Consumer electronics giant Samsung marked the first anniversary of Samsung Apps by expanding the service to more than 109 countries in keeping with its vision to ensure the mobile revolution is enjoyed by everyone.
Initially available from September 2009 in select European and Asian countries – including the UK, France, Germany and Italy – Samsung Apps has expanded its coverage at a rapid pace, riding on the successful global launch of the Samsung Wave smartphone.
Samsung Apps recently added nine more service countries – Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Iceland, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, and Sudan – to increase availability to 109 markets.
The Samsung Wave, the first smartphone based on Samsung’s own bada platform, hit the market in June 2010. Since its launch, more than 14 million bada applications have been downloaded from Samsung Apps as the service’s user base continues to expand.
“The expansion of the Samsung Apps gives us the opportunity to reach more users than ever before with entertaining, compelling and enriching smartphone experiences,” Hosoo Lee, executive vice-president and head of the Media Solutions Centre, Samsung Electronics, said.
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“We are committed to introducing users to new applications and services unique to Samsung.
“Samsung Apps’ rapid expansion also signals an incredible opportunity for developers and content providers to reach new customers all over the world,” Lee added.
Already offering an array of applications, including games, social networks, e-books and health-related services, Samsung plans to drive the creation of more locally-customised applications. It will also integrate relevant local information designed to reflect cultural characteristics and provide a more enriching, tailored service to users globally.
Samsung said it will continue to drive Samsung Apps by introducing further Bada-powered devices and that Samsung Apps will expand to accommodate new smartphones that will automatically display the relevant application catalogue available for a user’s specific phone model.
