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NEWS ANALYSIS: Samsungs mobile products, particularly the companys smartphones and tablets, have become wildly popular. But what is it about Samsungs products that made them the most popular mobile products in terms of sheer numbers in the world?
In the world of smartphones and tablets, there are really only two companies performing all that well: Apple and Samsung. Apples success is easy to understand, since the company has long been able to deliver to consumers products that they can buy with confidence.
Samsungs success, however, hasnt been so cut and dry, and some wonder why the companys mobile devices have become so popular. Believe it or not, its not so difficult to determine Samsungs secret.
For years now, Samsung has stuck to smart strategies and a desire to deliver high-quality, reliable products. As a result, its quarterly smartphone shipments have dwarfed even the mighty Apples. Samsungs tablet sales have turned many other Android-based devices into also-rans. Its fascinating to witness. And it underscores the two-horse race that has developed in the mobile market today.
But why is Samsung, and not another company, taking on Apple for command of the mobile market? Read on to find out.
1. Design matters
Samsung was smart enough to realize from the beginning that in order to be successful in the mobile market, it would need to match Apple on design. The companys Galaxy S III, which is extremely thin and comes with a large display, proves that it knows what its doing. Consumers can recognize the quality, and thats why Samsung sales are so stratospheric.
2. Theres something to be said for Apple hatred
Although Apples fans are legion, the company has just as many detractors that are looking for any alternative that takes the fight to the iPhone maker. Samsung has done just that with its smartphones and tablets and has even taken on Apple in court over patents. Samsung has won some of those court battles and lost some. Those fights have helped Samsung immensely because they have shown it is prepared to defend its product designs and cant be driven from the market by mere patent disputes.
3. Large displays
Apple has clung to the same screen sizes in its iPhones and iPads 3.5 inches and 9.7 inches, respectively since they were released. Samsung, meanwhile, has continued to take advantage by delivering larger screens. The companys Galaxy Tab comes with as big as a 10.1-inch screen. The latest Galaxy S III comes with a massive 4.8-inch display. That matters to consumers and enterprise users alike.
4. An eye on value
Although Samsungs products arent the cheapest on the market, the company has been able to show real value in its products. For as little as $200 for a smartphone, consumers are getting a device that can match an iPhone at the same price point. But like Apple, it has shown that it can charge a bit more for a high-quality product. If that werent the case, Samsung simply wouldnt be as successful today.
Mobile Carriers Promoted Handset Competition
5. Proper branding
After seeing how Apple succeeded in the mobile market, Samsung realized that in order to follow suit, it would need to properly brand its smartphones and tablets. So, it established Galaxy as a consistent brand for high-quality devices. It worked. And now, its branding is synonymous with quality.
6. A trusted name goes a long way
Samsung shows that its impossible to overestimate the value of a trusted company name. Because Samsung offers trustworthy products in a host of other industries, including appliances and televisions, consumers are more likely to trust its smartphones and tablets. That worked out well for the company.
7. Google helps
Google has been a staunch Samsung supporter over the years because it is delivering some of the top Android-based devices on the market. The Galaxy Nexus, for example, is a Samsung product. And like the Galaxy S III, its viewed as one of the top options on the market. Google and Samsung have a nice marriage.
8. Carriers help, too
If carriers are concerned about anything, its giving Apple too much power. They reason that the more power Apple has, the less they will have. So, to stave off that risk, they also promote Apples competitors. Over the last several months, much of that promotion has gone to Samsung, helping to sustain its market growth.
9. A single success goes a long way
Samsung was fortunate that its first launches in the smartphone and tablet markets were successful. That success helped the company continue its growth over time. The fact is that consumers tend to be creatures of habit. If they like a product from a company, chances are theyll buy the next one that the company introduces. That factor has helped Samsung’s success as much as it has Apple.
10. What else is out there?
Looking around the Android space, its hard to find that many top quality smartphones and tablets. In the phone market, the HTC One X might be a standout and the recently launched Nexus 7 has seen some early success in tablets. But beyond that, its hard to find anything that even comes close to matching Samsungs mobile line.