Samsung announces plans to increase its HDD business in smaller cities

Samsung Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Division, business division of Samsung India Electronics Ltd, has announced that it is going to get aggressive in the B & C class cities in India. The division is targeting to focus on a target market share of 56 percent in smaller cities. Currently, the company has a market share of 45 percent in this region. As a part of its plans, the company would also be expanding its reach in these cities. 

Samsung is going to focus most of its energy towards consumer education. Samsung's key motive is to educate the user on the importance of a HDD in a PC. Samsung is present not only in A and B class towns but also is the preferred brand in C and D class cities. It has been steadily investing in a large network of Service centers across the country. Currently, it has service centers in 18 cities and it plans to take it to 23 cities by end of 2003. It also plans to set up smaller collection centers where the turn around time would be less then four days.

For the first time Samsung is initiating a Special Partner appointment program in smaller cities to increase its dealer network for HDDs. Two new products were launched this year. These includes the Vango Series which is a Single platter-Single head slim drive (VL 40 series), available in 80GB to 40 GB capacities, and the 80gb single platter technology, which offers upto 160gb in a single drive, at a sub Rs 10,000 price point. "Our HDD division contributes 22 percent to the overall company turnover. We already are #1 in the distribution market and have a dominant presence in HDDs. We are turning our focus to the emerging markets of B & C cities now," said Sonal Anand, Country Manager (Products), Samsung Electronics India, IT & Telecom Division.

Cyber News Service