SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday launched its own tablet computer Surface in South Korea in a bid to bolster its presence in the market dominated by rival gadgets manufactured by Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. The U.S. software giant said consumers will be able to buy the Surface RT tablet computer and its upgraded version, the Surface Pro, at local retail shops starting from June 11. The tablet computer has been already released in over 20 countries, including the United States and China.

Apple is examining the potential of smaller, OLED displays for the upcoming ‘iWatch.'

Shares in Japan's troubled electronics maker Sharp surged 13.22 percent Tuesday morning on a reported plan for a hefty asset sale, the day after rocketing 17 percent. Shares in the Osaka-based firm jumped 73 yen to 625 by the break after a news report said Sharp planned to raise 40 billion yen ($39 million) through selling overseas holdings. The Asahi Shimbun reported the firm planned to sell its television factory in Malaysia and Recurrent Energy LLC, its US solar energy developing unit, while separately considering selling other shareholdings.

SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- The country took its first step Tuesday toward commercialization of products using graphene, a move also aimed at developing dozens of global companies. Graphene is an atom-thin sheet of carbon that can conduct electrons 100 times faster than silicon and has twice the strength of diamonds. The material can be used in various applications, including touch-screen panels and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV panels, though such an end-product has yet to be fully developed.