But in the touch is not enough to make a French exception

Samsung France leaders are not just proud: 4 mobile on 10 sold in France came out of the Korean group plants, according to GfK figures for September. In 2009, plans to sell more than 10 million of stamped phones Samsung. The progression of sales has been extraordinary, since last year, 3 Mobile on 10 of Samsung. While the market experienced globally a year of crisis, in fall of 5.7 since January in France, the subsidiary created only ten years ago took the opportunity to strengthen his domination in the French landscape of the mobile.

C'est une exception française. Worldwide, Samsung has seen its sales grow by 16 over a year in the third quarter, according to IDC. But he sells only 2 phones on 10 in the world, still far behind Nokia, with its almost 38 market share. World numbers one and two positions are the opposite of those they have taken in France, where the growth of Samsung has put an end to the supremacy of the Finns since 2005. Nokia weighed more in September than 20.3 of the market in France.

Boom of the touch

"We have benefited from the boom of the touch, that perhaps accounted for 15 of sales earlier this year and climbed to about 35", says Jean-Philippe Illarine, Director of marketing for Samsung France. Half of the touch screen phones sold in France are from Samsung. The star of this segment is not the iPhone, but the Player One, a touch of Samsung which is not even a "smartphone"! Alone, this midrange terminal represents more than 10 of sales in France, provides Jean-Philippe Illarine, just before the single phone to Apple. In fact, the Korean firm took advantage of the popularity of the touch launched by the iPhone. Others, such as Sony Ericsson or Nokia - who did not wished comment on the figures of the French market-, have been slower to adapt to the new situation.

But in the touch is not enough to make a French exception. Samsung has also benefited from the diversity of the hexagonal market ten years ago, with local manufacturers sufficiently strong to prevent Nokia to carve the lion's share of his arrival. Once the subsidiary of the Korean Group well installed in its market, it has benefited from their retreat. The portable Sagem thus almost disappeared from the radar screen since the sale of this activity to an investment fund: they weigh less than 2 of sales. The Alcatel brand, owned by a Chinese group, is also cleared.

Only shadow table: 33.8, the market share of Samsung France added value did not follow its penetration in volume. This is explained by the increase in sales of the iPhone since that it is distributed by three operators. Jean-Philippe Illarine hope however correct the bar with the Samsung offensive in "smartphones", now more general public since the arrival of Android and Windows 6.5 operating systems: "We want to become one of the leaders in this segment actors, which will allow us to increase our average price," he says. And to register in a growing market of 135 since the beginning of the year.