Samsung targets 15% increase in handset sales

Pragati Simlote

SINGAPORE: Samsung aims to up its global handset shipments by 15 per cent to 115 million units in 2006.

According to Ng Long Shyang, director of sales and marketing for telecommunications and IT products, Samsung, “In 2005, we shipped over 100 million mobiles worldwide and recorded revenue of $17 billion. In 2006, we plan to ship around 115 million units and have already done 29 million units during Q1, 2006.”

He was speaking at the unveiling of a brand new line-up of slim mobiles at CommunicAsia 2006 - the 'Ultra Edition'. Shyang added that in South East Asia alone the company plans to ship more than nine million units in 2006. Mid- and low-end phones will be the company's focus areas for growth in this region.

Targeted at people who want to live life to the fullest, the company will launch three variants in the 'Ultra Edition' series. The Ultra Edition 6.9 (X820), which the company claims is the world's thinnest profile of only 6.9 mm, and comes outfitted with a 2-mega-pixel camera. Also on display is the Ultra Edition 12.9 (D900), 12.9mm slider phone with a 3 mega pixel camera and the Ultra Edition 9.9 (D830), a clamshell handset that is 9.9 mm thin and features a 2 mega pixel camera. The company plans to launch these high-end handsets in India within a month of the global launch.

Shyang said, “This collection of 'Ultra Edition' phones is part of the company's aggressive global strategy to take on the leadership position in the mobile phone market. It also illustrates our sensitivity to consumer needs by delivering smaller and thinner mobiles phones without compromising reliability or premium multimedia capabilities.”

© CyberMedia News

(LG hosted the author in Singapore)