Samsung at top of IT pack thanks to smartphones

Industry

Samsung at top of IT pack thanks to smartphones

Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of memory chips and its No. 2 handset maker, posted the largest revenue among global tech firms last year on the back of strong sales of smartphones, a financial information provider said yesterday.

Samsung Electronics’ 2011 sales reached $148.6 billion when its yearly revenue was converted into dollars, according to data compiled by FnGuide.

The company estimated on Friday that it posted a record operating profit of 5.2 trillion won ($4.5 billion) in the fourth quarter, aided by strong shipments of smartphones.

Its fourth-quarter and annual sales were also predicted to have reached an all-time high, it added.

Yonhap