iPhone 5 Release Rumors: Samsung Seeks to Banish Smartphone From Korea
Samsung is seeking to completely ban Apple from selling the iPhone 5 in Korea, according to a report in The Korea Times.
An unnamed senior executive at the company revealed this information to the paper recently.
“Just after the arrival of the iPhone 5 here, Samsung plans to take Apple to court here for its violation of Samsung’s wireless technology related patents,” he said. “For as long as Apple does not drop mobile telecommunications functions, it would be impossible for it to sell its i-branded products without using our patents. We will stick to a strong stance against Apple during the lingering legal fights.”
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Korean carriers KT and SK have sold over 3.1 million iPhones in the country.
Apple and Samsung have been battling in the legal arena over patents recently.
Apple filed the first lawsuit in the United States against Samsung and the companies went on to do battle in other countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia.
Apple was able to get Samsung’s Galaxy Tab banned in Germany and now it seems that Samsung is retaliating by trying to banish a device which currently does not exist.
Apple also succeeded in winning a ban on some of Samsung’s smartphones in the Netherlands.
Apple is expected to unveil its plans for the iPhone 5 in the next few weeks.
It is rumored to be available sometime in October.
Ironically Apple is Samsung’s biggest customer.
The company purchased various parts from Samsung including displays, NAND flash memory and custom built A4 and A5 chips for its products.
Apple is starting to purchase parts from TSMC, a rival of Samsung’s, according to 9to5 Mac.
Samsung does receive information on Apple’s new products since the company supplies parts for them.
Samsung may have already known enough about the iPhone 5 to begin to accomplish banishing the product from Korea.
