A week in tech

Korea

Mobile/Wireless
• KTF Technologies, a mid-tier Korean cell phone maker, announced the unveiling of a 7.9-millimeter-thick handset, which the company claims is the world's thinnest model. KTF Technologies, an affiliate of South Korea’s No. 2 wireless carrier KTF, plans to market the bar-type EV-K100, codenamed “No. 7,” via its parent firm at just below 400,000 won ($410). Previously, the 8.8-millimeter phone made by KTF Technologies' local rival VK was recognized as the world's slimmest mobile phone since its debut, when it pointed to 8.8 millimeters as a downward limitation given the present technologies. However, KTF Technologies overcame such a conventional barrier by slashing the thickness of the embedded antenna in a unique way. The firm refused to reveal the precise antenna size. Wafer-thin phones have become the rage across the world with the clamshell-type 14.5-millimeter-thick RAZR phone of Motorola, the second-largest cell maker in the globe, having swept the market over the past few years. KTF presently has no plan to export the phone based on the code division multiple access (CDMA) but brisk local sales might prompt the firm to go global with the model.

Media, Entertainment and Gaming
• OnNet, a pioneer in the field of internet entertainment, said the company would launch an online golf game, 'Shot-online' in the North American market signing an agreement of package version sales of 'Shot-online'. In the US it will employ Cynet as distributor. 'Shot-online' is getting highly popular as it records the maximum downloading in the golf sector of 'download.com', the biggest downloading site in US and ranking 1st in the sports game position of 'mmorpg.com'. Under the plan to drive offline sales on the base of the popularity of the online game, the company plans to supply 'Shot-online' to on- and off-line shops such as Amazon.com, WalMart and Best Buy. Onnet said it is trying to find various distribution and service types suitable for customers in US

Software
• Competition between multinational computing firms and local software companies is heating up in the online security market. Symantec, the leading security software software firm, said it has teamed up with Internet service providers targeting the online security market. It has formed alliance with Hanaro Telecom. The company said it is ready for the next-generation security service code-named "Genesys" for Vista and Windows XP users, which is designed to protect data from new breeds of Internet threats such as spyware, phishing and fraudulent web sites by providing secure online backup. Trendmicro is launching "House Call" service providing virus detection, care and recovery in conjunction with portals and ISPs. Microsoft also plans to unveil "MS Windows Live Safety Center," which provides detection and care of malicious codes for free, in the first half of this year. The company said it is also set to launch "Windows Onecare Live" in the second half, providing Windows patching and PC optimization, as well as curing viruses, worms and spyware. Facing aggressive moves by multinational computing firms, the country’s No. 1 security vendor Anhlan is reportedly ready to defend its established position by leveraging its individual customer base reaching some 5 million. The company disclosed its plans to introduce new web-based virus and spyware prevention service for enterprise customers next month.

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