SK Telecom, China Mobile team on mobile game development

South Korean wireless operator SK Telecom has signed a memorandum of understanding to team on content, platform and networking technologies with China Mobile, the Chinese market's largest operator at more than 584 million subscribers.

The partnership will focus on mobile gaming--according to SK Telecom, the Chinese mobile game segment has grown 100 percent annually over the past three years, with the number of gamers reaching 46 million by the end of 2010. At present, most mobile gaming activity in China is limited to Java-based devices--in an effort to boost smartphone gaming, SK Telecom will share with China Mobile game content and technical assistance. In addition, SK Telecom will enable games downloaded from its virtual storefront to run across the China Mobile network.

SK Telecom boasts a subscriber base totaling about 24 million, corresponding to about 50 percent of the South Korean market. CEO Jung Mang-won has stated carriers must produce their own mobile content and applications to remain competitive in the evolving mobile ecosystem. Last year, SK Telecom announced it would invest roughly $907 million as part of a three-year plan to develop applications and software targeting the U.S., China and Southeast Asian markets.

SK Telecom was also one of several bidders looking to scoop up the assets of bankrupt U.S. video rental chain Blockbuster. Satellite television services provider Dish Network ultimately won last week's bankruptcy auction for Blockbuster, agreeing to pay about $320.6 million--SK Telecom offered $284.5 million, stating it had reached deals with three of Blockbuster's movie studio/DVD partners that would add $50 million in creditor value and keep the chain going as a business.

For more:
- read this Korea Times article

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