Seoul

[Update 25 May 2010: downgraded Seoul on both FINANCIAL SECURITY and PHYSICAL SECURITY factors. Full list of CITY Rankings.]

There is no Ground Zero for smartphone development. However, there are several hubs. South Korea is one such hub -- and has the ability to design, develop, manufacture and distribute their products. How the Japanese adopted advanced mobile devices in the 90s, Koreans appear as quick to adopt and adapt to the newest devices and OS's, like Android, in the present day.

Not sure why, but I've been to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and would like to visit several other cities in Asia. Seoul is not one of them. Maybe it just doesn't have the buzz factor. It can't be the food. I mean, Korean BBQ and those incredibly rich, savory broths with noodles are to die for.

Maybe I have been unfair with Seoul/Korea. I mean, I bet Americans who watched MASH in the 1970s wouldn't believe the advances the nation has made in 30 years. Let's run the city through my Great Leveling algorithm for cities and nations and see how they do...