"애플, 10년간 1조달러 벌었다..아이폰은 역사상 가장 인기 제품"

아이폰, 10년간 누적 판매 12억대
아이폰 중심으로 iOS 생태계 확대
iOS 기기 17.5억대 판매…수익은 1조달러
아이폰8 대대적 변화…판매기록 경신 전망

iOS 모바일 기기 판매 현황(사진=Asymco)

[아시아경제 안하늘 기자]출시된 지 10년을 맞이한 애플 '아이폰'이 연내 누적 판매 12억대를 돌파할 전망이다. 아이폰은 역사상 가장 인기있는 전자 제품의 자리에 올랐다.

11일(현지시간) 시장조사 전문 블로그 미디어인 아심코(Asymco)는 이 같은 아이폰의 인기 덕분에 애플이 iOS라는 막강한 모바일 플랫폼을 구축했다고 밝혔다.

지난 2007년 처음 출시한 아이폰은 음악 감상, 인터넷, 전화를 하나의 기기에 담았다는 혁신성에 전 세계적인 주목을 받았다. 이후 출시한 아이폰 시리즈는 스마트폰이라는 새로운 시장을 열었고, 애플은 세계에서 가장 혁신적인 기업으로 꼽혔다.

아이폰을 바탕으로 같은 운영체제(OS)를 공유하는 아이팟 터치, 아이패드, 애플워치에 이어 애플TV까지 줄줄이 흥행하고 있다. 아심코는 올해까지 총 10년 간 iOS를 탑재하는 모바일 기기가 총 17억5000만대가 판매되고, 2018년 하반기에는 판매량이 20억대를 넘어설 것이라고 예측했다.

총 모바일 기기의 판매 수익은 올해 상반기 중 9조8000억달러가 넘어설 것으로 덧붙였다. 앱스토어 등 수수료 수익이 1000억달러를 넘어서면서 연내 애플이 iOS를 통해 거두는 총 수익이 1조달러(약 1200조원)를 무난히 돌파할 전망이다.

이와 함께 iOS를 통해 애플리케이션(앱)을 등록한 개발자들에게 돌아가는 수익도 올해 중 600억달러가 넘어설 것으로 예측된다.

iOS는 구글 안드로이드와 함께 가장 강력한 모바일 플랫폼으로 현재 이 OS가 탑재된 모바일 기기만 6억대, 하루 평균 80번 이상 사용되는 것으로 나타났다. 즉 iOS는 전 세계에서 하루에 총 480억번이 작동되는 셈이다.

한편 올해 하반기 출시되는 아이폰8(가칭)은 아이폰 10주년을 기념하는 제품으로 기대를 모으고 있다.

아직 구체적인 사양은 공개되지 않았지만 업계에서는 아이폰8에 곡면 OLED 패널이 탑재되며 지문 인식 시스템을 내장한 유리 디스플레이를 채택하는 등 대대적인 변화가 예상된다.

애플 전문 분석가로 유명한 KGI증권의 궈밍치 애널리스트는 최근 고객에게 보낸 메모에서 애플이 2017년 하반기에만 9000만에서 1억1000만개의 아이폰을 출하할 수 있을 것이라고 전망하기도 했다. 또 그는 2014년 하반기에 기록했던 아이폰6 판매량인 1억1300만대보다 더 많은 양이 출하될 것으로 추측하기도 했다. 아이폰6는 역대 아이폰 시리즈 중 가장 많이 판매된 모델이다.

Samsung, LG’s OLED dominance may last at least 5 years

The dominance of organic light-emitting diode panels by South Korean display makers Samsung Display and LG Display is expected to last for at least the next five years, despite aggressive investment by Chinese and Japanese firms, Korean analysts said Tuesday.

Amid growing demand for OLED panels from global smartphone makers -- including Apple, Huawei, Oppo and Vivo -- due to their flexible nature, Chinese and Japanese firms are making heavy investments in the market dominated by the two Korean firms. 

China’s tech giant BOE plans to invest around 8 trillion won ($6.6 billion) to mass produce OLEDs by 2019 on the back of government support. Another Chinese firm Ever Display is also establishing an OLED plant with an investment of around 4.6 trillion won.

Taiwan-based Hon Hai and its subsidiary Sharp reportedly plan to invest 1.3 trillion won, with the aim of supplying OLEDs to Apple. Japan Display also recently acquired Japanese OLED maker JOELD for around 12 billion won. 

Despite the aggressive push by the foreign firms, Korean experts predicted that the OLED dominance of Korean firms could last for a considerable period of time due to their technology advances. 

“Korean display makers’ OLED dominance may last at least five years due to the technology gap with Chinese and Japanese firms,” said Lee Chang-hee, a professor researching OLED technologies at Seoul National University.

