上網時間: 2008年12月22日
三星(Samsung)計劃為其手機擴充作業系統、應用程式和服務的選擇，以激勵日漸衰退的手機市場。
三星電信業務策略計畫資深副總裁Young Cho Chi表示：「今年我們的(手機)銷售量實現了20~25%的成長，達到了預期的200萬支出貨量的目標；但明年的情勢卻不太樂觀，幾乎每一個人都認為我們會出現超過5%的負成長。」
Chi在一年一度的三星技術論壇上表示：「我們還沒有確定2009年的銷售量目標，但我們堅信實現正成長不是問題。」三星將在2009年推出多一倍的智慧手機機型，同時增加使用觸控螢幕的高階手機到主流手機比例。
此外，三星將減少手機所使用的基礎平台種類，並增加可支援的應用軟體數量。Chi表示：「我們的大部份產品還是各自使用專有的作業系統，但明年我們計劃擴充採用開放式作業系統的平台，並提供Windows Mobile、Symbian和Linux的組合。」他並強調，三星也將在2009年推出使用Google Android作業系統的手機，但沒有具體時間表。
通常手機作業系統的選擇，是由手機廠與行動通訊服務業者依據不同的市場需求，來決定不同的軟體組合。Chi表示：「在可預見的將來，我們將在手機上配備所有可能的開放源碼作業系統平台。」
為了使自身產品在市場上與眾不同，三星緊隨諾基亞(Nokia)腳步，試圖在手機上整合多種應用程式和服務。「對諾基亞來說，目前提供內容和服務所帶來的收益並不多，但不出三到五年內，估計可創造40~50億美元的收入。」Chi表示。
今年六月，三星重組了電信部門，成立了一個新的行動解決方案中心(mobile solutions center)，以專注於行動網路內容的開發。「軟體在我們的產品策略中正變得越來越大型和重要；」Chi透露，該公司打算和一些美國好萊塢的製片商和網際網路大廠合作，共同開發行動網路內容。
三星電信部門的重組也重點關注了未來基於LTE的手機及行動WiMax網路。「我們的策略是支援以上兩種技術，行動WiMax技術將領先LTE四到五年，但由於可使用今日的3G蜂巢式網路，LTE的佈建範圍可能會更廣。」
而手機硬體本身的功能仍是關鍵，CHI特別提到，三星不久之後將推出內建微型投影機的手機，可供使用者在商務會議上做簡報，或者在旅館房間的牆上播放電影。
(參考原文：Samsung expands mobile software strategy，by Rick Merritt)
Samsung expands mobile software strategy
Korean giant doubles use of open OSes in 2009
Rick Merritt EE Times
(12/09/2008 3:38 PM EST)
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Samsung will expand the list of mobile operating systems, applications and services available for its handsets in an effort to eke out some growth in an otherwise declining cellular market.
"This year we've grown 20-25 percent in volume sales and met our 200-million unit shipment goal, but next year almost everyone forecasts negative growth of even more than five percent," said Young Cho Chi, senior vice president of strategic planning for Samsung's telecom business.
"We haven't finalized our numbers [for 2009], but we think we will still grow despite the forecasts," he added speaking at an annual Samsung tech forum here.
In 2009, Samsung will double the number of models of smart phones it ships and extend touch-screen interfaces from high-end handsets down to mainstream feature phones. It is also reducing the number of its underlying hardware platforms while it expands the set of software running on them.
"Most of our products are still based on our proprietary OS, but next year we have a plan to double our open OS models with a good mix between Microsoft Windows Mobile, Symbian and Linux," he said.
Chi reiterated Samsung will ship in 2009 its first phone using the Google Android software, but he did not say specifically when it ships.
The OS strategy is being driven primarily by handset deals with carriers who aim to address specific markets with different software stacks. "For the foreseeable future, we will offer all the possible open OS platforms on our models," Chi said.
Samsung is also following the lead of Nokia which is trying to aggregate a wide variety of applications and services around its handsets to set them apart in the market. "Content and services are not generating much revenue for Nokia, but three-to-five years from now it could be creating $4-5 billion," Chi said.
In June, Samsung reorganized its telecom division, creating a new mobile solutions center to aggregate mobile content. "Software is becoming a bigger and more important part of our device strategy," he said, noting the company expects to sign mobile content deals with Hollywood studios and Internet giants in 2009.
The reorg also created a stronger focus on devices for mobile WiMax networks in tandem with plans for future LTE-based handsets.
"Our strategy is to support both technologies, and mobile WiMax is about four or five years ahead of LTE," though LTE will probably become more widespread as the follow on to today's 3G cellular nets, he said.
Hardware capabilities will still be important differentiators. For example, Chi noted Samsung will soon ship handsets with miniature projectors that can be used to display a Powerpoint presentation in a business meeting or play a movie on a hotel room wall.
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