Korea vendors may have 50% US handset market in 2009, say sources

Korea handset vendors, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics (LGE) and Pantech, are likely to take up a 50% share of the US handset market in 2009, according to an estimate by market sources in Taiwan.

Samsung and LGE have continued to increase their penetration in the US handset market since 2008, and the two companies are expected to grap the top and second spots respectively in the US this year, the sources added.

Samsung is targeting to hold up a 25% share of the US handset market in 2009, compared to 23.7% in the fourth quarter of 2008, the sources noted.

Despite efforts by Nokia and Sony Ericsson to make significant inroads into the US handset market, Korea vendors are likely to continue to maintain their leading market positions due to their expertise in the manufacture of CDMA handsets and deep cooperation relations with US carriers, the sources noted.