Samsung starts pre-orders for Galaxy Note 4
By Bahk Eun-ji
Samsung Electronics President and head of strategy for the company’s mobile business Lee Don-joo introduces its latest Galaxy Note 4 phablet during an unpacked event at this year’s IFA fair in Berlin, Germany, two weeks ago. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics has started receiving pre-orders for its latest phablets ― the Galaxy Note 4 ― the firm said, Thursday.
The pre-order sales drive is aimed at getting more attention from local customers ahead of the launch of Apple's new iPhone, said officials. The Note 4 is Samsung's answer to compete with the Apple iPhone 6.
The Galaxy Note 4 was announced at the beginning of this month, right ahead of IFA in Berlin.
The flagship device has 5.7 inch Super AMOLED with a 2560 x 1440 pixel display. Just like the Note series, the Note 4 is also distinguished by Samsung’s S-pen, a high-tech stylus which turns the phone into a notepad. Along with the pen function, its multi-window feature is expected to enable users to enjoy greater productivity by using it.
Hopes are high among local carriers about the Note 4 because the new Samsung device will help them recover customer losses incurred during a suspension of business imposed by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the country’s telecommunication regulator.
LG Uplus, the nation’s No.3 mobile carrier, remains bullish over expectations for the Note 4, as it got approval by Apple to sell iPhones for the first time in five years.
During its week-long suspension of business at the end of August, LG Uplus lost about 26,000 subscribers. However, LG Uplus spokesman said it will soon recover lost numbers of members with the consumer launch of the two latest flagship products.
“Whenever new smartphones are released, mobile carriers expect to increase the number of members, but this time it is more than usual, because the Galaxy series has been receiving passionate reviews from customers,” said LG spokesman.
LG Uplus has also begun to receive pre-orders at its retail shops nationwide, and is holding sales events for customers to place orders.
Pre-ordered devices will be supplied to 100,000 customers and the company said it also will provide Samsung’s wearable device Gear Fit, which has fitness tracker features as well as smartwatch functions.
Mobile carriers were previously not reluctant to provide subsidies, even if these were illegal, in order to attract more customers, but a member of a standing committee at KCC said that telecommunication companies will not engage in fierce, direct competition for a while at least.
“KCC has begun to regulate telecommunication companies strictly as never before, so it’s hard to think about providing subsidies for them. Instead, it’s time for those companies to attract customers by offering in-depth quality services under such conditions,” said Ko Sam-seok, a board member of the KCC.
In line with this, a spokesman for SK Telecom, the nation’s top mobile carrier, also said that the company will focus on offering services for their member’s interests such as various billing and data plans.
“Some say the market is unusually quiet even though the newest flagships are coming onto the market soon, but this is a normal market reaction in every way,” said the SK Telecom spokesman.