SAMSUNG CLAIMS EDGE OVER APPLE IN INDIA

HIGHLIGHTS

• According to GfK, Samsung holds 51% share in the Indian premium phone market at the end of Sept and Apple is trailing with a share in mid-40% range
• Samsung claims a positive momentum with S6 edge, Note5 phones
• Industry analysts, however, point out that Samsung's leadership claim should be taken "with a pinch of salt"

 The Korean mobile phone major has said that it has attained a 50% share in the Indian premium phone market, at a time when Apple battles a slow start to the sale of its new iPhone 6S devices in IndiaManu Sharma, director (product marketing) for Samsung India, said the company has seen a "positive momentum" over the last one year on the back of new launches such as the S6 edge and the Note5 devices.


"As per numbers provided by market research firm GfK, our market share in the Rs 30,000 and above category is 51% in value terms at the end of the September this year. This was about 36% till about a year ago," Sharma said. Volume share, he said, is near identical to the number arrived at in value share.
The GfK numbers indicate that Apple is trailing Samsung in the category with a share in the mid-40% range.

Industry analysts, however, point out that Samsung's leadership claim should be taken "with a pinch of salt", especially as there is no way to independently confirm the GfK numbers. "There are a number of research firms in the market, and many of them often have different market share figures. So, one cannot be 100% sure about these figures," one of the analysts said.