Samsung Galaxy S3: Can New Galaxy Break Sales Records for Galaxy S and S2?

A report in Korea Times quotes a Samsung spokesperson as stating the company had recorded sales of more than 50 million units of the first two phones in the Galaxy smartphone series - the S and the S2.

"Selling 50 million is a milestone that indicated the rise and competitiveness of Samsung products on the world stage. For this year, we aim to double our sales over 2011," the representative was quoted as saying.

The report also quotes the International Data Corporation as saying the 29.1 percent share of the global market (for Q1 2012) was the first time the South Korean company had toppled Apple's 24.2 percent mark. Strategy Analytics added that the company sold 92.5 million handsets in the same period.

The sales mark, on 1 June, was 24 million for the Galaxy S (released in 2010) and 28 million for the S2. Incidentally, the S2 broke sales records by selling 10 million units within the first five months of its release in April last year. Meanwhile, the S2's cousin - the Galaxy Note - has sold seven million units since its September release.

The S3's Market Hold?

The newest in the Galaxy series - the S3 - was announced in London on 3 May and rolled out to the UK market on 30 May. Company officials are now claiming they have already received a pre-order for 10 million devices, which is over three times the three million mark for the S2.

"Considering the current market atmosphere, the company can expect to sell 30 million Galaxy S3s this year alone. The new release will keep Samsung atop in the global market until its next product. The sales number will be very high until then," said Kim Uoon-ho, an analyst at Hanwha Securities.

Demand for New Galaxy

Vodafone UK earlier confirmed, as part of the pre-order roundups, the Galaxy S3 was a potential sales records breaker.

"With over a week to go until launch, it's already the most pre-ordered Android device we've brought into our smartphone line-up to date and our limited times offer of 2GB of mobile data and 100 free music tracks is being snapped up," a Vodafone spokesperson had said then.

Meanwhile, Europe's largest mobile phone retailer - Carphone Warehouse - has suggested the S3 could be the most pre-ordered handset ever.

"Pre-order demand for the new Galaxy S3 has surpassed expectations since the handset was first unveiled two weeks ago. The first 24 hours alone saw thousands placing their pre-order at Carphone Warehouse," read a note from the Web site.

Finally, Phones 4u - another mobile phone retailer in the UK selling the Galaxy S3 across its 600 retailer stores and through its official UK partners, claims the Galaxy S3 has become its most purchased handset for 2012.

"A high proportion of the sale made were via JUMP, with new customers starting up contracts and pre-existing JUMP customers also coming in store to take advantage of the flexible upgrade and get their hands on the Galaxy S3," said Scott Hooton, Commercial Officer at Phones 4U.