ID :
175367
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 09:46
Auther :

SK Telecom breaks into group buying industry


By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's leading mobile carrier, said Thursday that it will advance into the heated "social commerce" industry as part of its efforts to add perks for its subscribers.
SK Telecom agreed to join hands with Groupon Korea, which launched a local "daily deal" service last month, to give various discounts to its mobile service subscribers, the company said in a statement.
Social commerce, or "group buying," has grown immensely in South Korea in the last year as consumers flocked to Web sites offering half-priced deals for local restaurants, cafes, concerts and other retail shops amid soaring consumer prices.
Part of the discount deals for SK Telecom subscribers will be pulled from Groupon Korea as well as from SK Telecom's subsidiaries and partners, including its online sales Web site.
SK Telecom controls half of the country's wireless industry, which has about 51 million mobile phone users.
The social commerce sector, estimated at 60 billion won (US$55.2 million) in 2010, is forecast to balloon to 500 billion won this year, according to the most bullish market estimate.
ylee@yna.co.kr

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