[2020 Unpacked] No Tae-moon "Foldable Popularization... Preparing Various Foldable Lineups"

Unpacked Debut: No Tae-moon, Head of Wireless Business, Holds First Briefing
Foldable Categorization "Developing Various Lineups"
"Trying Multiple Forms... Consumer Convenience Comes First"

[San Francisco (USA) = Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] No Tae-moon, President of Samsung Electronics' Wireless Business Division, evaluated the Galaxy Z Flip as a product that marks the "beginning of foldable popularization." Regarding the Galaxy S20, he expressed confidence that it would achieve sales surpassing its predecessor (Galaxy S10). Concerning concerns about parts procurement due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), he explained, "Although there are some issues, we are managing them well in cooperation with our partners."

On the 11th (local time) at the Unpacked event held in San Francisco, USA, President No stated, "The Galaxy Z Flip is a product aimed at popularizing foldables," and added, "We are preparing a variety of foldable lineups." Regarding the Galaxy S20, which was unveiled alongside the Galaxy Z Flip, he said, "The response from our clients is very positive, so we expect better results than the previous model."

He defined foldable phones as still being in their infancy and expressed hope that the Galaxy Z Flip could lead the popularization beyond this early stage. President No said, "The Galaxy Z Flip went through 2 to 3 years of development and trial and error, and we are continuously researching and developing various foldable phones," hinting at the possibility of foldable phones that fold more than twice. However, he mentioned, "Although we can try various forms (such as folding more than twice), the primary criterion is what value it provides to consumers and whether it can be carried conveniently."

For President No, who has led the history of Galaxy smartphones from the Galaxy S series to the Fold, this Unpacked event holds special significance as a turning point for a "new decade." In the fourth quarter of last year, Samsung faced a crisis when Apple took the top spot in shipment volume. President No explained, "Since the situation is not easy, the entire business division is contemplating," and added, "Our goal this year is to lead the mobile industry's co-growth through innovations such as new form factors, 5G, and artificial intelligence (AI)."

Regarding concerns that the novel coronavirus might affect the procurement of parts necessary for smartphone production, President No said, "There are concerns about supply chain management (SCM) issues related to the novel coronavirus, but we are managing them well in cooperation with our partners, and some companies have already resumed operations." He added, "We are closely monitoring to minimize the impact on the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Z Flip." Additionally, Samsung Electronics has indefinitely postponed the Galaxy Studio experience events planned before the new product launch and decided to expand online promotions.

The word President No frequently mentioned during the briefing was "cooperation." His strategy is that overcoming the crisis requires growing the ecosystem through cooperation rather than solitary survival. He said, "Through innovation, cooperation, and efficiency, we will create opportunities for co-growth even in difficult situations." Furthermore, he aims to expand platforms through solidarity by forming strategic partnerships with global partners. President No stated, "Changing the direction to 'properly deliver what customers want' through strategic cooperation with leading service content companies is an important change."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.