Samsung aims for over 20-pct global handset market share

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. aims to raise its share
of the global mobile phone market to the 20-percent range in 2009 by releasing
more smartphones as well as low-end models, a company executive said Monday.

Samsung Electronics, the world's second-largest handset maker, had a 17.1 percent
share of the world market as of September, far behind Nokia Corp. of Finland with
38.9 percent.
"The outlook for next year's handset market doesn't seem very bright, but we'll
work hard (during the downturn) to achieve a market share above 20 percent," Chu
Woo-sik, head of investor relations team, said during a conference call.
Chu, however, failed to say how many handsets the company hopes to sell worldwide
in the coming year.
To achieve the goal, the company plans to strengthen ties with mobile carriers to
release more high-end smartphones, or mobile phones with computer-like
capabilities, in North American and Europe, while providing low-cost strategic
models in emerging markets, Chu said.
"We're planning to introduce some 20 new smartphones next year, as the market for
such models is expected to grow more than 20 percent in 2009 from this year," the
vice president said.
Despite an expected slowdown in demand, Samsung expects its operating profit to
grow over 10 percent in 2009 from this year, Chu said, without offering specific
sales figure projections.
The South Korean tech behemoth reported in October that it sold 51.8 million
mobile phones globally in the third quarter, compared with 45.7 million units in
the second quarter.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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