Countering Phones
Metal and curved are the key words that Samsung Electronics is paying attention to in the second half of this year, in order to check the growing influence of Chinese handset makers and Apple. As the Korean tech giant already finished its preparation for the release of new phones with a metal case and a curved display, the company is expected to launch a new offensive this month.
According to industry sources on Oct. 12, Samsung is going to launch a counter-attack against Apple and Xiaomi Tech this month with products made from new materials and in new designs. First, the company is planning to roll out the Galaxy Note Edge in Korea and Japan in October. After that, the new model is going to be released in the U.S. and major countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region.
The introduction of the new handset dovetails with the need for mobile carriers in developed markets to create new demand in the increasingly-saturated market, since the demand for mobile devices is sharply reduced. The Galaxy Note Edge is expected to be launched through three mobile carriers in the nation. It will be introduced to Japan via NTT DoCoMo and KDDI.
The new lineup with aluminum bodies will be sold as early as this month. The Galaxy A series is widely acknowledged as a response to the iPhone 6 and ideal for the mid to low-end market. The new lineup is similar to the iPhone series in appearance, since they are both light and thin, but the Galaxy A series maintains a unique design. They are expected to be in the price range of 400,000 won (US$376). A nano USIM is said to be used to make the new models thinner and lighter, as in the case of the Galaxy Alpha, where metal is partly used.
In addition to the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung's effort to roll out other products is attributable to its belief that the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy Note 4 are not sufficient to respond to other companies' offensives. The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are very popular, and Chinese handset makers are making great inroads into the market earlier than expected.