Samsung wants bigger share of C’bean market

Samsung Electronics, the Korean manufacturer of cell pho-nes, is aggressively moving to further increase its market share in the Caribbean and Latin America. The company has been creating strategic partnerships with tele-communications service providers, such as Cable & Wireless, seeking to improve the distribution of its handsets. According to Marcio Fonseca, Samsung’s marketing excutive for the Caribbean and Latin America, the company’s market share for cell phones grew by 45 per cent over the past two years and had revenues in excess of US$100 million last year. Fonseca said the growth was mainly attributed to more aggressive marketing strategies and the ability to penetrate lower level markets in recent times. “We mainly cater to high-tier and mid-tier customers with our phones and in these segments we are the leaders of market share in the Caribbean,” he told the Barbados-based Business Authority. Last week, in association with Cable & Wireless, Samsung formally launched its new high-end cellular phone – the A255 — in Barbados.

A versatile fold-phone which can fit into the palm of the hand, the A255 boasts phone-book capacity for 250 numbers and blue illumination of the keypad. It also offers continuous usage for a minimum of 60 minutes and stand-by power for 130 to 160 hours. President of Cable & Wireless Barbados, Donald Austin said the new phone enhanced the product lines offered by his company. “We are delighted to join in this venture with one of our partners, Samsung, as we continue to define ourselves as a provider who caters to all tastes and budgets,” said Austin.