SK Telecom handing over $270 million (more) to Helio

As if receiving $200 million from SK Telecom and EarthLink back in July wasn't enough, Helio is now set to accept (up to) a $270 million check from SK Telecom. According to EarthLink, SK Telecom will "invest up to $270 million in Helio," and as expected, EarthLink was "very pleased" with the decision -- you know, considering that it won't be forced to cough up any more dough at the moment while still maintaining "substantial ownership interest in Helio's future." Most interesting, however, is the tidbit that mentions the parents' plans, as EarthLink and SK Telecom are reportedly "in discussions to amend their existing agreements to reflect the additional investment by SK Telecom and their future governance of Helio." Gotta pay to play, we suppose.

[Justin @ Sep 21st 2007 3:48PM]

SK Telecom is about to take over the US Cellular market. With this substantial investment and talks of purchasing Sprint/Nextel, SK Telecom is going to be a major presence in the American marketplace which can only mean great things with the cutting edge technology they've implemented (first to HDSPA, RFID). If they bought Sprint and rolled out WiMax and brought RFID to the mainstream in America, our cellular technology that's available to us will finally be on par with the rest of the world.

[Frankenstein Black @ Sep 21st 2007 4:12PM]

You mean HSDPA, right? Yes it would be big (Sprint needs that deal badly)! This along with the recently announced Verizon move to UMTS/LTE will mean all US Operators will be playing on the same 4G type network tech as AT&T, T-Mobile and 95% of the world! DING DONG the CDMA WITCH IS (or soon will be) DEAD!!

Now Piss Off Qualcomm! And quit lifting, patent trolling and lawsuit-ing and go back to (or start) inventing stuff for realz!

[David @ Sep 21st 2007 7:36PM]

If we had SK Telecom we would get those hot thin ass Korean phones

[BLUE @ Sep 21st 2007 3:48PM]

HELIO IS HERE TO STAY...FOR NOW!

[Brett @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:25PM]

I have never met let alone seen a person with a helio phone in my life. I am 23 my sister is 18 and we live in nyc so this seems strange to me.

[Scott @ Sep 21st 2007 4:27PM]

@Frankenstein Black

"...will mean all US Operators will be playing on the same 4G type network tech..."

You forgot to include Alltel, US Cellular, MetroPCS, and Cricket still running CDMA. Of course, when Verizon folds Alltel won't be far behind. They help each others' networks too much.

[letstakeawalk @ Sep 21st 2007 4:59PM]

Glad to hear about the $$$ infusion. Now let's dig up some info on the forthcoming replacement for the Drift... I am so pleased with Helio as a provider (after 8+ w/ATT&T and 2 at Cingular).

[Amorde @ Sep 21st 2007 5:03PM]

Sprint network and service sucks. Helio should've chosen a better partner for it's US launch. But then again, I double AT&T or Verizon wanted to open their network to outsiders.
Helio's problem isn't their phone but the network. Plus, they don't have the strength to match the big carriers on service. MVNO market is somewhat crowded, the only successful one is and will be Virgin Mobile.
However, if SK buys out Sprint, they may be able to merge the Helio operation into it and lower the operating cost and also cut the expense for consumers. If they can lower their flat rate data and minutes plan to below $50 - the magic number. They will have a shot to takeover a substantial part of the market. Vertical integration baby!
That's an impossibility right now due to the fixed cost they have to pay Sprint for the network. Then again, buying out Sprint will leave them with a crappy network that will cost billions to upgrade, so no winning formula here.

[Montusama @ Sep 21st 2007 6:32PM]

Well SK Telecom probably does supply its consumers with far better phones than US carriers do....so if I can finally get the phone I WANT (more PMP/Camera Less phone) They can have it!

[Al @ Sep 21st 2007 7:01PM]

SK has all of the cool and exclusive phones here in korea. I'm using ktf instead but always gawk at the sky phones for their features. This would be a good thing for america.. I wouldn't mind SK budging into my home turf (canada) and shake up the grounds there.. especially rogers.

[Jeff D @ Sep 23rd 2007 1:04AM]

Brett, the only one you'd recognize right off the bat as a Helio phone is the Ocean. The rest look pretty much like any other phone.

I was with AT&T/Cingular for over ten years and had calls drop on my constantly (and I live in Boston, not exactly the sticks.)

A month with Helio and not only have I not dropped a call, the clarity if fantastic.

SK Telecom is printing money, I'd love to see them buy Sprint and enter the U.S. market and would not at all be surprised if that is in their plans.

[Marty @ Sep 25th 2007 9:46AM]

As always, service varies depending on what city you live in. Anyone interested in Helio better check with other people in the same city and find out.
I'll tell you... in Orlando, Helio blows. Ironically enough, I'm reading this article while waiting, on hold for about 20 minutes now, on the phone w/ Helio trying to get the bastards to give me that refund they owe me. It's been 2 months since I returned my Ocean under their 30-day guarantee and still have not received a dime.
I returned my Helio Ocean due to excessive dropped calls (like... EVERY call would drop) and lack of signal. What's the point of high-speed when you can't get a signal indoors?? Then the final straw was when my Ocean crapped out on me and I find out that there is a high-rate of defects in Oceans. So now we have Crap Service + Defective Phone. Of course they replace the defective phone... with a refurbished one... but that was nearly 2 weeks I had to go with no phone until the replacement came. Top that off with some of the dumbest customer svc reps you ever talked to... I have nothing good to say about Helio. Sorry to those who've had positive results, but if you live in Orlando, don't even bother. Stick with T-mobile or Cingular. It's too bad because I did like Helio's pricing and plans.