Samsung to launch new phone in China before Apple

Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday that its latest Galaxy Note 4 smartphone will go on sale in China and South Korea later this month, as its flagging mobile business tries to defend sales from Apple’s new iPhones. Samsung said all three South Korean mobile operators will begin Galaxy Note 4 sales on Friday. All three Chinese mobile carriers will release the new phone before the end of this month. Samsung’s announcement marks the first time it has released a flagship smartphone in China before other major overseas markets.

We are temporarily going through a difficult business situation. But…we hope that we would be able to recover soon based on our fundamental capability for technical innovation.

Head of sales and marketing for Samsung’s mobile unit Lee Don-Joo

Samsung’s early move in China comes as it faces challenges on multiple fronts. Its profit from the crucial mobile business has flagged and local brands in India and China have dented its sales of cheap phones. Apple’s new iPhone 6 with its larger screen than previous models also eliminates a key advantage for Samsung, which had lured buyers with the big screens of its Galaxy phones. Samsung said the Galaxy Note Edge, which has a curved side screen that serves as a second screen to display weather information, clocks and menu buttons, will start going on sale in late October.

Technology