SAMSUNG Electronics aims to double its share of the mobile-phone market in the Philippines to 25 percent this year and has launched 18 new-handset models that include one at P2,200—the lowest price point in the market today.

Samsung’s newest marketing campaign uses new consumer segmentation model, aggressive marketing strategy, highly competitive pricing and new features that provide “a mobile for every lifestyle.”

Beyond that, Samsung is set to hone its  competitive edge by coming out with cellular-phone models that “will be priced less than P2,000” later this year, Samsung head for mobile phones Fe Varilla said Monday in a press conference in Makati City.

The entry-level units that are “priced very affordably,” Varilla said, “target parents who want to provide their children with cellular phones that are simple and inexpensive.”

Raine Jalavera of Samsung’s mobile-phone marketing group said “the fashionista, the businessman, the audiophile and consumers who want just the essentials all have Samsung phones made to meet their specific needs.”

The company rose to second position in the global handset market in 2007, selling over 161 million units —an increase of 42 percent and more than three times the industry growth rate.

“Samsung has complemented our technology and design leadership with in-depth research into the evolving consumer needs,” Charles Choi, vice president for mobile phones in the Philippines, said at the press conference. “We will embed ourselves into the latest consumer trends and preferences to deliver innovative products tailored for different segments, as we strive to further increase our market share and strengthen our industry position.”

While high-end sound system and five Mega pixel cameras are built into Samsung’s style segment phones, the pared down, entry level “essential” mobile handsets, particularly the SGH-B200 provide FM radio recording capability so users can set recordings as ringtones.

The model also features a unique “mobile tracker” function that enables users to track down their phones if lost or stolen. It will be available in June.

BELTON Communities Inc., the affordable housing arm of listed Eton Properties Philippines Inc., would intensify the sale of its products to non-US overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in light of a slowdown in the US economy.

Megaworld 2007 net profit up 48% to P3.01B

LISTED property developer Megaworld Corp. said its net profit for 2007 rose 48 percent to P3.01 billion from P2.04 billion a year earlier.

GLOBE Telecom said the 2007 policy of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)—mandating the development of reference access offers, or RAO—and its proposed implementing guidelines may be illegal in the absence of a law which justifies the basis to issue these documents.

SAMSUNG Electronics aims to double its share of the mobile-phone market in the Philippines to 25 percent this year and has launched 18 new-handset models that include one at P2,200—the lowest price point in the market today.

US-based printing solutions giant Lexmark has reiterated its long-term commitment to its operations in Cebu City with the construction of two buildings at the Cebu Business Park.

GMA Network Inc. is a rare listed company.  It declares dividends not out of surplus in prior years but out of retained earnings plus net profit in current year, which refers to the year when dividends are declared.