(Seoul, 19 November 2008) - SK Telecom today announced that Gifticon, its innovative mobile-based gift coupon service, won this year’s Asia Mobile Awards for Best Mobile Internet Service at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress 2008, Asia’s leading communications event held this week in Macau, China.

In presenting the Best Mobile Internet Service Award to SK Telecom, GSMA highlighted Gifticon’s ground-breaking innovation of providing end users, especially the youth sector, with a new and easy way of sharing emotions by sending "gift coupons" through the mobile device anytime, anywhere. GSMA said this represents a new trend for the industry and demonstrates the strong potential of mobile gift coupon service. The award, presented by GSMA Chairman Craig Ehrlich, was more meaningful as mobile internet was one of the key agendas of the Mobile Asia Congress this year.

Sung Chul Hong, Vice President of Internet Business Division at SK Telecom, said, "Our advanced data services are acknowledged and benchmarked by many global operators. The Asia Mobile Awards for Best Mobile Internet Service further highlights our role as a global innovative leader. We are truly honored to receive this prestigious award from our peers in the telecom industry. SK Telecom is strongly committed to changing the way of communication and delivering innovation to the world."

SK Telecom bested major operator nominees that included India’s Bharti Airtel, the Netherland’s GYPSii, Singapore’s Mobile One and Hong Kong’s CSL.

SK Telecom’s Gifticon service was established in 2006. At present, over 100 products of 33 companies including Starbucks and Baskin Robbins are available. With Gifticon, users in Korea can send mobile coupons for a variety of products such as a cup of coffee, ice cream and pizza through their mobile phones, wired or wireless Internet, or instant messenger. The coupons are delivered in the form of text messages and can be exchanged with real products at offline stores.

The GSMA’s Asia Mobile Awards recognizes innovative companies of the telecom industry that have shown outstanding growth, innovation and leadership. This year, it attracted more than 120 entries from companies across Asia. Eight prizes were awarded in four different categories, including mobile entertainment such as music, gaming and advertising; mobile services such as Internet and mobile money; mobile broadband devices; and eco-friendly Green Mobile Award category. Winners are judged by independent analysts, journalists and industry experts.

The Best Mobile Internet Service Award aims to recognize services that enable users to access the web and related services using mobile devices, such as Mobile Search, Social Networking, Instant Messaging, shopping and content sharing. The category was newly added this year, along with Best Mobile Money Services and Green Mobile Award category, to reflect popular topics and sectors in the present telecommunication business.