Samsung, LG Up Target for High-Tier Handsets
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have been revising up their targets for selling high-end phones to face off the industry leader Nokia.
With trendy features and designs, rather than with price alone, both players plan to appeal to customers by increasing investments in consumer service infrastructure and quality control for higher customer satisfaction ratings.
``We have recently revised up the target to sell 50 million units of pricey phones costing over $200 per unit within the year,'' a Samsung spokesperson said Friday.
``The projection is a rise from the 32 million units in 2007, however, we are not thinking about building another factory to produce high-end phones for now,'' he added.
Samsung forecast that its handset shipments will rise from 161.1 million last year to 200 million in 2008. Mobile phones have emerged as a brighter sector for Samsung. Samsung has recently overtaken Motorola to become the world's No. 2 handsets manufacturer.
``We have stuck to this premium strategy for the past couple of years. However, we are positive the flagship line-ups ― ``Juke'' and ``Blackjack'' models along with those with touch screens ― will appeal to potential customers,'' another Samsung official said.
Separately, Samsung has been trying to enter the lower-end market to effectively compete with Finland-based Nokia.
The company plans to introduce low-priced phones in a price range of between $40 and $50 within the year in Asian and South American emerging markets to meet the rising demand for 3G phones, there.
LG Electronics, the fifth-biggest handsets manufacturer, plans to sell 40 million units of pricey phones ― also over $200 per unit ― of its total target of 100 million this year.
LG, which sold about 80 million handsets in 2007, plans to fuel its efforts to enhance its image as a premium brand through a variety of marketing activities.
`` To further increase our brand awareness, we will continue to forge partnerships to supply products to major hotel chains and other venues that place LG products in the public eye,'' an LG official said.
``We will use 20 percent more capital for marketing to narrow the gap with the runner-up Sony-Ericsson,'' the official added.
Earlier, LG said that it will increase its market share of high-end phones in emerging markets by 50 percent this year.
source
With trendy features and designs, rather than with price alone, both players plan to appeal to customers by increasing investments in consumer service infrastructure and quality control for higher customer satisfaction ratings.
``We have recently revised up the target to sell 50 million units of pricey phones costing over $200 per unit within the year,'' a Samsung spokesperson said Friday.
``The projection is a rise from the 32 million units in 2007, however, we are not thinking about building another factory to produce high-end phones for now,'' he added.
Samsung forecast that its handset shipments will rise from 161.1 million last year to 200 million in 2008. Mobile phones have emerged as a brighter sector for Samsung. Samsung has recently overtaken Motorola to become the world's No. 2 handsets manufacturer.
``We have stuck to this premium strategy for the past couple of years. However, we are positive the flagship line-ups ― ``Juke'' and ``Blackjack'' models along with those with touch screens ― will appeal to potential customers,'' another Samsung official said.
Separately, Samsung has been trying to enter the lower-end market to effectively compete with Finland-based Nokia.
The company plans to introduce low-priced phones in a price range of between $40 and $50 within the year in Asian and South American emerging markets to meet the rising demand for 3G phones, there.
LG Electronics, the fifth-biggest handsets manufacturer, plans to sell 40 million units of pricey phones ― also over $200 per unit ― of its total target of 100 million this year.
LG, which sold about 80 million handsets in 2007, plans to fuel its efforts to enhance its image as a premium brand through a variety of marketing activities.
`` To further increase our brand awareness, we will continue to forge partnerships to supply products to major hotel chains and other venues that place LG products in the public eye,'' an LG official said.
``We will use 20 percent more capital for marketing to narrow the gap with the runner-up Sony-Ericsson,'' the official added.
Earlier, LG said that it will increase its market share of high-end phones in emerging markets by 50 percent this year.
source
Posts
No comments: