Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:01 am
Samsung Electronics, the world's second largest handset maker, debuted a new line of touch screen smartphones, expressing confidence it would expand its global market share despite the economic downturn.
"We are very confident that we will continuously increase our market share not only in advanced countries but also in the emerging market," said Hong Won-Pyo, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile communication division. "Smartphones, touch phones and messaging phones -- those are three major areas that we are addressing. That's why we are growing in contrast to the economy."
Samsung also unveiled the Jet, a touch screen smartphone with a next-generation AMOLED screen and improved processor for faster Internet access.
AMOLED, which stands for active-matrix organic light emitting diode, is thinner, has better image quality and consumes less power than traditional displays.
The company also plans to introduce a batch of handsets in the third quarter including the new Omnia line-up.
The new Omnia 2, planned to arrive at Verizon, will have a large 3.7-inch AMOLED touch screen -- the world's biggest LCD on a touch device.
It also announced the Omnia Pro (B7610) and Omnia Pro (B7320), touch screen smartphones that run Windows Mobile 6.1 and include high-speed HSDPA Internet and Wi-Fi access to corporate push-based email.
Lastly, the Omnia Lite (B7300) is a more affordable version of the Omnia Pro, featuring a 3.0-megapixel camera, HSDPA and Wi-Fi.
Hong said 30 to 35 percent of the about 150 new mobile phone models Samsung is unveiling this year would feature touch screens, and the portion would increase even further next year.
"Touch screen is almost now a generic requirement for high-end devices," Hong said. "We might go with touch even with the middle and low end of Samsung's product range."
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