Samsung builds on Middle East MMS usage with launch of the first super VGA-camera mobile phone, E700

The company yesterday launched the region's first MMS mobile phone to be equipped with a super-VGA digital camera, the SGH-E700. Samsung also announced that 95 per cent of its new mobile phones in 2004 are to be MMS-enabled.

MMS allows mobile phone users to enhance their text messages by incorporating sound, images and other rich content, transforming them into a personalized visual and audio message.

"Short-messaging services (SMS) are enormously popular both here in the Middle East region and globally. More than 1.5 million SMS messages are sent out per day in the UAE alone. With a subscriber base of over half a million MMS users in the Middle East, as per our estimates, our goal is to make MMS as easy to use as SMS and thereby grow its use," said Mr. D. K. Byeon, President, Samsung Gulf Electronics (SGE).

"As part of our commitment to provide a compelling MMS experience, we have launched a superior digital camera phone, the E700, which is bundled with MMS-interactive features. Our first MMS-enabled camera phone, SGH-V200, was an overnight success in the region and today we have created another first with the SGH-E700," Mr. Byeon added.

The SGH-E700 weighs 85g and includes functionalities such as a super-VGA digital camera, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) browser, internal antenna and a dual colour high-resolution LCD display screen.

"With a dominant number two position in the Middle East's mobile phone market and an unprecedented competency in core telecom products, Samsung is best positioned to benefit from the progression to next-generation messaging services such as MMS. Furthermore, our commitment to introduce mobile phones equipped with MMS capability will play a key role in consolidating and growing the company's share in the regional mobile phone market. This year we aim to boost our mobile phone growth rate by 100 per cent," said Mr. Steve Han, Senior Manager, Telecommunications, SGE.

"MMS is a natural evolution of the already popular SMS, and is expected to play a significant role in ushering in new levels of growth for the regional mobile communications industry. As our research suggests, the awareness of camera phones among mobile phone owners is at its peak and the demand to send and receive 'richer than text' messages will further accelerate sales of colour screen handsets and camera phones. By 2004, we estimate camera phone sales to comprise 25 per cent of the total regional mobile phone market," said Mr. Sudhir Nair, Sales and Marketing Manager, Telecommunications Division, SGE.