Samsung targets to double marketshare to 14 % by December

Kolkata, May 29(UNI) Mobile handset maker Samsung India Electronics Private Limited has targetted to double its market share to 14 per cent by this calender year.

"We have a target of doubling our market share by 2008. Currently, we have seven per cent share of the 287 million mobile handset market in India," company's country head Sunil Dutt today said while launching eight new handset models.

In the domestic market, Samsung is in the third position in terms of share behind Nokia and Sony Ericsson.

By achieving the targeted market share, Samsung's annual sales of handsets is supposed to cross four-crore mark.

Looking for expansion in the vast rural market, that virutally remained untapped so far, Samsung recently tied up with IFCO, the state-run fertiliser organisation, to take their handsets to cooperative societies with various offers in tandem with service providers.

" Even though not more than 60 per cent of the country's 350 million urban population has so far been covered, there is a great need of expansion in the rural market. Hence, we have tied up with IFCO and also with service providers like Bharti Airtel, Idea and Aircel to reach the people with various offers," Mr Dutt said.

UNI KDG KK RN1820