South Korean group Samsung has problems with deliveries of the new Galaxy S4 smartphone after higher than anticipated demand, just before the global launch of the new model.
A difficult launch of the new smartphone would hold back plans for Samsung which has aggressively promoted the Galaxy S4 in a strategy to take the first position in the U.S. market of smartphones from rival Apple. Samsung will start Friday sales in South Korea, followed by sales in other countries on Saturday.
“Demand is far stronger than we had expected and as a result we are having difficulties in fully meeting initial supply requests,” said the head of marketing for mobile devices division of Samsung, Lee Don-joo.
“Due to overwhelming global demand of Galaxy S4, the initial supply may be limited. We expect to fulfil inventory to meet demands in the coming weeks,” reads a company statement.
The South-Korean group announced earlier that initial supplies may be limited due to high demand. Samsung is expected, however, to ensure that sufficient phones will be available to meet demand, according to a statement of the South Korean electronics manufacturer.
Several major operators in the U.S. have postponed for a few days the preorders. T-Mobile will start preorders for S4 on Saturday instead of Wednesday as previously planned “because of unexpected delivery delays.” Sprint will start preorders on Saturday, as planned, but will start selling in stores depending on how the smartphones will become available.
Samsung revealed the Galaxy S4 in March in New York. The new smartphone, thinner than the Galaxy S3 has a 5-inch screen and larger battery capacity. Analysts estimate sales of 10 million units in the first month, after the launch in 150 countries.
Galaxy S3, introduced in May last year, has sold over 50 million units by mid-March.
A good plan for the supply of mobile operators is essential for success. Samsung had problems last year at the launch of S3, which became available in the U.S. a month later than in Europe, because of supply issues.
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