Demand for music cellphones to grow 8.5%

Dubai: Samsung, the world's second largest selling cellphone maker, expects global demand for music-dedicated handsets to grow by 8.5 per cent this year compared to six per cent last year and 12 per cent in 2009 at an annual compound growth rate of 41 per cent, a top official said.

"We sold about 15 million handsets in the Middle East and Africa [MEA] and doubled our sales in the region in 2007," Vinod Nair, regional manager, Tele-communication Division, MEA, Samsung Gulf Electronics, said.

As convergence is gaining momentum and major vendors strengthening its position in the music phone category, Samsung does not want to be left alone. It yesterday launched Impulz i450, a music-dedicated phone that brings both attractive dual-slider design and various multimedia features. It is priced at Dh1,499.

Nair said the company launched around 30 models last year and it expects to maintain the same number this year. He said it would focus more on design and technology this year.

The Impulz i450 is a dual slider that slides up to reveal a spacious alphanumeric keypad for making calls and down to reveal metallic speakers. It includes a touch navigation half-wheel, which is an innovative arc that enables users to easily navigate the device when the phone is held sideways, putting the display in optimal landscape view.

Impulz i450 combines extensive music player capabilities with super sound quality to provide the listener with the ultimate sound experience.

Meanwhile, popular Lebanese singer Elissa has signed up as the 2008 brand ambassador for Samsung. The i450 package also includes three of Elissa's hit singles - Ayami Bik, Bastanak and Moush Kiteer Aaleik - offered to Samsung phones for a period of one year.

"It is my pleasure to be Samsung Mobiles' brand ambassador for its music category. My partnership with Samsung is an ideal synergy with a brand that truly appreciates the importance of music in people's lives" said Elissa.

S.B. Kim, president of Samsung Gulf Electronics, said: "We are thrilled to be working with an internationally and locally acclaimed artist like Elissa and we are looking forward to our year ahead together."