An LG HelloVision model introduces the newly launched Kyobo Book Centre plan. [LG HelloVision]
An LG HelloVision model introduces the newly launched Kyobo Book Centre plan. [LG HelloVision]

LG HelloVision has launched a new Kyobo Book Centre mobile plan offering reading perks worth 9,900 won per month, aiming to deliver greater value to budget mobile users.

LG HelloVision's HelloMobile announced Friday it has teamed up with Kyobo Book Centre to release six "Kyobo Book Centre SIM card and handset plans" that bundle monthly e-book and book-purchase benefits worth 9,900 won. The plans combine unlimited LTE data with Kyobo's "sam Unlimited" e-book subscription service and a monthly e-voucher.

HelloMobile said it identified strong demand for reading across all age groups, including the core budget-mobile demographic of people in their 20s through 40s. Subscribers receive a monthly Kyobo Book Centre sam Unlimited subscription — covering e-books, audiobooks, videos and academic papers — along with a 1,000-won online-only Kyobo e-voucher, both provided for 24 months. Sam, launched in 2013 as South Korea's first e-book subscription service, offers access to up to approximately 800,000 titles.

The lineup is built around high-demand unlimited LTE data tiers. The three SIM-only plans for unlocked-phone users are: the Kyobo Book Centre SIM 1GB (1GB plus 1Mbps throttled data, 8,800 won per month), the Kyobo Book Centre SIM 7GB (7GB plus 1Mbps, 17,200 won per month) and the Kyobo Book Centre SIM 11GB (11GB plus 2GB daily plus 3Mbps, 34,290 won per month).

Customers signing up with a handset can choose from three device plans: the Kyobo Book Centre Handset 1GB (1GB plus 1Mbps, 26,200 won per month), the Kyobo Book Centre Handset 5GB (5GB plus 1Mbps, 34,200 won per month) and the Kyobo Book Centre Handset 11GB (11GB plus 2GB daily plus 3Mbps, 56,300 won per month). The plans are available through HelloMobile's official online store and at authorized dealers nationwide.

"We partnered with Kyobo Book Centre to offer this plan for budget mobile customers who enjoy self-improvement and reading," said Kim Ye-hyeon, head of mobile project at LG HelloVision. "We will continue to expand lifestyle-focused partnerships to broaden the customer experience beyond telecommunications and into everyday life."

Meanwhile, HelloMobile has been building a lineup of lifestyle partnership plans targeting cost-conscious consumers in a high-inflation environment. The range includes a coupon-pack plan that lets subscribers choose from coupons for eight partner brands each month, a safety insurance plan covering voice-phishing and injury losses, and a Hyundai Home Shopping plan that provides monthly shopping reward credits.


ko@heraldcorp.com