According to industry sources, Google is likely to launch the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones soon in the US. It is also set to unveil a new subscription service, Pixel Pass, which bundles phone financing and Google’s other services, such as YouTube Premium, Google One storage, Play Pass and Google Fi.
Although Korea is not included this time, Google’s attempt to lock in users could affect the local market, industry members said. In August 2021, it was reported that Google might be preparing to bring its new smartphone models to Korea.
In Korea, Samsung Electronics has attracted users into a mobile ecosystem encompassing the company’s devices and Samsung Pay, a mobile payment service for compatible Samsung smartphones and smartwatches. The number of Samsung Pay users reached 19 million as of August 2020.
Local telecommunications companies are also set to compete with global tech giants’ subscription bundles and recently started to roll out subscription-based services. SK Telecom in August 2021 launched subscription-based e-commerce platform T Universe, which provides one-stop services for a range of e-commerce platforms, including those provided by Amazon, Starbucks, and digital services such as Google One and Xbox Game Pass.
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