Samsung smartphones are dominating Cambodia’s crowded mobile phone market in terms of market share and the number sold, company representatives said yesterday. 

“For the smartphone industry in Cambodia, we are absolutely dominant. That means we stand as number one in terms of market share, based on a survey from Gross for Knowledge [GfK] research, which is an international research institute,” Vat Laimpheng, country manager for the branch office of Thai Samsung Electronics, said at the opening of a second Samsung-KLD Experience Shop and showroom near the Central Market in Phnom Penh.

Samsung phones had ranked number one on the smartphone charts since March, Vat Laimpheng said. He did not disclose the number of units sold.  

A rival, Korea-based LG, recognised Samsung’s position in the Kindom’s smartphone industry, but was confident it can close the gap.

Hor Hap, business development manager of GGear, an LG Mobile authorised distributor in Cambodia, said that although Samsung was in a good position in Cambodia, LG sales were on the rise.

“We cannot compare with Samsung if we talk about the market share. However, currently our share is growing. We are seeing fast growth with the sale of smartphones, especially the Optimus L ser-ies and the 4X HD, which have just launched. What is important for LG is that you can read and write in Khmer on our phones,” he said.

The smartphone industry in Cambodia is growing very fast as more and more people are starting to know more about the benefits of having one, he said.

“We’ve got a lot of competition in our country, many smartphone companies offer their products here. But, the number of smartphone sales is still increasing. Mobile phone sales are increasing a lot in terms of smartphones but its mostly Andriod phones – like those on offer by Samsung and LG,” added Hor Hap.

Vat Laimpheng said competition is also on the rise. “Smartphones are popular with the middle- to high-classes of Cambodia – even students because they offer a lot benefits to our daily lives.”

The price of Samsung smartphones start at US$150, he said. “Customers can afford the price because now our market has become more modernised. We also have an installment payment plan for purchasing our phones. This is another choice for people who want to own a smartphone.”

The company is planning to launch both the seven-inch and 10.1-inch models of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. The Galaxy Note 10.1-inch model is already available, and the Galaxy SIII was launched three months ago.

“We’re fully confident of maintaining our dominant position in the market, as Samsung is a big company or what is called a one-stop solution for electronics: mobile phones, TVs, freezers and washing machines,” he said.

Samsung offers two ranges of phones – feature and smartphones – as well as tablets he said. “We have the ability to gain more market share and truly dominate the market with out products.”

Samsung gained the top position on the global market with its flat-panel TVs and smartphones.

The number of mobile subscribers in Cambodia increased to 19,642,563 through June, compared to 15,678,829 at the end of December, 2011, official data from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications shows. There is no data  on the number of smartphones, however.

To contact the reporter on this story: May Kunmakara at [email protected]