The Korean phone maker's move to unveil its touchscreen model 'Omnia' at the CommunicAsia 2008 in Singapore last week raised many a eyebrow in the industry as the launch came just days after Apple introduced its touchscreen-activated 3Giphone built for high-speed wireless network with fast internet access.     

"After being in the mobile phone market for more than a decade, now we would like to divert our attention on innovation. In the near future, one can expect some innovative mobile phones from Samsung," Youngcho Chi, Senior Vice-President, Strategic Planning Team (Communications), Samsung Electronics, said here.     

"We would like to incorporate the word innovation in our brand value," he said.     

"It may be a phone which you can tie in your hand, just like your wrist watch, the same size of it. We are planning something of this sort, which will be a trend-setter in the industry," Chi said.     

He said the company is seriously thinking ways to tap the rapidly increasing mobile market in Asian countries.     

Asked whether Omnia was a desperate move from Samsung after its rival Apple came with its latest version of iphone, Chi admitted iphone was a trend-setter in the mobile phone industry and that "everyone appreciates the touch phone."     

"We appreciate the touchscreen phone from Apple and we have now launched 'Omnia', the touchscreen model from Samsung. I am sure that Omnia will be a big success in the global mobile phone market," he said.