Samsung Star exceeds 5 million unit sales

Samsung has announced their Samsung Star (S5230) phone has exceeded 5 million units sales this month since its launch in May. The company says that the touchscreen mobile phone is the fastest in history to reach the milestone.

Seoul, Korea, August 27, 2009 – Samsung has announced that sales of the Samsung Star, its hugely popular touch screen mobile phone, surpassed the 5-million mark this month. The Star (model number S5230), launched in May, is the fastest model in Samsung’s history to reach the milestone.

Launched first in Europe, one million of the touch screen devices were sold in the first month and a half alone, after which the company expanded sales efforts to include markets in CIS, Southeast and Southwest Asia, East-Central Africa, China, and Central America.

More than 700,000 units of the Star were sold in May and more than 900,000 in June. Monthly sales in July and August were 1.6 million and 1.8 million, respectively. Based on the current trend, Samsung projects total cumulative sales to reach 10 million globally by November.

“We’re very pleased by this success,” said Young-hee Lee, Vice President of Marketing, Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “We see the demand for touch screen phones increasing  and we will continue to offer consumers a diverse range of products, supported by unique marketing campaigns.”

The Star has sold particularly well in Europe, where Samsung has sold more than 2.8 million units, topping sales lists in key markets such as France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Italy.

The Star was launched as an affordable mobile phone, appealing to young consumers with its slim, 11.9 mm body and 3-inch WQVGA touch screen. It also boasts high-tech features such as Samsung’s exclusive high-quality sound technology, DNSe, as well as a SmileShot-enabled camera and Bluetooth v2.1. The Star’s global success can be attributed in part to its sleek design, interactive and user-friendly UI, and its reasonable price point.

To drive sales, Samsung also launched active marketing programs in emerging markets where the phone is being sold, tailoring its activities, such as experimental Mobile Live events and outdoor marketing, to specific trends in those countries.