14 DAY TRIAL // South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics might have decided to release its Galaxy S5 flagship handset as soon as this week in its homeland market, the latest reports on the matter suggest.
Galaxy S5 was made official last month during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, when Samsung announced that it would arrive on shelves in 150 countries around the world as soon as April 11.
However, it appears that it might have the device put up for sale in South Korea starting with March 27, so as to ensure that the phone enjoys great sales right from the beginning, as a recent article on Korea Herald reads.
The main reason for this decision is the fact that the wireless carriers in the country have been punished for offering illegal subsidies to devices in their lineups, and they won’t be able to sell new phones for several weeks.
SK Telecom, Korea Telecom (KT), and LG U+ have been all sanctioned by the government and won’t be able to sell new handsets to users for various periods of time between March 13 and May 19, as The Guardian notes.
Apparently, Samsung feared that the government’s decision would impact initial sales of Galaxy S5. SK Telecom won’t be able to sell new phones between April 5 and May 19, while KT is banned from selling them from March 12 to April 26.
LG U+, on the other hand, cannot sell new devices between March 13 and April 4, and it won’t be able to do so between April 27 and May 18 as well.
Thus, the availability of Galaxy S5 on March 27 ensures that at least one wireless carrier will have the device available for purchase each day until May 19, when the ban is lifted on all operators.
Apparently, some of the country’s wireless services providers also believe that the phone would actually sell better if launched earlier.
According to Korea Herald, a source from SK Telecom said that Galaxy S5 “will have a smaller impact on the market through (relying on just) KT and LG Uplus,” provided that Samsung launches it after April 5 (when this carrier won’t be able to sell it).
Apparently, a source from Samsung also confirmed that the company is concerned of the impact that the ban will have on sales, especially if SK Telecom doesn’t range the phone right from day one.
“Samsung is considering rescheduling the release date before April 5 when SK Telecom‘s business suspension starts,” the source reportedly said.
Samsung hasn’t made an official announcement on the matter, but the company might do so in the very near future. What remains to be seen is whether the international release of the device will also be affected by the rescheduled launch in South Korea.