Galaxy S Makes a Splash at Home

Apple CEO’s handling of antenna issue sparks strong reactions from rival companies

Galaxy S, Samsung Electronics’ Android OS-based smartphone, has been selling like hot cakes in Korea as the Korean electronics giant’s brand has surpassed Korean marketing records achieved by the global hit smartphone, Apple’s iPhone 3GS.
Samsung Electronics sold 31,000 Galaxy S units on June 28, more than twice the daily sales record of the 14,500 iPhone 3GS.
Marketing sources said 14,000 Galaxy S units were sold five hours after it was released on June 24 and the brand posted a daily average of 24,000 units, three times the amount of the iPhone 3GS recorded last December when so-called “smartphone fever” hit the market in Korea.
Samsung Electronics made history by selling more than 400,000 Galaxy S units in one month after its release, becoming the only mobile phone to set a record high in such a short clip in Korea.
In a related development, Samsung Electronics held the “Super Smart Day” on July 17-18 in which people were given an opportunity to experience Galaxy S’s excellent functions and super applications.
The event took place at the Gangbyeon Technomart and the I’Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul, and attendees took time out to experience Galaxy S’s 3Ss ― “super apps” for different depths of life-friendly applications, “super AMOLED” for the existing super resolution and “super design” for a 9.9 mm super-slim phone with battery replacement.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the smartphone trendsetter with the iPhone 3G’s explosive popularity, on June 7 showed up to unveil the brand-new iPhone G4, attracting the eyes of all IT geeks around the world at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco.
A problem with the iPhone G4’s antenna design, admitted by Apple, has dented Apple’s popularity. The issue came to a head as in recent tests, caused by consumer complaints, Consumer Reports, the pro-consumer products rating agency, confirmed signal reception losses.
Jobs convened a conference call on July 16 to tackle the antenna problem, saying that all iPhone 4 users would be receiving a free case to solve the signal reception problem.
But Apple tried to play down its antenna problem, indicating that there are other mobile phone makers with problems similar to the iPhone 4, demonstrating videos of phones from Nokia, Blackberry and other companies.
Nokia and Blackberry strongly reacted to Apple’s statement over the antenna issue. Nokia said, “As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.” Research in Motion, the maker of the Blackberry, said, “It has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage.” Samsung Electronics also followed suit, but apparently toned down its wording in consideration of the current and future relations with Apple.
In the news conference, Jobs also introduced a list of 17 countries where the iPhone 4 will be released in July, saying that Korea is not included, citing an admission issue from the government. The Korea Communications Commission, however, flatly denied Jobs’ allegation, saying that Apple has not yet placed an application for admission and has also apparently surprised both KT, the upcoming telecom company of iPhone G4, and Korean iPhone users. KT hurriedly issued a brief announcement that the company would release iPhone 4 within one or two months. nw

(left) Samsung Electronics’ Android-OS-based smartphone, Galaxy S. Samsung Electronics holds the “Super Smart Day” on July 17-18 in which people were given an opportunity to experience Galaxy S’s excellent functions and super applications.