Ahn Seung-kwon |
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
LG Electronics, the world's fifth-largest cell phone producer, gained its membership in the 10-million seller club as the sales of its flagship model reached the landmark figure.
The Seoul-based firm yesterday said the accumulated sales of the LG VX-8500, known as the Chocolate phone, topped 10 million as of April 20.
This is the first time that LG has shipped more than 10 million units for a single model. In Korea, only Samsung Electronics has been a 10-million seller _ for three products.
``The Chocolate phone is basically about design (not about prices or functionality). Our marketing of turning to people's emotion also worked,'' LG Executive Vice President Ahn Seung-kwon told a press conference held at LG headquarters in Seoul.
``We are proud that the phone achieved the sales figure in less than a year after its global premiere,'' said Ahn, who took the helm of LG's handset division earlier this year.
LG debuted the sleek VX-8500, which got its unique moniker from looking similar to a chocolate bar, in the domestic market in late 2005.
The phone became popular here thanks to its unprecedented user interface embracing touch sensitive controls.
When the model was released overseas last May, LG senior executives expressed the hope that sales would top five million, a very conservative goal in retrospect.
The total sales volume of the Chocolate phone is likely to further increase as the handset is still on the market in roughly 80 countries.
``On top of the Chocolate phone, we plan to come up with at least one 10-million seller every year down the road,'' the 49-year-old Ahn said.
One of the mega-hit candidates that can duplicate the huge success of the Chocolate phone is the LG-KE770, the first handset encased in silvery stainless steel.
The model hit international markets in February and its sales surpassed the one million mark as of April 20. Even the Chocolate phone did not reach that figure in such a short time.
``We will continue to come up with innovative products throughout this year. Toward that end, we are collaborating with more than 10 famous design companies,'' Ahn said.
voc200@koreatimes.co.kr
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