KT's Egg gives your WiFi device access to the wonderful world of WiBro

Korea Telecom really wants to get you on the WiBro tip. The aptly-named (if a wee bit uninspired) Egg is essentially a router for connecting WiFi devices (such as the Nintendo DS or iPod Touch) to the company's wireless broadband network. According to the Korea Times, both KT and SK Telecom (the country's two main WiBro operators) have mere 170,000 WiBro customers total, "making a mockery" of its "most wired nation" aspirations -- so they can certainly stand to expand their customer base a little bit. Subscribers to the company's flat-rate data plan will get the device for free (trust us, they've paid enough). Or you can pick one up for yourself at the Apple store in Samseong-dong or Myeong-dong, the next time you're in Seoul. This guy should be hitting the shelves sometime in May for ₩220,000 (that's about $163).

[Thanks, Stafford]

[THJ @ Apr 27th 2009 10:46AM]

I can't wait to play with your WiBro.

[Bob @ Apr 27th 2009 11:53AM]

"Don't taze me, WiBro!"

[John @ Apr 27th 2009 10:47AM]

It's a bit large.











(yeah, that IS what she said)

[Ryan Trevisol @ Apr 27th 2009 10:51AM]

I'm waiting for WiFe the Wireless tech that uses the magnetic properties of iron to attract signal.

[jrodliebs @ Apr 27th 2009 11:14AM]

I hope you have a comfy chair buddy.

[Maxwell Ash @ Apr 27th 2009 1:32PM]

It also cooks for you, but it does tend to nag you sometimes. Pretty good for a wireless technology.

[xcrunk @ Apr 27th 2009 11:24AM]

This is like tethering, right?

Well, couldn't the same technology be brought to cell phones? The iPhone and many other mobile devices have Wifi...you could communicate to the phone via wifi, then the phone would internally route IP to the cellular network. Sounds like something that's right around the corner.

And as usual, will cost you extra, on top of your unlimited data plan. Yay! More charges. I hate cellphone carriers.

[dan @ Apr 27th 2009 11:43AM]

I'm pretty sure there's software available to do just that with S60 handsets.

[Greg K @ Apr 27th 2009 11:25AM]

'...have mere 170,000 WiBro customers total, "making a mockery" of its "most wired nation" aspirations'

So, really they have achieved their goals?


(shoot me down before I say anymore.)

[Niko @ Apr 27th 2009 11:31AM]

Russian Wi-Max carrier Yota also evaluating perspectives of this device.

(source in Russian)
http://www.yota.ru/ru/news/details/?ID=1784

[elloh7 @ Apr 27th 2009 11:31AM]

So that's what Apple did with all the worn out Mighty Mouse tooling.. hmm..

[Johnny @ Apr 27th 2009 11:33AM]

"The aptly-named (if a wee bit uninspired) Egg is essentially a router for connecting WiFi devices (such as the Nintendo DS or iPod Touch) to the company's wireless broadband network"

Maybe because it's Monday morning, but I can't seem to wrap my head around the difference between this and a standard Wi-Fi router.

[John Chang @ Apr 27th 2009 1:32PM]

This is much different from a standard wifi router in that... you don't need to stick a cable to this router. This router uses Wibros ( america knows it as WiMax or... 4g). And Korea has basically no dead spots, so just take that soap with you, and you have 4g internet everywhere you go. If only they had this in america, I can use my itouch as my permanent cellphone through skype and never pay for the pricey plans.

[Johnny @ Apr 27th 2009 3:25PM]

Ah. I guess I've only loosely heard the term WiBro before and didn't realize that was the same as WiMax. That will be great in the US... years from now. Thanks for explaining in a non-dickish manner!

[NickNick @ Apr 27th 2009 11:40AM]

*in the shower washing*

*wife in the living room*

Wife: "Honey! why is the soap on the coffee table?"

*looks at hand holding the "soap"?*

Me: ".... ooops"

[Hotrod @ Apr 27th 2009 12:31PM]

Soap bar.

[klingkling999 @ Apr 27th 2009 12:52PM]

THERE IS NO APPLE STORE IN KOREA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only crappy authorized retailers with pea-brain tech support.

