Samsung eyes 4G prize

With the third generation of mobile phones only really beginning to chug into motion in the UK, users may be surprised to learn that handset maker Samsung is already beginning to allocate billions of pounds to its successor.

The world's third-largest handset maker plans to commit nine per cent of its telecoms revenues to research and development, with a third of that earmarked for investment in fourth-generation mobile technologies, according to reports in The Korea Times.

The firm this week hosted the second annual Samsung 4G Forum 2004, at the Shilla Hotel on South Korea's Jeju Island.

The two-day conference was attended by more than 120 mobile communications representatives from 18 countries and, while probably at least five years into the future, the lightning-quick 4G services discussed are already beginning to create excitement among industry experts and operators.

Speaking on the eve of the event, Samsung Electronics president Kitae Lee said in a statement: "We are heavily involved in the research of WiBro [wireless broadband] hardware and handsets as well as various technologies for 4G mobile communications.

"It is the time to establish the vision for 4G technologies and services, and we must implement that vision through standardisation."

Samsung claims to hold more than 220 patents related to 4G mobile communications and said it has 15 staff on executive committees at seven different organisations related to 3G and 4G mobile communications.

Touted as running at speeds of over 100Mbps, 4G services are nearly 300 times faster than current video mobile services available in the UK.