Amid a proliferation of high-end smartphones here, Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom have teamed up for a rare project ― a flip phone running on the third-generation network service.

SK Telecom, the nation’s largest mobile carrier, said Tuesday that it will launch a new handset model called “Wise2” next week to meet feature phone demand, especially from those in their 40s or older.

According to a recent survey by the company, the age group made up almost 70 percent of the total feature phone users in Korea.

The low-end phone by Samsung comes two months after LG Electronics launched its feature phone model Wine Sherbet earlier this year.

Despite its relatively basic technical specifications, the new aluminum case phone supports smartphone-like features such as an icon user interface and photo-based phone number list.

A SK Telecom spokesperson refused to elaborate on the exact release date and price of the new model, denying that its launch was responding to a new phone blacklist system that took effect on Tuesday.

Aimed at lowering handset prices, the system allows consumers to buy a cellphone through any distribution channel and activate network service just by inserting a universal sim card.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)