Samsung Electronics’ Corby mobile phones have been a sleeper hit among young wireless users across the globe, including Korea, where around 700,000 have been sold. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff reporter

Mobile phones are for Samsung Electronics what the Walkman music players had been for Sony ― brand-building products that allowed the company to achieve a global reputation for style and innovation.

And although Samsung, the world's runner-up handset vendor behind Nokia, is facing increasing competition from companies like Apple, HTC and Sony Ericsson, snazzy devices like the colorful Corby mobile phone suggest that the company's creative edge remains intact.

Since its release in March, Samsung has sold more than 150,000 units of its Corby-F folder-type handsets here, which was easily among the top in sales for feature phones. The touch-screen version of Corby, released last November, also sold around 550,000 units.

Samsung's Corby series of phones were released in the North American and European markets a little earlier during the second-half of 2009, and have been selling hot off the shelves since. The popularity of the handsets suggests that Samsung has become a rare vendor by presenting a product that is managing to pass the coolness tests of teens and young adults simultaneously.

Although the Corby handsets pack an impressive hardware punch, their most distinctive edge is clearly their appearance ― the curvy, color-happy phones were basically made to be seen with.

Both Corby and Corby-F are available in a variety of colors ― ``Energetic Green,'' ``Cupid Pink,'' ``Jamaican Yellow,'' ``Minimal White'' and ``Chic Black'' for the touch-screen device and ``Candy Pink,'' ``Lime Green'' and ``Blue Black'' for the folder-type handset.

The interchangeable rear covers add to the wealth of color options, and Samsung followed with another Corby device, dubbed the ``Corby Spring Color,'' which is available in ``Lilac Blue,'' ``Violet Purple,'' ``Freesia Yellow,'' ``Peppermint Green'' and ``Rose Day Pink.''

Aside from their eye-pleasing appearance, the touch-screen Corby phones are equipped with a 3-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) mobile television reception and also three-dimensional (3D) ``motion photo'' capability that converts 2D portraits into 3D images.

Corby-F allows users greater freedom to personalize the user interface and also features a built-in 3-megapixel camera, DMB, Blue Tooth capability and multimedia.