US tech giant Apple has extended the emergency location-sharing feature on iPhones for users in South Korea from five minutes to 30 minutes. This change was made following a request from the Seoul government to aid emergency responders in accurately locating iPhone users in need of help. The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) facilitated discussions among Apple, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, and the Korea Internet & Security Agency to finalize this agreement.
The KMCC official highlighted that unlike Samsung Electronics smartphones, Apple devices previously had limitations due to their operational mechanisms. Apple’s decision to extend the service duration was specifically tailored for South Korean users. KMCC Chair Kim Jong-cheol expressed appreciation for Apple’s decision and emphasized the importance of collaborating with global companies and relevant organizations to enhance location-sharing services for the safety and protection of individuals.
In a separate development, the head of the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) urged Google to focus on fostering mutual growth within South Korea’s application ecosystem. This call came as Google announced revisions to its commission policy for the app market, including a split of the 30 percent commission into a 15-20 percent service fee and a 5 percent transaction fee. Kim Jong-cheol met with Wilson White, Google’s vice president of global affairs, to discuss areas of cooperation ahead of the policy implementation.
Google’s recent commitment to adjusting its app store policy was welcomed by Kim, who anticipated substantial changes in the app market ecosystem. He encouraged Google to expedite the implementation of the new pricing structure in South Korea, which was originally scheduled for December. Kim also emphasized the need for Google to introduce initiatives that support equitable growth among all ecosystem participants, particularly small and medium-sized developers. He called for Google’s ongoing attention and actions to establish a fair and sustainable app ecosystem.
