iPhone 5 Release Date: Samsung Decides Not to Ban iPhone 4S in South Korea
Samsung has decided to back out of its plans to block the iPhone 4S from being sold in South Korea.
The Chosun Ilbo, a major South Korean newspaper, revealed the news.
A senior Samsung executive gave this statement on the company's decision: "We concluded that we should engage in legal battles with Apple only in the global market, but not in order to gain more market share in Korea."
Samsung previously filed sales injunctions against Apple in countries such as France, Italy, Australia and Japan.
This past Friday, Apple's iPhone 4S smartphone finally arrived in South Korea.
Other markets that the iPhone 4S is being sold in include:
Albania
Armenia
Bulgaria
El Salvador
Greece
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Malta
Montenegro
New Zealand
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Samsung looked to block the iPhone 4S in a complete ban for all of Korea.
An unnamed Samsung senior executive had this to say to The Korean Times about their previous plans: "Just after the arrival of the iPhone 4S here, Samsung plans to take Apple to court here for its violation of Samsung’s wireless technology related patents."
"For as long as Apple does not drop mobile telecommunications functions, it would be impossible for it to sell its i-branded products without using our patents. We will stick to a strong stance against Apple during the lingering legal fights."
Samsung also requested to see the iPhone 4S firmware source code, along with details of Apple’s carrier subsidy agreement. Last week, a judge granted Samsung its request.
Samsung once planned on seeking an injunction against iPhone 4S sales in the country over Apple's alleged violation of Samsung’s wireless technology related patents.
Even with the multitude of legal battles between both companies, Samsung is still planning on developing the A6 processing chip. Apple's upcoming iPhone 5 and the iPad 3 will feature Samsung's A6 chip.
Apple's A6 processing chip is currently being produced by Samsung at the company's Austin, Texas manufacturing plant.
