Samsung unveils new smartphones

[amphibian]

http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/19503.html

Samsung Unveils New Smartphones, Eyes U.S. Market

By Jay Wrolstad
Wireless NewsFactor
September 25, 2002

Samsung could stumble if acceptance of value-added wireless data services, such as imaging, is slow to materialize and the company is left holding a profusion of products at the higher-end/lower-volume segment of the market.

Korean electronics giant Samsung, seeking to grab a larger share of the U.S. wireless market, has unveiled two new smartphones and a camera phone for American consumers. The company also inked a new mobile phone deal with U.S. carrier Cingular designed to give Samsung access to more potential customers.

The new voice/data converged devices are the SPH-i500, a Palm-compatible smartphone designed for next-generation wireless networks, which sports a clamshell design; and the SPH-i330, which also supports the Palm OS and features an optional digital camera module.

Samsung's SGH-V200 photo phone has an embedded digital camera, enabling users to send images over wireless networks. All of the products should be available by year-end or in early 2003.

In rolling out advanced devices in recent years, Samsung has seen its mobile phone sales soar, with Gartner reporting that the company now ranks third in the global market. Samsung's phone sales rose 46 percent to 9.34 million units in the second quarter of 2002, and the company is poised to grab a 10 percent market share.

Cashing In on Innovation

With the new products, Samsung is capitalizing on the advanced data-capable handset and device experience it gained with operational 3G networks in Korea, Yankee Group wireless analyst John Jackson told Wireless NewsFactor.

"In the U.S., Samsung has been successful targeting the higher end of handsets and wireless devices with an aggressive segmentation scheme and its ability to bring innovative products to market rapidly," he said.

However, the company could stumble if acceptance of value-added wireless data services, such as imaging, is slow to materialize and it is left holding a profusion of products at the higher-end/lower-volume segment of the market.

Samsung has made inroads with U.S. carriers, with Sprint its primary customer and T-Mobile/VoiceStream, Verizon Wireless and Cingular all selling the company's handsets. Cingular has inked a long-term supply agreement to offer an array of Samsung phones to its customers, starting with the GSM (global system for mobile communications)-based n625 model.

Connecting with Carriers

The company's approach to the converged device market is an extension of its successful strategy in the cell phone arena, IDC analyst Weili Su told Wireless NewsFactor.

"Samsung and other Korean manufacturers ... are willing to customize their products for carriers, sacrificing the company brand to gain business," Su said. "The company understands that carriers want to get into the data world, and is offering the devices to do that."

The company also introduced its Home Pad refrigerator -- a smart appliance offering Web access and DVD functionality with a touch screen that serves as a detachable tablet PC -- and a series of advanced display products, including large-screen TVs.


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[amphibian]

http://www.pmn.co.uk/20020926palmsource.shtml

Samsung renews Palm OS license

26 September 2002 -- PMN -- Samsung has officially renewed its Palm OS license with PalmSource and commited to the development of further smartphone products. The South Korean consumer electronics giant currently uses the Palm OS in the i300, i330 and i500 CDMA smartphones.

Samsung also licenses operating system technology from Microsoft and Symbian. It has developed two versions of its i330 product, one of which uses the Palm OS and the other Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition. It is also working on a Series 60 Symbian smartphone using interface technology licensed from Nokia.

Samsung is currently engaged on a nationwide promotional tour of the US, demonstrating everything from smartphones to widescreen televisions.


Author: PMN
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Related articles: Samsung expands presence in Chinese CDMA market; Samsung licenses Nokia Series 60


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