Report claims Samsung aims to ship half a billion handsets in 2013

Samsung Electronics aims to set a new record next year by shipping 500 million handsets in 2013. Out of this, 350 million units will be smartphones, a report by Digitimes states citing industry sources who have acess to an internal estimate by Samsung.

The report states that with global smartphone shipments expected to touch 860 to 900 million units in 2013, Samsung aims to have 40 percent smartphone units that account for the global smartphone market share.

Samsung aims to ship 500 million handsets in 2013

The report notes, “Samsung's strategies of launching Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series as flagship models to build brand image and bring favorable influence on sales of its entry-level and mid-range smartphones have proven successful, enabling the Korea-based vendor to hold up the top vendor ranking, commented the sources. However, other vendors including Nokia, Research in Motion (RIM), LG Electronics, HTC and Motorola Mobility have been trying, in vain, to ramp up sales by streamlining their product roadmaps, the sources indicated.”

The report states that other smartphone manufacturers such as Sony Mobile Communications, Lenovo, Huawei Device and ZTE have also adopted a policy of launching a variety of models that will prolong market growth. However, Sony Mobile and Lenovo have failed to roll out any flagship smartphone that can extend the life cycle of its devices, adds the report.

Earlier this month, it was reported that figures provided by iSuppli Mobile and Wireless Communications Service stated that Samsung is set to claim the top rank in the mobile handset market at the end of 2012, dethroning Nokia in the process, who has been undefeated for the last 14 years. The South Korean giant is expected to account for 29 percent of the global cellphone shipments, an increase from 24 percent in 2011. Nokia, on the other hand, will see its market share drop to 24 percent, a dip from its previous share of 30 percent in 2011.

The report added that Nokia's fall will make way for Samsung's rise to first place for the full year of 2012. The South Korean giant held the second position last year, and it is the first time that it will claim the top position on a yearly basis. Wayne Lam, Senior Analyst - Wireless Communications, IHS, commented, "The competitive reality of the cellphone market in 2012 was ‘live by the smartphone; die by the smartphone. Smartphones represent the fastest-growing segment of the cellphone market—and will account for nearly half of all wireless handset shipments for all of 2012. Samsung’s successes and Nokia’s struggles in the cellphone market this year were determined entirely by the two companies’ divergent fortunes in the smartphone sector.”

As for global smartphone shipments, the report projects that it will rise by 35.5 percent this year, while total cellphone shipments are set to rise by roughly 1 percent. Interestingly, the fast growth will cause the smartphone penetration in the running to go up to 47 percent,  up from 35 percent in 2011.