The following post was co-authored by an iPhonAsia reader who wishes to remain anonymous
It has been just 18 days since iPhone officially launched in Korea and it has already rocked domestic handset powerhouses Samsung and LG. There have been several jingoistic campaigns (funded by?) to undermine iPhone in Korea, yet these efforts have largely backfired. 150,000 Koreans have purchased Phones through KT, Apple’s carrier partner in Korea.
Now we learn about a furor earlier this week over the sudden decision by Gyeonggi Province officials to cut off real-time transit tracking data for a popular free iPhone app — “Seoul Bus.” The resultant bad press forced the provincial governor (who has presidential ambitions) into a round of embarrassing denials “I knew nothing of this outrageous decision!” and he ordered the the app to be immediately restored, thereby virtually ensuring from the outset the right of iPhone apps to use a wide range of government-supplied information.
In short, the iPhone is not only selling like crazy in Korea, but almost overnight it has also become a proven weapon against bureaucratic intransigence.
A report in the Korea Times today details the Gyeonggi Province ”app Gate” tempest…
The provincial government said Thursday it will withdraw the decision to cut off the use of the “Seoul Bus” program for iPhone users, a week after blocking it, allowing subscribers the ability to check real-time information on the location of local buses. A new policy will be implemented to supply the smartphone users with the positioning system.
Before the cutoff, the Seoul Bus program was one of the most popular programs for iPhone subscribers with daily downloads reaching 10,000 at the App Store, an online application shop of Apple.
Developed by an 18-year-old high school student, using public transportation information of the province, the application allows its users to gain information for the arrival time of buses at nearby stops by inputting their current location.
Uproar from iPhone prescribers flooded online sites in the wake up to the government’s decision, saying public officers at Gyeonggi Province were neglecting their duty of offering convenience to their residents.
The feud was settled by the Gyeonggi Province governor, who ordered the relaunch of the service after being briefed on the matter.
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