Samsung Electronics Announces First Quarter 2010 Results

Record operating profit of 4.41 trillion won ($3.9 billion) on revenues of 34.64 trillion won ($31.2 billion)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced revenues of 34.64 trillion Korean won ($31.2 billion) on a consolidated basis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, a 21 percent increase year-on-year. For the quarter, the company posted a net profit of 3.99 trillion won ($3.5 billion).

Consolidated operating profit for the quarter was a record 4.41 trillion won ($3.9 billion), a 643 percent increase year-on-year. The figure tops the previous high of 4.22 trillion won ($3.8 billion) in the third quarter 2009.

In its earnings guidance disclosed on April 6, Samsung estimated first-quarter consolidated revenues would reach approximately $30 billion with an operating profit of 4.3 trillion won ($3.9 billion).

The company’s strong performance in the first quarter was driven by significant improvements in the components businesses, especially semiconductors, and strong earnings in the set businesses.

Mr. SangSuk Roh, President of Samsung Levant said: “This tangible increase in the profit of Samsung Electronics is an indicator of the increased demand on Samsung products due to its developed and advanced technologies that meet our customers’ needs. This year we will witness the launch of many Samsung home appliances and other technologies that will be the first of its kind in global electronics market.”

Robert Yi, Vice President and head of Samsung Electronics’ Investor Relations Team, said he is cautiously optimistic second-quarter earnings will improve, due to continued strong memory chip markets, favorable LCD panel demand and increased sales of set products such as mobile handsets and TVs.

“We will continue to widen the gap with competitors in the memory business, improve profitability in the LCD business, and strengthen our competiveness and market dominance in the handset and TV businesses,” Yi said.

Samsung’s Semiconductor Business recorded consolidated operating profit of 1.96 trillion won ($1.7 billion) in the first quarter, up from an operating loss of 710 billion won ($626 million) a year ago. Revenue reached 8.20 trillion won ($7.2 billion), a 57 percent increase year-on-year.

Supply constraints amid strong demand in the DRAM market led to the rise of DRAM prices, and there was a steady demand in the NAND market due to strong demand for smart phones and mobile application products.

The LCD Business recorded an operating profit of 490 billion won ($432 million) on revenue of 6.85 trillion won ($6.04 billion), up 40 percent year-on-year. Despite traditionally weak seasonality, shipments increased significantly from a year ago.

Samsung plans to enhance profitability by expanding sales of differentiated products in the second quarter, including LED, 3D, 240Hz and Slim TV panels.

The Telecommunication businesses – including mobile handsets and telecommunication networks – posted an operating profit of 1.10 trillion won ($1 billion) on revenue of 9.18 trillion won($9 billion). The operating profit margin was 12 percent.

Strengthened premium product lineup and growth in emerging markets including India and CIS countries enabled Samsung to ship 64.3 million mobile handsets and outperform the market.

Samsung’s Digital Media businesses – including Visual Display and Digital Appliances – posted an operating profit of 520 billion won ($458 million) on revenue of 12.61 trillion won ($11.12 billion).

In flat panel TVs, Samsung recorded shipments of 8.4 million units, thanks to the successful launch of 3D TVs in the global market and the strong penetration of LED TVs in developing markets.

Digital Appliance sales rose 21 percent from last year as a result of demand recovery and strong sales of premium refrigerators and drum washing machines.

“The Best Choice for Valued Consumers" Samsung Electronics Releases the Premium Luxury TV 9000 Series, the World’s First Full HD 3D LED TV

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, launched the premium luxury TV 9000 series, the world’s first-available Full HD 3D LED TV, that combines “advanced TV technology with the finest design.” Boasting the most advanced TV engineering, and simple yet sensual design, this luxurious TV series adds classiness to the brand value of Samsung TV. This first-of-its-kind TV was launched last March during a press conference held in New York.

