Samsung executive vice president of global sales and marketing DJ Lee
presents the Galaxy Note tablet PC during press day at the IFA consumer
electronics fair in Berlin.
1. The designs are impeccable
If Apple is the leader in the industry when it comes to product design,
Samsung might just be next. The company offers smartphones and tablets
with some of the finest designs in the marketplace. The Galaxy Tab 10.1,
for example, comes with a slick footprint and prominent 10.1-inch
display. The Galaxy S II has a similarly prominent screen
and neat design that rivals even the iPhone 4. Consumers appreciate
that. And that’s why they’re increasingly turning to Samsung products.
2. A strong brand
One of Apple’s keys to victory over the years has been its brand.
Consumers around the globe trust that the company can offer outstanding
products with each passing year. Samsung also enjoys a strong brand
reputation. From refrigerators to televisions to smartphones, people are
buying a host of Samsung products for all their needs. They trust those
devices. That trust is helping Samsung sell more smartphones and
tablets.
3. Better features
When one compares Samsung’s mobile devices to Apple’s, it’s tough to
find many features that the iPhone maker wins out on. The Galaxy S II,
for example, comes with a big, 4.3-inch screen and 4G connectivity. The
Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 10.1-inch screen, built-in social features, thanks
to Social Hub, and perhaps most importantly, HSPA+ connectivity. On
nearly all fronts, Samsung’s devices are more-capable than Apple’s. Now
the onus is on the Cupertino, Calif.-based company to respond.
4. A bigger tablet display is important
As noted, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with a 10.1-inch screen.
The iPad 2, on the other hand, comes with a 9.7-inch screen. The
difference might not be great, but when it comes to watching movies,
surfing the Web, and playing games, having that extra real estate is
important. There is some speculation that Apple will offer up a bigger
display in the iPad 3. That sounds like a great idea. Because right now
for the same price customers are getting a more-capable tablet with a
bigger screen from Samsung.
5. Android Gaining Converts
Apple’s iOS platform is definitely a better mobile operating system than
Android, the OS most of Samsung’s products use. But the degree to which
iOS is better than Android is debatable. What’s more, Android is
current world’s most widely-deployed operating system and will continue
to be so as more and more customers buy devices running that platform.
Android is very much a threat to Apple and Samsung is capitalizing on
that.
6. No Other Challenger Exists
Looking around the mobile space it’s hard to find any other competitor
that is doing much—if anything at all—to scare Apple. By virtue of that
it’s not hard for Samsung to be the biggest threat to Apple. Right now,
it appears that Samsung is the only major company, aside from Apple,
that really puts enough thought and research into what today’s customers
want in a mobile device. And the company is benefiting because of that.
7. It’s focused on consumers
There are several vendors in today’s mobile space that are trying to do
too much. They want to appeal to both the enterprise and consumers, and
in the process, aren’t able to get their products to catch on with
either group. Apple, on the other hand, appeals mainly to consumers, and
allows corporate customers to get in on the fun only if they play by
the company’s rules. The same is true for Samsung. Its products are
designed for consumers and if the enterprise also jumps in, so much the
better. If not, it isn’t a big deal. That’s an important element in
Samsung’s success and its ability to challenge Apple.
8. More options are important
Apple’s decision to offer just the iPad and iPhone in the tablet and
smartphone markets, respectively, has been panned by critics who say
that the company should expand its product line to compete with the
deluge of Android-based devices on store shelves. There is some sense in
that. The more products a company is up against, the better it is for
the firm to have extra devices, as well. Samsung ostensibly understands
that, since it offers several smartphones and tablets for customers of
all types to choose from. Should Apple release a 7-inch iPad version?
Samsung has. Perhaps it’s time for Apple to follow suit.
9. Awareness is on the rise
When Samsung first started competing against Apple in the mobile space,
there was relatively little awareness of its products. All the rage in
the marketplace surrounded Apple’s devices and all others were left out
in the cold. But Samsung’s products are quickly gaining notoriety,
thanks to their popularity both in the States and overseas. That’s not a
good thing for Apple. The company has long capitalized on the fact that
it had kept all its competitors far behind it in market appeal. But in
Samsung’s case, Apple might not be able to leverage that advantage for
too much longer.
10. Let the lawsuits be the guide
If Apple wasn’t concerned about Samsung, it wouldn’t be fighting the company all over the world in patent-infringement lawsuits.
In Australia, Apple was able to strike a deal with Samsung to look at
three Galaxy Tab 10.1 concepts before it approves one for sale. In
Europe, Apple has won preliminary injunctions against Samsung products.
by the look of things, the bitter legal and market battle between the
companies won’t be ending anytime soon. If that doesn’t prove that Apple
views Samsung as a real threat, what does?
Apple might be the top
hardware maker in the smartphone and tablet markets, but Samsung is
starting to loom large on Apple’s radar scope with high-quality mobile
products that are winning buyers’ attention around the world.
11:13 am
Jack
