implemently recently .
Good Luck !
Thank you!! I will try and find a company store and see if we get better options there!!
DEar Sirs,
I would like to know how to buy mobile phone from korean selers.
I am living in mozambique.
B. Regards
may i buy the 3-G cellphone touch creen
i have anycall phone sgh-w850 my cable to charge battry is bad help me please.tank you.
I will have samsung sch w900 here in the philippines. Is it okay to use it here? my korean friend told me that wifi cannot be used because of samsung sch w900 is skt carrier. can you advise me on what to do? please email me. thank you!
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