Where does Apple of discord lie?

Samsung unveils new phone, waits to see how Apple will react

By Kim Yoo-chul

HONG KONG ― Will Apple seek a sales ban on Samsung’s new Galaxy Nexus?

Attention is being focused on the iPhone maker’s next move in the deepening patent battle. If it tries to block the sale of the latest Google-Samsung smartphone, it would confirm the Cupertino-based firm’s intent of aiming at Google’s heart.

A top Samsung executive said it’s been preparing for a legal claim from Apple against the new model.

``Samsung admits that the Galaxy Nexus may become a new target of Apple in terms of patents and we applied new technology to the smartphone as a pre-emptive measure,’’ said Shin Jong-kyun, president of Samsung’s telecommunications division here Wednesday.

``Samsung plans to maintain a hard-line stance over patent-related issues, as Samsung cannot not suffer setbacks in patent battles,’’ said Shin, who is handling Samsung’s mobile business, in a meeting with Korean reporters at the Harbour Grand Hotel in Hong Kong.

The Galaxy Nexus, a customized phone for Google, is the device that Google and Samsung will be pitting against Apple’s latest iPhone 4S.

Apple has been involved with heavy disputes with Samsung over patents and Taiwan’s HTC ― Google’s other critical partner ― is also fighting the American firm.

Apple is worried about Google’s meteoric rise from a market leadership perspective and Samsung in particular as Android is threatening Apple’s business. More smartphones are running on Google-powered Android software, though Apple is still leading the Android alliance on user experience.

``Samsung has so far been maintaining a stronger partnership with Google and the constructive alliance will continue. The decision by Google to buy Motorola Mobility won’t have any negative impact on the Samsung-Google partnership,’’ said the company executive.

A Google spokesman based in Korea wasn’t available for comments over Apple’s plan for the Galaxy Nexus, while Steve Park, a representative of Apple Korea followed suit.

iPhone 4S ban in Korea

Shin unveiled his company’s plan to increase the number of countries in which it will seek court suits in line with its active response in dealing with legal issues and said it is mulling the possibility of trying to block the sale of the iPhone 4S in South Korea.

``It’s true that Samsung is internally reviewing the possibility of seeking a sales ban on the iPhone 4S before its arrival on our home-turf, though nothing has been decided yet,’’ said Shin, adding the company will make a formal announcement in the foreseeable future.

But the executive denied speculation that expanding patent battles with Apple was aimed at receiving more royalties from Apple in return for using Samsung-owned wireless-related technologies.

``The legal tussle with Apple is not one designed to invite it to the negotiating table. Samsung has suffered damage and we need to defend our clients and markets,’’ said Shin.

``Apple started it. However, I don’t know why it did,’’ added the executive, one of the top lieutenants of Samsung chief executive Choi Gee-sung, in a stronger tone.

Samsung recently sued Apple in Japan and Australia to ban sales of the iPhone 4S, escalating the legal battle with its top client, after ``disappointing court rulings’’ in Australia and the Netherlands. Samsung is waiting for a ruling from the United States.

``Samsung will respond using all our patents not just wireless telecommunications ones. We have various multimedia-centric patents,’’ said the executive.

Samsung’s telecommunications division has brought in more legal experts to effectively handle patent-related issues, according to Shin, though he declined to unveil the number dealing specifically with patents.

Shin said Samsung will sell more than 300 million handsets, including design-focused feature phones and it will see further volume growth in smartphones next year.

Despite the legal feud with Apple, Samsung’s plan to increase the sale of its tablets five-fold this year from last year was ``still safe.’’

On the market outlook for 2012, Shin expects uncertainties to continue as dimming signs remain in Europe and the United States ― Samsung’s strategic markets.

``It will be difficult for the global mobile phone market to see significant growth throughout next year. But Samsung’s smartphone business will grow,’’ said Shin.

Samsung has begun passing over Apple to become the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturer from the third quarter of this year and it’s widely seen to become the world’s biggest phone maker after beating long-time market leader Nokia, according to market research firms.

Samsung plans to fully open its own mobile operating system called Bada, which means ocean in Korean, and the mobile chief confirmed its strategy to push its ``multi-operating system’’ strategy to meet demands in different markets and regions.

``That’s why Samsung will maintain greater flexibility for the sale of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile smartphones. Some markets want Microsoft phones, however, such appetites aren’t high in most countries.’’