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Samsung to release the world’s first foldable phone

Posted January. 12, 2017 07:03,   

Updated January. 12, 2017 07:20

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A new forecast predicts Samsung Electronics will unveil its first foldable phones this year, which is to become the next-generation smartphone. Foldable phone users may fold in and out their displays.

“Samsung Electronics may introduce the world’s first commercial foldable phones this year,” global market research company Strategy Analytics reported Wednesday. “Samsung Electronics has tried to explain concepts behind foldable display for several years to market participants. Unfortunately, costs and some part issues have blocked the company from commercialization.” Strategy Analytics has predicted expansion of the new-born foldable display market with yearly production capacity from 2.7 million units in 2017 to 18.9 million units in 2018.

It seems that commercial foldable phones are ready to hit the market. U.S. patent-specialized blog Patently Mobile leaked a design image of Samsung Electronics’ foldable phone on Sunday. Reportedly, Samsung Electronics has applied patents for it to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Rumors are circulating in regards with Samsung Electronics’ launch of foldable phones with product codes such as “SM-X9000” and “SM-X9050,” T-specialized website GSMArena reported Tuesday.

“We want to lead this area given that foldable phones will have huge riffle effects to display and battery industries, and thus the company,” Ko Dong-jin, president of Samsung Electronics’ wireless business department, said at the launching event of its flagship Galaxy Note 7 in August last year. Sources in the display industry said that Samsung Electronics may not able to apply a foldable technology to the next Galaxy S8 model. Instead, Samsung Electronics may unveil its first foldable phones with a new model name as “Galaxy X” in the second half of 2017.



Dong-Jin Shin shine@donga.com