S. Korean mobile carriers to provide universal messenger service

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's three mobile phone operators, led by SK
Telecom Co., said Tuesday that their subscribers will be able to use universal
instant messenger service this week.
Mobile phone users, regardless of the telecom services they subscribe to, will be
able to send and receive instant messages through mobile devices starting
Wednesday, they said.
Individual mobile carriers had to date been offering instant messenger services
that were available only within their own networks. The companies said they had
successfully worked on interlocking the instant messaging services.
SK Telecom, the country's leading telecom service provider, holds up to 51
percent of the country's mobile phone market, followed by KTF Co. with 32 percent
and LG Telecom Co. with 18 percent, according to government data.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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