“This applies to flat and flexible OLEDs in both smartphones and televisions,” he added. 
 

LG Display

Kim Hyun-jae, a professor at Yonsei University’s electronics engineering, said, “Chinese OLED makers are expected to take off at least four years later due to technical issues. Japanese firms -- which make smaller investments compared to Korean and Chinese firms -- may not survive because of economies of scale.”

Samsung Display is currently the biggest beneficiary of the growing OLED demand, with more than 95 percent of share in the global OLED market for smartphones. It will reportedly supply OLED panels for around 100 million units of Apple’s new iPhone 8 to be unveiled this autumn.

Samsung’s Korean rival LG Display is also fast shifting its investment from liquid crystal displays to OLEDs for smartphone panels. The firm is building OLED production facilities in Gumi and Paju with a total investment of 3.5 trillion won. LG, which is expected to supply OLEDs to Apple from 2018, is also closely working with the iPhone maker to develop foldable panels. 

“The OLED technology of Japanese and Chinese firms is at least three years behind Korean firms. Only Korean firms are expected to supply a meaningful amount of flexible OLED panels to Apple over the next three years,” said Kim Dong-won, an analyst at Hyundai Securities. 

Still, the Korean firms are not in a position to be complacent with the current favorable market conditions, they said. 

“It is true that the aggressive push by Chinese firms are becoming a threat in the mid-to-long term. We should make a leap forward with advanced technologies such as foldable panels to pull ahead of rivals,” said an anonymous official from Samsung Display. 

By 2019, 42 percent of total smartphones in the global market will use OLED panels, market research firm IHS Markit predicted. 

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)

Samsung likely to unveil foldable phones in Q3: source

Samsung Electronics is highly likely to unveil foldable smartphones in the third quarter of this year, according to sources familiar with the matter. 

“Samsung is expected to roll out more than 100,000 units of fold-out devices in the third quarter,” a source told The Korea Herald. 

The smartphone, whose panels face outward upon folding, may be used as a 7-inch tablet when unfolded, he said. 

Samsung, had initially completed the development of fold-in phones that tuck the screen inside when folded. It began the development of fold-out technologies around August, deeming that users may find it inconvenient to unfold the phones every time they want to use them.

“Since the company already secured fold-in phone technology, it was not a big challenge to shift into the fold-out phones,” he said. 


Despite technical completion, Samsung Electronics has not made a final decision about whether they will unveil the device this year because of marketability and profitability issues, multiple sources said. 

“The final decision will be made after the personnel reshuffle of the company’s information technology and mobile communications unit is carried out,” the initial source said. 

Samsung Electronics’ executive-level reshuffle, which is normally done in December, has been delayed to February or March as the company is currently embroiled in the political scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil. 

Samsung’s rival LG Electronics is also expected to produce more than 100,000 foldable devices in the fourth quarter, one of the sources said on condition of anonymity.

LG started the development of fold-out technology two to three years ago, and currently has more advanced technology than Samsung, the source said. 

Unlike Samsung, which is first adopting their new technology into its own products such as the Galaxy series, LG may use the technology for other global clients such as Apple or Huawei. 

Market research firm Strategy Analytics predicted in the latest report Samsung Electronics may unveil the world’s first foldable phones this year. It also predicted the foldable display market would reach 163 million units by 2022 from 2.7 million units this year. 

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)

Analysts optimistic about LG’s mobile unit this year

LG Electronics is being pegged for a turnaround in mobile business this year thanks to a major restructuring of the mobile unit last year and its first-mover advantage, rolling out its flagship smartphone G6 early this year, according to local analysts. 

LG’s mobile communications unit had a tough year as the G6’s predecessor G5 failed to excite consumers. The unit is expected to post around 1.2 trillion won ($1 billion) in operating losses for 2016. 

Analysts predicted, however, LG could seize an opportunity this year by filling in the gap Samsung’s Note 7 left in the local market. It is slated to unveil G6 at the Mobile World Congress in February -- a month earlier than usual -- while Samsung is expected to delay the launch of its Galaxy S8 into April following the Note 7 fiasco. 

LG’s restructuring effort is also expected to pay off this year. The firm cut around 30 percent of employees at its money-losing mobile communications unit throughout last year. 

LG’s flagship smartphone G5 (LG Electronics)

“The operating loss of the mobile communications unit would drop up to 1 trillion won this year thanks to the restructuring of the unit and solid sales of its premium smartphone G6 -- around 5.5 million units,” said Kim Dong-won, an analyst at KB Investment & Securities. 

Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at IBK Investment & Securities said, “The deficit range in LG’s mobile unit would go down this year because of the reduction of fixed costs following restructuring, cost saving from streamlining products and improved platform efficiency.” 

