Samsung Goes For Smart Phone

Samsung Electronics will focus on developing a new business of intelligent multi-handsets as its next-generation project aimed at the post-cell phone market.

The company announced its will to make inroads into the global market in a full swing test-launching its new product “MITs M400” that combined functions of a PDA, TV, digital camera, camcorder and car navigation device all together in a cell phone handset on July 21st.

The company`s Sales Manager at Information Device Lee Gi-tae said at the new product launching event, “An intelligent handset will become a hub for all the information devices in the upcoming ubiquitous era. We will grow this one as our next strategic business.”

The new product released on that day enables users to internet-search by using Microsoft`s operating system for PDAs “Hangul Pocket PC 2002”. It is also compatible with a PC and various other application files.

It is embedded with high capacity of a digital camera with 300,000 pixels, which can be used as a digital camera or a camcorder. It has also such functions as recording TV programs while watching them for free and radiotelegraphy. It can also be used as a car navigation system that recognizes voice with a GPS receptor attached.

The company plans to secure the global market by releasing six to seven models of the new product in America and Europe. This year, it made a supply contract with Sprint and Verizon which is the biggest telecommunications service in America, picturing a positive picture for future exports.

In the domestic market, the company will release a product model with Symbian within this year and a model with DMB reception function next year.

New Business Sales Executive Kim Hang-woo said, “The intelligent handset market will grow to some 200 million won worth of market by 2006, accounting for 30 percent of the total handset market.”

Samsung Electronics also told that it would develop and mass-produce a 533MHz mobile CPU which is the fastest as a CPU for PDA s and Smart Phone this year.

Tae-Han Kim freewill@donga.com