With a range of devices on all major carriers, Samsung is calling this its best year ever in the smartphone 
market, with a projected record of 300 million units shipped.
The company announced the milestone, which surpasses its 2010 record of 280 million units, in a statement Monday, with the president and head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business, JK Shin, saying, "We look forward to extending this success going into 2012," Reuters reported.
'Upscale Designs, Cutting Edge'
A request for comment from Edelman PR, which handles publicity for the South Korea-based technology giant in the United States, was not answered in time for publication.
But a company exec told Dong-A Ilbo (the East Asia Daily) that, "We attained the 300-million mark because we've introduced hit models in succession by banking on upscale designs and cutting-edge technology in 'full product lineup' ranging from feature phones (ordinary handsets), touch phones and smartphones."
New Samsung phones released this year include the Galaxy S II, the Skyrocket for AT&T and Droid Charge for Verizon Wireless. The latter two phones work on the carriers' new 4G long term evolution high-speed data network . Perhaps most eagerly awaited is the Galaxy Nexus, running the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android . The phone is expected to come to the U.S. this week via Verizon Wireless after a European debut.
The Galaxy S II, sequel to the phone that has variants on all four carriers, has done particularly well, with a reported 10 million units sold so far, on top of another 20 million for its predecessor this year.
The Dong-A Ilbo report said Samsung's handset output has soared since 1996, when it produced 1 million, with 100 million in 2005, 200 million in 2009, and now 300 million, with a total of 1.6 billion units manufactured. (The number of sold units was not included).
Most of Samsung's smartphones are Android-powered, although it also sells the Omnia and Focus, powered by Microsoft 's Windows Phone 7 platform. Samsung's feature phones, with no operating system, include the Star, Duos, Wave and Monte Slide.
Technology consultant Rob Enderle of Enderle Group said Samsung accomplished its milestone with phones that are bigger (screen sizes of more than 4 inches are typical on many devices, including the Galaxy S II) and with more features than rivals. And they are generally cheaper and in more stores, he added.
The Vendor To Beat
"It really helps establish Android as a major platform and Samsung as the vendor to beat at the moment, and the one most at risk as Motorola, now owned by Google, increases their pressure on the market," said Enderle, referring to Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a deal currently under regulators' scrutiny in the European Union.
"Android may end up to be largely a two-vendor platform, and Samsung is doing a credible job assuring they will be one of them," Enderle said.
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