The Korean smartphone market is currently dominated by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. The Blackberry is produced by Canada's Research In Motion.

A senior official at the Korea Communications Commission said Monday that SK Telecom wants to import the Blackberry and is discussing the matter with related government agencies.

The Blackberry integrates a cell phone with a personal digital assistant, enabling users to browse the Internet, manage their e-mail and adjust their calendars, as well as make calls. More than 12 million people around the world use Blackberry phones, which cost around US$300-400.

Korean carriers have so far been unable to import the Blackberry, because it uses RIM's proprietary wireless Internet platform. Cell phones in Korea are required to use the Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (WIPI). However, some Blackberry phones are sold in Korea through trunk radio system operator KT Powertel.

A KCC official said that PDAs are not required to use WIPI so the Blackberry would be able to enter the Korean market if it is categorized as a PDA.

The import of the Blackberry would likely spark a lively competition among telecom providers to dominate the smartphone market, and as a result, the wireless Internet market.

A Samsung Electronics official said that his company is not worried about the arrival of the Blackberry, since the Canadian phone would not immediately appeal to Korean consumers due to its large size and small keypad buttons. But the company vowed to keep improving its smartphones to tackle the challenge from the Canadian phone.

(englishnews@chosun.com )