Over the past few weeks, Samsung has released a couple devices that try to break out of the traditional smartphone form factor of the last few years. The Galaxy Round was a rushed attempt to lay claim to the first curved smartphone using flexible display technology while the Galaxy Gear appears to be a legitimate attempt to define a new market segment. New numbers reported by BusinessKorea indicate both devices are experiencing dismal sales numbers, though it is not clear whether that is a surprise to Samsung.
In the case of the Galaxy Round, it does not appear Samsung had any intention of the device proving to be a marketing success outside of establishing their position as first to market. Reports indicate Samsung only produced 50,000 units before bringing manufacturing to a halt. With a flat battery and a thick, heavy glass screen, the device is only seeing about 100 units moving on a daily basis. It is still unclear why a curved display may be desirable for users, although flexible screens may have some utility. Samsung’s strategy could have backfired a bit though as it opened the door for LG to bring the LG G Flex to market showing that a company could get the form right.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Gear appears to be a more serious attempt at bringing a commercially viable product to market. Samsung released the smartwatch to much fanfare back in September despite some glaring problems like a lack of functionality and limited device compatibility. Samsung has slowly been working to address those concerns, but the units are still only moving about 800-900 per day.
For Samsung, releasing something like the Galaxy Gear that is not entirely successful is a step the company can withstand thanks to its wide and deep portfolio of devices and business units. They will also be able to build on the lessons learned as they work toward a successor device in 2014. Astute competitors will watch for these same lessons and try to beat Samsung to market with the second generation of smartwatches.
source: BusinessKorea
via: TechnoBuffalo
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