TelecomLead.com Smartphone of 2012: Samsung Galaxy S III

Telecom Lead Asia: TelecomLead.com editors have selected Samsung’s Galaxy S III as the Smartphone of 2012.

Selection was not easy for TelecomLead.com’s editors as Apple’s iPhone5, rivaling Samsung’s Galaxy S III, has set several new benchmarks for the mobile world.

The Korean cell phone major sold more than 30 million Galaxy S III smartphones since its launch in May 2012.

JK Shin, head of Samsung’s IT and mobile communications division, said recently: “The Galaxy S III continues to be a runaway favorite with customers around the world.”

The third version of the Galaxy S series’ processor enables users to watch video and write emails simultaneously as well as a large 4.8-inch (12.2-cm) screen.

The achievement is significant as the ongoing patent battle with Apple in 10 countries, including the United States and Germany, did not bother them.

READ MORE: TelecomLead.com reported that encouraged by Q3 2012 financial performance, Samsung is more confident in selling smartphones and tablets in the next quarter than Apple.

Samsung Galaxy phones have catapulted the Korean consumer electronics giant to lead the smartphone market. Though Nokia had Lumia range of smartphones to regain market share, the Finnish phone major moved out of the top 5 smartphone vendor list in Q3 2012.

Smartphone vendors shipped 179.7 million units in Q3 2012 compared to 123.7 million units in Q3 2011.

According to IHS, Samsung is expected to grab 29 percent share in worldwide cell phone shipments, up from 24 percent in 2011. Nokia’s share will drop to 24 percent from 30 percent last year.

Several strategies have contributed to Samsung’s success in the global smartphone market that reached 179.7 million units in Q3 2012 from 123.7 million units in Q3 2011.

IHS noted that Samsung produces dozens of new smartphone models that address all segments of the market. Samsung monitors the big trends in smartphone design, user needs and unmet market opportunities, then creates products to fit those markets quickly and efficiently.

IHS predicts that Samsung’s global smartphone shipments will increase 8 points to 28 percent from 20 percent in 2011. Nokia will suffer the biggest decrease, with its share forecast to plunge by 11 points to 5 percent in 2012, down from 16 percent in 2011

Galaxy smartphones have contributed significantly to Samsung Electronics’ $7.3 billion profit in quarter ended September 2012.

Samsung may have spent around $2.7 billion on marketing in July-September alone around the London Olympic Games and new Galaxy promotions, according to Credit Suisse.

Demand for Galaxy phones is increasing. Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy Note are the devices from Samsung, the leading smartphone major, among the top searched gadgets on Yahoo! in 2012.

Note: TelecomLead.com’s editors have selected Samsung Galaxy S III based on the impact it created on the industry and the company.

Krishna Aravind
[email protected]