This newest premium full HD 3D LED TV 9000 series is the finest and most luxurious Samsung TV line, featuring a high-class stainless metal chassis, the world’s slimmest panel thickness (7.98 mm), a stand with an auto-sliding touchpad, a premium “Smart Controller” with touch screen, smooth and vivid images in 3D, various user-friendly options including internet TV and Eco-friendly design.

This premium luxury TV series received the Innovation Award for its groundbreaking features and attractive design at the 2010 International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, held in Las Vegas, the U.S.

Mr. SangSuk Roh, President of Samsung Levant said: “Samsung is the leading company in the Full HD 3D LET TV and number one in the global TV market, the revolutionary technology that will change the standards of home theaters. This type of screen will take Samsung brand to the next level as it’s a technological breakthrough for Samsung. We promise our customer more innovation and creativity that will add excitement and thrill to home entertainment appliances.”

Yoon Boo-keun, president of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Division, announced that “the premium luxury TV 9000 series with a full HD 3D LED will make history in the TV industry with its elegant design, superb graphics, and excellent features." He also added, "Our goal is to provide our customers with value over and above that of a simple TV and make them feel assured that they have made the best choice."

Equipped with Wi-Fi wireless technology, a 3-inch premium touch screen and intuitive UI, the controller enables you to easily enjoy various features - watching TV, searching programs, Internet TV, AllShare, and centrally manage peripheral devices - just by touching the screen.

The rechargeable wireless controller lasts up to 6 straight hours without being charged, and works as a mobile TV; you can carry it with you anywhere in your home to watch TV remotely.

Based on Samsung’s core 3D TV technologies - a 3D-dedicated panel, 3D HyperReal Engine, speed backlight, and more, this TV series achieves 16 times higher clarity at 960 CMR (Clear Motion Rate) than normal 60Hz screens for smooth and vivid 3D images. Moreover, it provides the “2D to 3D” function, allowing the conversion of normal 2D images to dynamic 3D images.

“Samsung Internet TV”, with an upgraded, interesting and customizable UI brings useful online information - news, weather forecasts, stock market news, UCC and movies - directly to your home. And you can download various applications to the TV from “Samsung Apps,” the world’s first multi-device application store.

The premium full HD 3D LED TV 9000 series is equipped with a 55-inch (139 cm) panel and offered with a full 3D package (3D Blu-Ray Player, 3D glasses, and Internet Player).

Samsung Illuminates the Future With the AMOLED Beam, Its Latest Beam Projector Mobile Phone

Equipped with high quality AMOLED display and advanced beam projector features, the AMOLED Beam brings a stunning mobile experience to the Korean market.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, introduced the AMOLED Beam (SPH-W9600) to the Korean market. The successor to the Samsung Haptic Beam (SPH-W7900), the world’s first full-touch beam projector phone, the AMOLED Beam delivers an enhanced viewing experience and richer image projection.

Moving the mobile phone experience from personal use to social engagement, the AMOLED Beam allows users to project and share multi-media entertainment, games, video and pictures captured on the 5.0 megapixel camera. Business users can use the AMOLED Beam to swiftly and simply deliver professional presentations wherever and whenever required.

The AMOLED Beam provides an exciting mobile experience by projecting any content to a maximum screen size of 50 inches. The phone also boasts a display 1.5 times brighter than that of previous model, the Haptic Beam. Featuring a lightweight and compact design, the AMOLED Beam offers optimized features such as Microsoft Office and DivX codec support for convenient use, 3.3” WVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, and Terrestrial DMB.

Samsung Introduces Air Conditioners & Air Purifier with Revolutionary Virus Doctor Technology

Technology kills up to 99.9 percent of harmful organisms including SARS and H1N1.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, has unveiled its new range of premium air conditioners and an ionizer device in Middle East and North Africa region from April which feature cutting edge Virus Doctor air filtration technology.

Virus Doctor technology has been incorporated in both, an air purifying electronic device of the same name and the Crystal S-Inverter air conditioners. The technology improves indoor air quality, enhancing consumers’ wellbeing and kills more than 99.9% of harmful airborne viruses including SARS and H1N1, to guarantee contamination-free indoor air.

