A recent infograph showing the total number of Samsung phones and tablets in circulation is making heads turn – a total of 26 devices covering every inch of the industry and spanning screen sizes from 3 to 10 inches. Another notable feature is the fact that dual SIM and carrier specific models have not been accounted for, indicating that the different ‘types’ of devices are much more than actually indicated.
The reach of some of these devices sees no bounds, as Samsung seems to have set foot into unexplored territory with some of its products. The Note and Mega prove ideal examples for this case. There are other devices which are present for the sake of being there, whether for competition or for increasing the company’s reach is still unclear. The S4 Zoom is a swift reply to the Nokia EOS and Sony’s rumored Honami camera phones and demonstrates Samsung’s willingness to cover just about every niche in the market.
A look into Nokia’s activity at its peak could actually provide a lesson in learning for Samsung. Nokia released a total of 40 models in one year, and this was at a time when tablets were little known, so all of these were just phones, feature phones to be precise. There were many more which were released in the following year, after which Nokia cut down its portfolio and shifted to a new platform. Nokia released a horde of Symbian models which were strikingly similar, which actually might have contributed to the downfall of the manufacturer, according to analysts.
Samsung seems to be going down the same path, releasing products like the Ace 3, which shares specifications with many others in the Galaxy stable. Another notable aspect is the fact that Nokia didn’t have to deal with too much competition back then. In comparison, Samsung has the likes of HTC, LG, Sony and several other companies looking to steal the mammoth market share in the Korean company’s possession.
One can argue that Samsung might not end up with the same fate, given how the company manufactures its hardware. However, the company has issued new guidelines for Galaxy S4 suppliers and cut its forecast for component orders from 30 to 20 million for the upcoming quarter. CEO JK Shin himself went on air to calm the commotion surrounding the decline in predicted shipments by the company. Investors have always looked to invest in an area where the next explosive phase of growth is likely set in. Samsung offers several avenues in that regard. It is clear from Apple’s recent efforts that the sector itself is stagnating in growth potential, so Samsung could well be reshuffling in its efforts to sustain its stay at the summit.
