Galaxy S3 sales hit warp speed, pass 20M globally

Samsung Electronics said yesterday that global sales of its Galaxy S3 smartphones have surpassed the 20 million mark since its release in late May.

The milestone comes three times faster than for the Galaxy S, and six times faster than for the Galaxy S2, Samsung said in a press release, referring to the earlier models of its Galaxy S line-up, which have posted combined sales of 50 million units since June 2010.

Samsung said sales in Europe topped other regions with 6 million, while Asia and U.S. sales followed with 4.5 million and 4 million, respectively. Sales in Korea, Samsung’s home turf, reached 2.5 million.

The top smartphone maker said it plans to keep up robust sales by adding three new color options to the current blue and white versions.

The latest milestone comes ahead of archrival Apple’s widely anticipated iPhone 5 launch next week. The gadget, which is expected to contend with the Galaxy S3, is expected to be unveiled at a San Francisco press event on Wednesday (Pacific Standard Time).

While Samsung’s Galaxy S3 sales unseated Apple’s iPhone 4S in August as the best-selling smartphone in the United States, analysts project the new iPhone may reverse this trend, as consumers who have been delaying phone purchases return to the market.

Meanwhile, Apple has taken its patent row with Samsung Electronics to Korea’s anti-trust watchdog by accusing the top smartphone maker of abusing its dominant market position, sources said yesterday.

Since April 2011, the two top smartphone giants have been embroiled in a high-stakes battle across four continents to conquer the $219 billion global smartphone market.

Apple has filed a complaint against Samsung with the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) for abusing its superior position over third-generation (3G) telecommunications technology, according to the sources.

The FTC is expected to review Apple’s argument by comparing the two companies’ market shares and the influence of the 3G technology. Samsung’s explanation over the charges is also likely to be taken into account.

“Samsung is aware of the move,” said company spokesman Lee Seung-joon, without further elaborating. Apple spokesman Steve Park also declined to provide any immediate comment.

The case filed with the FTC is part of Apple’s drive to sue the company for abusing its market dominance over wireless patents.

Yonhap