Apple can't take away our leadership in India: Samsung-16 Sep2011

16 Sep, 2011, 05.55AM IST, Pankaj DovalPankaj Doval,TNN

Apple can't take away our leadership in India: Samsung



NEW DELHI: Samsung and Apple may be embroiled in numerous patent suits across the globe, but the Korean consumer electronics gianta has said it has a clear edge in India and will retain its stronghold due to its wider reach and product portfolio and stronger brand profile.

The company has been growing strongly in the Indian mobile market and will now treble its production capacity by pumping in $70 million , said JS Shin, South-West Asia Head for Samsung. "India is one of the fastest-growing mobile market in the world and for Samsung, it is among the top three mobile markets globally. We are working at further strengthening our presence here."

Asked about Apple and its growing profile in the market , he said Samsung is not worried about the expansion by the US technology giant here. "We have a wider product portfolio here, we have a R&D centre to provide localised solutions and we are manufacturing phones here. We are closer to the market," he told TOI. Officials of Apple in India did not respond to a questionnaire on the matter.

Samsung, which has been in India since 1996, sells the Galaxy S2 phone in competition to Apple's iPhone4. The US major, however, is expected to launch the new iPhone version, iPhone5, later this year. Samsung and Apple also compete in the tablet market.

But while Apple operates only on the higher-end of the mobile phone market, Samsung has a product profile that spans across price points. Its model range is spread between Rs 1,000 and Rs 33,000 and comprises almost 60 phones.

Shin said Samsung has a market share of about 24% (in volume terms) of the Indian handset market. The new investments have increased production capacity of Samsung's mobile manufacturing plant at Noida to 36 million handsets per annum from 12 million units earlier.

"With this, the total investment by Samsung in mobile production in India has reached close to $100 million ," Shin said.