KT, Sony offer game package

KT Corp. and Sony have joined efforts for the first time. KT, Korea’s largest high-speed Internet service provider, and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Corp. of Japan, said yesterday they would pursue joint marketing of Nespot, KT’s wireless broadband service, and PlayStation 2, Sony’s console game. The firms will package the console, game titles and a month’s subscription to Nespot at a 20 percent discount on the price if bought separately. “With marketing cooperation with Sony, we hope to attract about 50,000 more subscribers for Nespot,” a KT official said. What caught the eyes of industry analysts was the prospect that KT’s ties with Sony might bring changes in the relationship between KT and Microsoft Corp. of the United States. Since investing in KT in 2001, Microsoft has joined the firm on various Internet ventures. Sony’s Playstation 2 and Microsoft’s X-Box console games are in fierce competition. A KT official said the deal was no more than joint marketing, and it would take some time before the company could decide whether to advance the new partnership with Sony. A Microsoft official said: “The non-exclusive agreement [between KT and Sony] will not affect the relationship between Microsoft and KT.” by Cho Min-geun