Samsung Electronics Co is set to double its smartphone sales for 2010, with a projection to sell more than 40 million smartphones worldwide in 2011.
The move puts Samsung in direct competition with Apple, to which Samsung supplies microprocessors for its iPhone 4 and iPad, according to Reuters.
Shin Jong-kyun, head of Samsung’s mobile division, told reporters in Seoul that the company expects to sell more than 20 million smartphones this year. Earlier this year the company had forecast it would sell 18 million units.
The Nikkei Daily Newspaper said Samsung would lead the sales push with its Galaxy S smartphones, but aims to sell 1 million units of its Galaxy Tab tablet device worldwide. The 7 inch Galaxy Tab, which runs on the Android platform, is due to go on sale in Australia on Monday. The company is also expected to release more tablet models.
Although Samsung’s current deal with Apple has propped up the South Korean company’s earnings, it is widely expected that Samsung will also soon be launching tablets with 10-inch screens to compete directly with Apple’s iPad.
