ID :
201858
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 12:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/201858
The shortlink copeid
Local IT firms must innovate to weather global change
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- The acquisition of Motorola Mobility by Google Inc., the biggest maker of smartphone software, heralds an advent of rapid changes in the world's information technology (IT) industry, sending an alarming sign to local IT companies. Google announced Sunday it agreed to buy the mobile phone manufacturer for US$12.5 billion to gain mobile patents and expand in the hardware business.
Samsung Electronics, which competes with Apple in the global smartphone market, seems to be alert and its top executive urged the company to enhance its software competitiveness, forecasting power shifts from hardware companies to software makers.
Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., urged his company Tuesday to step up efforts to develop its software competitiveness, even through mergers and acquisitions if necessary.
The call came right after Google announced plans to purchase Motorola Mobility, a hardware company that makes many phones based on Google's Android operating system.
"(The company) must strengthen the competitiveness of its information technology, secure more human resources and also more actively seek mergers and acquisitions," Lee was quoted as saying at an emergency meeting with company executives.
The meeting apparently came as Google, with its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, is expected to become one of Samsung's largest competitors. The Korean electronics giant is currently the world's second-largest cellular phone maker.
"We must pay attention to the fact that IT power is moving away from hardware companies such as Samsung to software companies," Lee said in the meeting, according to the officials.
Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility would be a catalyst to promote mergers and acquisitions among the world's IT industry. Some experts speculate there is a possibility that Microsoft Corp. could acquire Finland-based Nokia. Korean IT companies should be attentive in monitoring the situation and make thorough preparations.
A prevailing view is Google had to acquire Motorola Mobility in order to survive the patent war with its competitors like Apple and Microsoft.
Once Microsoft's merger with Nokia is actually realized, the global smartphone market will likely be reshaped as a three-way race among Apple, Google and Microsoft.
In this case, Korean IT companies that are relatively vulnerable in software competitiveness will be left behind in the global competition.
It is most important for local IT companies to bring up qualified manpower and make efforts to establish friendly partnerships among themselves to jointly occupy the global IT market.
The government is advised to give every possible support to these companies to cope with the sharp changes in the global IT arena.
Samsung Electronics, which competes with Apple in the global smartphone market, seems to be alert and its top executive urged the company to enhance its software competitiveness, forecasting power shifts from hardware companies to software makers.
Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., urged his company Tuesday to step up efforts to develop its software competitiveness, even through mergers and acquisitions if necessary.
The call came right after Google announced plans to purchase Motorola Mobility, a hardware company that makes many phones based on Google's Android operating system.
"(The company) must strengthen the competitiveness of its information technology, secure more human resources and also more actively seek mergers and acquisitions," Lee was quoted as saying at an emergency meeting with company executives.
The meeting apparently came as Google, with its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, is expected to become one of Samsung's largest competitors. The Korean electronics giant is currently the world's second-largest cellular phone maker.
"We must pay attention to the fact that IT power is moving away from hardware companies such as Samsung to software companies," Lee said in the meeting, according to the officials.
Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility would be a catalyst to promote mergers and acquisitions among the world's IT industry. Some experts speculate there is a possibility that Microsoft Corp. could acquire Finland-based Nokia. Korean IT companies should be attentive in monitoring the situation and make thorough preparations.
A prevailing view is Google had to acquire Motorola Mobility in order to survive the patent war with its competitors like Apple and Microsoft.
Once Microsoft's merger with Nokia is actually realized, the global smartphone market will likely be reshaped as a three-way race among Apple, Google and Microsoft.
In this case, Korean IT companies that are relatively vulnerable in software competitiveness will be left behind in the global competition.
It is most important for local IT companies to bring up qualified manpower and make efforts to establish friendly partnerships among themselves to jointly occupy the global IT market.
The government is advised to give every possible support to these companies to cope with the sharp changes in the global IT arena.