[John Chang @ Apr 27th 2009 1:32PM]

The one in COEX is a authorized apple store

[Wwhat @ Apr 27th 2009 1:31PM]

Are you suggesting apple products aren't flawless and need tech-support? O_o

[Crazy J @ Apr 27th 2009 1:40PM]

There were no apple stores the last time my company sent me there.

I was just about to book a ticket to Seoul to check out these apple stores in MyeongDong and SamseongDong!

I don't know if Apple store will do well in S. Korea. I think I read somewhere that iRiver still outsells the ipod in S Korea.

[Big Al @ Apr 28th 2009 2:18AM]

Apple has a following in Korea, but it's dwarfed by other Korean-made brands: iRiver, Cowon and Samsung. Because of this, Apple no longer has an official Apple store in Korea; they had just one in COEX (in Samseong-dong) until 2007.
That store eventually shut down and was replaced with the "a# shop", which is just a store that is authorized to sell Apple products. They also sell cameras, game systems and games. I haven't been to Myeongdong in a while, but I'm willing to bet that the "apple" store there is just like, if not the same as, the "a# shop".

[kiding @ Apr 28th 2009 6:40AM]

That wasn't Apple Store, either. There was no Genius Bar, or other services whatever real Apple Store provided except repair service and looking around.

[ahoge @ Apr 27th 2009 12:59PM]

Does it look like Apple product? No. Does it looks like nice dust collector? Yes.

[Wwhat @ Apr 27th 2009 1:33PM]

Loos to me like a bar of soap more than an egg, never saw an egg looking like that.

[slamEVIL @ Apr 27th 2009 2:09PM]

looks like a bathroom air freshener that one's grandmother would have. it would look a hella lot better if they made it in black.

[John Chang @ Apr 27th 2009 1:56PM]

Does anyone know if this router will work with America's (future) Wimax carriers

[Tada @ Apr 28th 2009 1:34AM]

$20 a month for 37meg/s dl rate is actually really good. My cellphone provider charges $30 unlimited data plan per person.. I've always thought of having world wide wifi and I guess this is something close to it. Using your phone as an router isn't good at all because it drains your battery like crazy. Anyways, that thing does look like a bar of soap but seriously if it looked like an egg that would just be ridiculous..

[Big Al @ Apr 28th 2009 2:26AM]

'According to the Korea Times, both KT and SK Telecom (the country's two main WiBro operators) have mere 170,000 WiBro customers total, "making a mockery" of its "most wired nation" aspirations...'

I'm sorry, but how does the low number of WiBro (ie. "wireless") subscribers match up with Korea's goal to be the most "wired" nation?

[kiding @ Apr 28th 2009 6:52AM]

Even this time, coverage of WiBro is quite narrow, it can be used in big cities like Seoul, Daejeon, Incheon, Pusan, etc, and some urban sites. So a lot of people had trouble using it. People started think, "I'd rather using Nespot(KT's Wi-Fi service)" or "Forget it. Dang." or "I like offline." Recently with netbooks, WiBro users are (sloooowly) increasing.

At that moment, iPod touch users are increasing, there is no iPhone in Korea, and iPod users get annoyed at trying to find opened Wi-Fi network. So, egg will be great decision for iPod touch users, I think.

[Damacy @ Apr 28th 2009 7:50AM]

Well, since I live in Korea, I learned about this product a few days ago.

Since the writers at Engadget either forgot to write about it or didn't know failed to post the battery life on the device.

The estimated battery life of this "egg" is 4 hours

Oh and if anyone is curious about how much the WiBro service is in Korea, let me give you and idea by providing this table

Unlimited 50 : It gives you 50 GB bandwidth limit for 27000 Wons ($20) (New subscribers will be given free "Egg")

Unlimited 30 : It gives you 30 GB bandwidth limit for 19800 Wons ($15) (And New subscribers will be given 100,000 Wons ($75) off for the "Egg")

[John Chang @ May 15th 2009 6:25PM]

If I were to go to Korea for the summer (3months), can I still get this Egg for free and just paythe monthly subscription?

and maybe keep the Egg or give it back to the Apple store or something? I wanna use my ipod touch as a phone while I stay there.

Also, will this router work with America's Wimax?