Samsung promises to release world's first foldable smartphone

By Lim Chang-won Posted : August 13, 2018, 10:35 Updated : August 13, 2018, 10:35

[Yonhap News Photo]


SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics demonstrated confidence in the commercial production of foldable smartphones for the first time in the world ahead of Chinese rivals, saying it has made a technical breakthrough.

The world's largest smartphone maker has achieved considerable progress in securing the quality and durability of foldable phones, Koh Dong-jin, CEO of Samsung's IT and mobile communications division, told reporters Monday in New York, adding commercial production is not far away.

"We focus on innovations that consumers really like and accept rather than being the first in the world, but we do not want to lose the first (position) in foldable phones," Koh said. "I would like to hear that Samsung Electronics built it properly when it puts a foldable phone on the market."

Samsung has consistently applied for patents related to foldable smartphones. In July, Samsung's flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel made with an "unbreakable" substrate and an overlay window won certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a U.S.-based global safety certification company.

Samsung said the UL-certified panel can be used widely from car display consoles and portable devices to electronic products which require high durability. Chinese firms have released the prototypes of foldable smartphones, but they have a long way to go for commercialization.

Koh said foldable phones would be produced in a separate lineup, causing no big change to the production of Galaxy S and Note series.

Samsung will continue to maintain its top position in the developed market by accelerating the development of artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things and fifth-generation (5G) technologies, he said. "In emerging markets such as India, Latin America and Southeast Asia, we will offer competitive products if necessary."

In preparation for the 5G era, Samsung is preparing for a shift from smartphones to smart devices, Koh said, promising to release a separate 5G model.

Samsung has fully overcome a battery debacle involving Galaxy Note 7s, he said, referring to the battery of Note 9, which was unpacked in New York last week. "You do not have to worry about batteries anymore," he said. Last year, the company had to collect two million Note 7s in a global recall caused by faulty explosive batteries.

 
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