The business groups' main trading companies like Samsung Co. (No. 22) and Daewoo Corp. (No. 24) are no longer the largest companies outside Japan.

CNN: Inside The 1000 Ranks

One thing's certain: the small players just don't have the money to market their devices over there, whereas Samsung and LG got to get local pop groups to sing and dance about their phones Gangnam style .

ENGADGET: Editorial: HTC's departure from South Korea proves a tough fight for foreign brands

LG, one of South Korea's biggest groups, is facing increased competition from rivals like Samsung.

BBC: LG Group unveils plans to boost investment

Mr. Lee, 67 years old, is widely credited with building up the Samsung conglomerate, one of South Korea's most dominant business groups, or chaebol.

WSJ: South Korea Plans to Pardon Former Samsung Chairman

After several years of lagging hopelessly behind in the cool factor, Microsoft has a chance to score with enterprise IT groups without permanently alienating employees who love iPads and iPhones, or Samsung phones and tablets running Android.

FORBES: Microsoft Windows 8 Faces Slow Adoption In The Enterprise

Collaboration with groups of telecommunications associations to make a globally applicable 3G and 4G standard is a natural progression for Samsung, who are also introducing the most up-to-date LTE technology at the show.

ENGADGET: Samsung shows off LTE-packing netbooks at MWC