Samsung to have smart phones across OSs

Samsung India has set its sights on capturing around 40 per cent market share in the smartphone and tablet PC markets in India in 2011. As part of its focus on smartphones, 3G-enabled handsets and tablet PCs, the company would launch 45 new mobiles in the country this year.

"Currently, Samsung has a share between 10-15 per cent in the smartphone market as of January 2011, and by the end of this year, we are aiming to notch up a 40 per cent market share," said Ranjit Yadav, country head, Samsung Mobile and IT, Samsung India.

Samsung has 12 smartphones in the market with the recent launch of its Galaxy Ace, Pop and Fit models across price points.

"With the tablet market strengthening each day, we plan to target a 40 per cent market share in this category," said Yadav. "Every year we launch 40-45 new mobiles and this year will be no different."

The company would increase efforts in building smartphone portfolio across operating systems such as its own Bada, Android and Windows platforms as well as its presence in tablet market. It would also emphasise on application space to provide users with wide range of applications to choose from across various platforms.

As per a GFK Nielsen report, the company's market share stands at around 23 per cent of the Indian mobile market in value terms. The total mobile market in India was around 135 million units in 2010. Samsung launched its first smartphone in India with its proprietary open OS platform, Samsung Wave i8500, in June 2010.

Working with 800 app developers
The company is working with around 800 application developers in the country to develop applications customised for the Indian consumer. Almost 3 million downloads of Bada have been made from India so far, he said.

Besides, it would also look at the growing demand for 3G-enabled handsets as an opportunity to grow in 2011, he added. According to data from Gartner, sales of 3G-enabled handsets have been around 16.7 per cent of the total sales in 2010, up from 9.2 per cent in 2009. By 2011- 13, 3G devices sales are expected to account for 69 per cent of the total sales.

With an array of 3G devices launched for the Indian consumers, Samsung is creating a market demand for 3G smartphones and also offering users access to a content and downloadable application software, he said. Samsung, at present, has 17 handsets with 3G applications in India, with price ranging from Rs 8,990 to Rs 29,290.

The company is producing around a million units of mobiles per month. Currently, it has a manufacturing unit for mobiles at Noida. It has so far invested $325 million in India including the manufacturing facility.