Samsung says S7 sales exceed forecast

Models try Galaxy S7s and S7 edges at a "Galaxy Lounge" in Shinsegae Department Store, Seocho, southern Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Company plans Tizen availability for 2015 TV models

By Kim Yoo-chul

Sales of Galaxy S7 smartphones have exceeded earlier expectations, said a senior Samsung Electronics executive Wednesday. He expressed hope that the handsets, available in flat and curved models, will help the world's top smartphone manufacturer expand its global market share.

"Samsung is satisfied to see good sales of Galaxy S7," Ko Dong-jin, head of the company's mobile business division, told local reporters. "Yes, the initial shipment numbers are looking good."

The remarks came on the sidelines of Ko's participation in the weekly meeting with top executives of Samsung Group affiliates in Seocho Samsung Tower, southern Seoul.

The mobile boss, however, remained tightlipped about how many S7s have so far been sold since the devices became available for preorder on March 11.

Market analyst said that sales and preorders of the S7s have exceeded earlier forecasts in China, Europe and India. Specifically in Europe, it is said that the company saw a 250 percent increase in combined preorder sales.

Samsung is aggressive with promotional campaigns in the United States, the home turf of its chief rival Apple, as Samsung has a contract with AT&T, a leading U.S. telecom selling the Galaxy S7 there.

AT&T launched a "one-plus-one" campaign, in which customers buy one Galaxy S7 and receive a free Galaxy S7 edge.

Samsung Electronics' total smartphone export volume last year was 51.45 trillion won, down by 15.19 percent from the previous year's 60.66 trillion won. The rapid growth of Chinese companies has been blamed for the decline of Samsung's smartphone sales.

CounterPoint Research, a market research firm, said the company was the sixth in rankings in China, the world's largest smartphone market, with a 7.7 percent market share.

Meanwhile, the company's television chief Kim Hyun-seok said they plan to install its latest Tizen software in last year's models.

"It's possible for 2016 Tizen software to be used in 2015 Samsung TVs. We are considering it," Kim told reporters after the meeting.

The Samsung-developed software is being used in all Samsung's premium TVs. One of the key features for Samsung's 2016 TV models is an integrated content platform based on the Tizen software.

Samsung Engineering's plans to sell the company headquarters in Sangil-dong, eastern Seoul, have been stalled, according to its CEO Park Choong-heum.

"No buyers have approached us," CEO Park said. "I think this is because the buildings are too big."

As part of heavy cost-cutting efforts, Samsung Engineering decided to sell its headquarters composed of two buildings. The monetary value of the buildings is estimated at a few billion dollars.

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