Mr. Sang Suh Roh, President of Samsung Levant said: “We are always keen at Samsung to find technical solutions that provide comfort and leisure to our clients. This new technology is a shift in the air conditions and air filtration technology which was produces to create healthy environment and free of harmful airborne viruses in creative ways that affirms Samsung as a leading global company in the electronics sector.”

“Recent outbreaks of infectious diseases such as Avian Influenza, SARS and H1N1 have brought increasing attention to the health hazards posed by indoor air pollution. Samsung has therefore invested heavily in R&D and leveraged our technological innovation to develop the groundbreaking Virus Doctor technology, which is featured in both these products, to address a growing need for protection against airborne infections,” said Myungsoo Koo, Regional Senior Manager of the Digital Air Solutions, Middle East and North Africa Headquarter, Samsung Electronics.


Samsung’s Virus Doctor technology neutralizes dust mites, moulds and viruses that cause skin irritation and respiratory problems, fungi, high-allergen agents that cause allergies, active oxygen that speeds up the skin-aging process, airborne bacteria and viruses such as influenza, chicken pox and life-threatening viruses including H1N1 and SARS.

“Tests have proven Virus Doctor’s consistent effectiveness in eliminating a wide range of harmful pollutants in different settings. The potential for using Virus Doctor technology is immense, and I envision it being applied in all indoor settings from private automobiles and residences to schools, hospitals and public places,” said Professor Sang-Heui Seo of South Korea’s Chungnam National University.

In addition to featuring Virus Doctor technology, the range of Crystal S-Inverter air conditioners combines elegant design with state-of-the-art features such as Comfort Care, Smart Saver, S-Inverter, Silver-nano, Auto-clean, and the Multi-Step Filter systems. Samsung's Comfort Care ensures complete comfort by adjusting humidity while cooling; it first measures the humidity and temperature of the room, calculates the needed temperature and humidity to reach the ideal comfort index and then adjusts the temperature and humidity automatically providing cool comfort.


For children and adults with allergies, the Virus Doctor device also eliminates common home allergens such as dust mites and micro organisms for a pollutant free indoor environment. It is especially useful in removing allergens which trigger rhinitis and asthma. The device also protects the skin by neutralizing OH radical which causes skin-aging.

mtc touch provides online provisioning service to postpaid customers to self configure their services

mtc touch, the leading mobile telecommunications operator in Lebanon and Zain affiliate, launched the brand new and exclusive Online Provisioning service which enables touch postpaid lines’ customers to self configure their mobile features, by adding or cancelling features or temporarily connecting or disconnecting their lines.

The launching of this new service comes in line with the company’s strategy to simplify its customers daily life and empower them with more freedom and flexibility when it comes to using its services. Online Provisioning is a new electronic tool available on the company’s corporate website www.mtctouch.com.lb that customers can use by simply completing their registered log on name and password.

Once logged in, the customer can safely choose to activate/deactivate any feature amongst the listed Online Provisioning services, noting that the whole procedure is automated and available around the clock.

Among major services available for personal control through Online Provisioning service: Advanced CLIR, CLIR, Missed Call SMS Notification, Bill Limit, Star Package, MMS (Multimedia Messaging) Service, Clip (Calling Line Identification Presentation), Voice Mail, Call Barring and many others.

Heartbeat: Annual Gala diner and musical performance at Casino du Liban

The noble cause of young heart patients was presented in a glamorous frame at the Casino du Liban, on Saturday April 10th, 2010 during a special gala dinner. The evening featured an exceptional musical performance held to the profit of the Heartbeat association, and offering the invitees a flashback to the golden era of the sixties and seventies.

The Heartbeat association firmly believes that financial setbacks should, under no circumstances, prevent a child suffering from a heart disease from receiving the proper treatment. In this sense, the four-year-old association has assembled several valuable resources with more than fifty volunteers offering medical care and organizing different fundraising activities. As time went by, Heartbeat’s reputation was reinforced by its several efforts towards healing younger heart patients and its frequent musical fundraising concerts.