The upcoming smartphone G6 is expected to use a removable battery, ditching the non-removable battery adopted in the G5 model. It is also reported to adopt a mobile payment system, dubbed LG Pay, using the Magnetic Secure Transmission solution, which is similar to Samsung Pay. The MST solution allows for easy payment by touching a smartphone to magnetic card readers used in most retail stores.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)

About 140,000 Galaxy Note 7s still in use in Korea

Published : 2016-12-20 09:34

About 140,000 owners of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in South Korea have not returned their devices, an industry source said Tuesday, complicating efforts by Samsung Electronics Co. to end the recall program for the phablet by the end of this year. 

More than three months after conducting a global recall of the Note 7 over a safety risk, the retrieval rate in South Korea stood at 85 percent. Given that some 950,000 Note 7s were actually sold in South Korea, the remaining 15 percent still pose a safety risk. 

Galaxy Note 7 (Samsung)

In the US market, more than 93 percent of Note 7s sold have been returned, Samsung said in a statement released earlier this week. 

"To further increase participation, a software update will be released starting Dec. 19 and will be distributed within 30 days.

This software update will prevent US Galaxy Note 7 devices from charging and will eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices," Samsung said.

In South Korea, Samsung is unlikely to take the same measure due to a low retrieval rate, according to the industry source.

"If Samsung prevents the Galaxy Note 7s from charging, it will cause a strong backlash from owners," the industry source said on the condition of anonymity. 

Samsung is expected to increase the retrieval rate in South Korea as it has extended an exchange and refund program for the Note 7 to the end of this month. 

Depending on the rate of returns, Samsung is likely to begin discussions with domestic mobile carriers about how and when to end the recall program. 

An official at a local mobile carrier said it will be difficult for Samsung to end the recall program in South Korea by the end of this year.

As part of efforts to increase the retrieval rate in South Korea, Samsung is said to have been considering allowing owners to charge their Note 7 batteries to 15 percent, according to the source. (Yonhap)

Samsung’s mid-tier Galaxy A8 smartphone launches in Korea

Samsung Electronics’ newly upgraded Galaxy A8 smartphone began sales in South Korea on Wednesday, aiming to appeal to customers looking for a premium smartphone at a lower cost.

Sold exclusively through local network carrier SK Telecom, the Galaxy A8 is a mid-tier smartphone priced at 649,000 won ($583) -- making it around 300,000 won cheaper than the premium Galaxy Note 7, which recently resumed sales in Korea.

A model holds up the new Galaxy A8, which was released in Korea via SK Telecom on Wednesday (SKT)

The Galaxy A8 is a 5.7-inch (14.5 centimeters) smartphone fitted with a full-metal design and features upgraded battery power, more memory space and advanced cameras in comparison to last year’s model.

SKT said it is offering a subsidy of 250,000 won for users who select the “6.5-gigabyte band data” monthly payment plan, priced at 56,100 won per month. The device is currently available only in blue, but pastel pink and silver options will soon become available as well, the telecom firm said.

Galaxy A8 is slated to go head-to-head with a number of competing mid-priced premium smartphones made by both local and foreign tech firms.

Also on Wednesday, Japanese electronics giant Sony released the Xperia XZ, its latest model featured as part of the flagship X smartphone series, in Korea. It is locally priced at 798,600 won and is available in three colors -- mineral black, platinum and forest blue. 

The 5.2-inch (13.2 centimeters) Xperia XZ runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 Processor and has 32 gigabytes of internal memory. The phone comes with fingerprint scanning sensors and high-resolution audio processing technologies, among other features.

Sony’s new smartphone also touts one of the most advanced smartphone cameras on the market -- a 13-megapixel front camera and 23-megapixel rear camera fitted with three image-processing sensors.

Meanwhile, local electronics firm TG&Co. and SKT plan to introduce the Luna II smartphone -- an upgraded handset based on its predecessor Luna, promoted to success here by Seolhyun of K-pop girl group AOA last year -- in the coming weeks. Its price is expected to hover around 600,000 won.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)

iPhone 7 to hit S. Korean shelves on Oct. 21

U.S. tech giant Apple Inc. said Saturday the iPhone 7 series is slated to reach the South Korean market on Oct. 21, and is set to compete with other local rivals in the high-end handset market.

Apple said the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus, each with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, respectively, will officially set sail here, along with the wireless earphones, called Airpod.

The local price for the devices, however, has not yet been announced by mobile carriers here.

Industry watchers here have been eyeing the release of the new niPhone as it is virtually the last high-end smartphone to be released by a major manufacturer this year.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and its smaller rival LG Electronics Inc. earlier released the Galaxy Note 7 and the V20, respectively, battling for a larger slice of the high-end smartphone market. (Yonhap)