Samsung mobile phones retain top spot in France for fifth year

By Kim Young-gyo
SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday
that it has retained the top position in France's mobile phone market for the
fifth year, further widening a gap on rival Nokia Corp. in market share.
In May, Samsung phones grabbed a 31.6 percent market share in France, followed by
Finland's Nokia phones with a 22.1 percent share, Samsung said quoting a report
by global consumer research firm GFK.
The market-share gap between the two mobile phone makers widened to 9.5
percentage points in May, from 7 percentage points in January, 7.4 percentage
points in February, 6.8 percent points in March and 7.6 percentage points in
April.
Samsung's four models, including "Star" and "TouchWiz", were the most sold in
France, followed by Apple's iPhone in the fifth place, the company said.
The South Korean handset maker has been leading the French market since 2005
thanks to aggressive sales efforts, it said.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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