Samsung sees better sales, increased market share on Galaxy S4

Although the fourth generation of Galaxy S smartphones was launched globally on March 14 in New York, the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer promised availability of enough stocks of the new device in major countries across the world including the UAE from April 27 with a price tag of Dh2,599.

“We recorded more than 300 per cent year-on-year growth in sales during the first quarter of 2013 and expect to maintain the momentum,” Hayssam Yassine, head of telecommunications group at Samsung Gulf Electronics, told Khaleej Times in an interview.

Top officials of Samsung Gulf Electronics at the Galaxy S4 launch in Dubai. — Supplied photo

Yassine, who is responsible for Gulf countries excluding Saudi Arabia, said the company witnessed 52 per cent year-on-year growth in Oman for March quarter of the current year and 83 per cent growth in Bahrain.

“It’s a huge growth and we expect to maintain very good growth in rest of the year,” he explained. Samsung is market leader in the UAE with 45 per cent market share and in Qatar with 56 per cent share, he said by quoting latest data of research firm GfK.

He declined to provide total sales of the company’s smartphones in 2012, but said: “We have shipped more than 50 million units for Galaxy S3 globally. Note 2 ad S3 devices have been our top performing models.” Responding a question, he explained that company cannot take leadership position without having latest innovative device, right partners and right marketing.

Talking about the trend, he said that smartphones category has been growing significantly and “we believe it will continue.”

At launch, two color options will be available - Black Mist and White Frost; with a variety of additional color options to follow later this year.The Korean company launched the device with two colour options - Black Mist and White Frost; with 3G network coverage.

The device with 4G version will be available early next month, he said. Initially the devices are available with 16 GB user memory and it’s popular among customers. Devices with 32 GB and 64 GB will be available later on, but there is no date fixed, he added.

“With the launch of the Galaxy S 4, Samsung is continuing to enhance the way that people live by offering the best-in-class hardware and the most advanced software to provide a true life companion for consumers in the region,” Yassine said.

Following the successful Galaxy S series, this phone is yet another great proof point of people-inspired innovation, he said, adding: “At Samsung we’ll never stop pursuing innovation conceived by people, so we can inspire them in return.”

Galaxy S4 is lighter than S3 and it also provide two hours additional battery life, Haris Munif, head of marketing at Samsung Gulf said during the product launch.

He mentioned that the beauty of the smartphone is that its highly crafted design encompassing a larger screen size and battery, minimized bezel; all housed in a light 130g and slim 7.9mm shape. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is slimmer yet stronger, with less to hold yet more to see, he added. Munif also explained key features of the new device such as dual camera function, dual video call, drama shot, sound & shot, story album, group play, share music, smart pause, smart scroll, air view, air gesture, S voice drive, S health, and S translate.

A rich life is one that’s filled with meaningful moments and the Galaxy S4 captures and shares those special moments. It has the world’s first Full HD Super AMOLED display to showcase images at their very best. Its 5-inch large screen has 441ppi for stunning viewing quality.

— abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com