Now that BlackBerry 10’s launch has come and gone, the Samsung Galaxy S IV’s unveiling on March 14 is the next big event on the smartphone calendar. The event will signal the direction of the growing Samsung-Apple competition, and rumors are flying.
The newest Galaxy will be rolled out with an event in New York. The Galaxy S III, unveiled last year in London, has turned out to be a blockbuster for the company, which is the world’s largest handset maker. More than 40 million S III’s have been sold to date.
There had been some expectations that the S IV would be released at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, but Samsung has opted for the new star to have its own opening show. The IV is expected to be available for sale by sometime in May or June, although the actual name has not been confirmed as being “IV.” Invitations sent to the press for the March event declare: “Ready 4 the show. Come and meet the next Galaxy.”
First to Outsell iPhone
Expectations are high and, according to Strategy Analytics, the S III was the first smartphone to outsell Apple’s iPhone, in the third quarter of last year — 18 million units compared with 16.2 million. The competition is thus intense for the two companies, not to mention that they are the top two phone makers in the world, and have been carrying on a fierce, worldwide patent legal war.
There is some speculation as to whether Samsung will choose to revamp the model’s body construction. The III’s polycarbonate plastic body, while highly durable, has received some less than enthusiastic feedback about its look, compared with the sleek handset bodies that are emerging on other Android models such as the HTC One — not to mention the iPhone’s sleek exterior.
A…
