SOUTH KOREA: Samsung Electronics Co. launches an upgraded version of its Galaxy Note phone-cum-tablet in South Korea, taking on its rival Apple in the lucrative market

Record ID: 344235

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Samsung Electronics Co. launches an upgraded version of its Galaxy Note phone-cum-tablet in South Korea, taking on its rival Apple in the lucrative market
  • Date: 27th September 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF SHIN HOLDING "GALAXY NOTE II" AND POSING FOR PHOTO
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Business,Communications,Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVA1Q4ME1T8WWWAA5MXG16111N05
  • Story Text: Samsung Electronics Co. launched an upgraded version of its Galaxy Note phone-tablet in South Korea on Wednesday (September 26), in a bid to counter stiff competition from Apple, which has sold a record five million iPhone 5 smartphones in the three days since it hit stores The South Korean firm first introduced the model early last month at Europe's biggest electronics show, after losing a U.S. patent battle with Apple Inc.
    A U.S. federal jury in August found Samsung had copied critical features of the iPhone and awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages. Apple is now seeking speedy bans on the sale of eight Samsung phones, moving swiftly to turn legal victory into tangible business gain.
    The Galaxy Note phablet, as it's known, is Samsung's second most popular smartphone after its flagship Galaxy S. It is not included in the list of the potential U.S. sales ban, and Samsung hopes the phablet upgrade will lift any post-Apple gloom at the South Korean group.
    "I can say this is a new and real proud smartphone, which has several innovative functions," said Shin Jong-kyun at a launching ceremony in Seoul.
    The new version of the Note called 'Galaxy Note II' is expected to feature a thinner and slightly bigger 165 centimetre-screen (5.5 inches), powerful quad-core processor, the latest version of Google's Android operating system called Jellybean, and improved stylus function.
    "We will challenge the competition in the smartphone market with a unique feature called a 'Note Category'. We expect people to enjoy a more prosperous mobile life with the new smartphone, which is equipped with our creative S pen," said Kim Chang-joon, senior manager of Integrated Marketing Communication of Samsung Electronics.
    It's the latest product to illustrate Samsung's attempts to make bold design changes as it comes increasingly under pressure to differentiate its line-up from the iPhone, whose simple and large touchscreen-based design revolutionised the mobile industry and is still considered the gold standard of design.
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