This year’s annual concert extracts were one of the many evening highlights. Indeed, a group of amateurs including surgeons, doctors, engineers, students, artists and other musicians have performed live a selection of hit songs from the « 60s » et « 70s » in “la Salle des Ambassadeurs”. The songs featured unforgettable hits by music legends including the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf and many others.

During the event, Dr. Ramzi Ashoush, the President of the HeartBeat association was commended Knight of the Order of the Crown by his Majesty the King of Belgium Albert the Second for his humanitarian achievements and the support offered by the Heartbeat association to younger heart patients. "Belgium seeks to recognize and honor individuals with exceptional traits," said his Excellency Johan Verkammen, ambassador of Belgium to Lebanon while handing over the decoration to Dr. Ashoush. He added: «His Majesty King Albert the Second is pleased to grant this decoration in recognition for Dr. Ashoush’ achievements”.

With the support of the main sponsors including Aïshti, Audi Bank, Casino du Liban and Honda (Tewtel) as well as the efforts of 40 donors, Heartbeat has managed to achieve its primary objective: to generate enough funds to allow the treatment of 150 young heart patients.

In total, the event gathered more than 600 social celebrities, featuring the first lady, her Excellency Mrs. Wafaa Sleiman, their excellencies minister of health Dr Mohamed Jawad Khalifa, state minister Adnan Kassar, the minister of interior and municipalities Ziad Baroud, the minster of social affairs Salim Sayegh, the minister of tourism Fadi Abboud, the former ministers Sami Haddad, Jihad Azour and Raymond Audi, the rector of the Saint-Joseph University René Chamussy, the US ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison and the Belgium ambassador to Lebanon Johan Verkammen, in addition to many heads of leading companies and groups. The head table seated former minister her Excellency Mrs. Leila Solh Hamadé, vice-president of Al Waleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Association, who is a primal donor and long term partner of Heartbeat.

On stage, was master of ceremony internationally renowned Lebanese athlete and explorer Maxime Chaaya coupled with former Miss Lebanon Clémence Ashkar-Habib, the ambassador of Heartbeat. In addition, Saint Joseph medical school students sold on site tickets allowing participants to enter a draw on valuable prizes offered by Aïshti, 460 MultiMedia Store including the first iPad in the Middle East, as well as by the Tewtel group noting that the first prize was a Honda Accord 2010.

It is noteworthy that this is the second consecutive glamorous gala dinner held by Heartbeat in Casino du Liban for fundraising purposes. This event provides the higher Lebanese society with an opportunity to help needy children face their severe heart diseases, while allowing them to partake in one of the most elegant musical performances of the year.

mtc touch provides prepaid ‘magic’ customers with the BlackBerry Internet Service

mtc touch the leading mobile telecommunication operator in Lebanon and ZAIN affiliate, started providing its prepaid “magic” customers with the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS). With this exclusive initiative, the company is again the first to offer a cutting edge product to all its customers, having launched the BlackBerry service in the Lebanese market to its postpaid “touch” customers almost a year and a half ago.

To benefit from BIS, ‘magic’ customers holding a BlackBerry smartphone only need to SMS the word BIS to 1188 and the service will be activated.

BIS keeps ‘magic’ customers connected at all times through their BlackBerry smartphones, thanks to the built-in BlackBerry Messenger application, with files, videos and pictures exchange.
Customers can also enjoy real time access to their favorite social networking spaces such as Facebook, msn and Google talk, and they can send and receive a large variety of file formats including JPEG, BMP, TIFF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint whenever they want.

With the launching of the BlackBerry Internet Service for prepaid ‘magic’ customers, mtc touch is enabling all its customers to benefit from several features under the BlackBerry flagship, including:
The BlackBerry Internet Service for individual usage (both prepaid and postpaid customers).
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server for corporate usage (postpaid customers with corporate email access only).
The BlackBerry Solutions offering the above-mentioned services (bullet points 1&2) for corporate postpaid customers i.e. access to the corporate email address in addition to 10 other personal email addresses.