By Youkyung Lee, Technology Writer
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) --Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday its latest Galaxy Note 4 smartphone will go on sale in China and South Korea later this month as its flagging mobile business tries to defend sales from Apple's new iPhones.
Samsung said all three South Korean mobile operators will begin Galaxy Note 4 sales on Friday. All three Chinese mobile carriers will release the new phone before the end of this month, it said.
Samsung's announcement marks the first time the South Korean company has released a flagship smartphone in China before other major overseas markets.
Apple's iPhone 6 has yet to arrive in China, the world's most populous country. But Apple Inc. still chalked up 10 million sales of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models in the first three days after the phones went on sale.
Samsung's early move in China comes as the South Korean company faces challenges on multiple fronts. Its profit from the crucial mobile business has flagged and local brands in India and China have dented its sales of cheap phones.
Apple's new iPhone 6 with its larger screen than previous models eliminates a key advantage for Samsung that lured buyers with the big screens of its Galaxy phones.
The 4.7-inch screen of the iPhone 5 has been increased to 5.5-inches for the iPhone 6 Plus.
The Galaxy Note 4's display measures 5.7 inches diagonally, slightly larger than the biggest iPhone. The Note series comes with a stylus that Samsung calls "S Pen" for note taking and drawing.
"Other companies are releasing smartphones with 5-inch and 6-inch displays as well but no one can easily catch up to Samsung's big screen and the unique capability of the S Pen," Lee Don-joo, president of Samsung's mobile sales and marketing, told reporters.
Lee said sales of the Note 4 smartphone will likely beat the Note 3, its predecessor. He said the tough situation for Samsung is "temporary" and Samsung will quickly revive its business. Samsung is scheduled to give an earnings preview early next month. Its shares have sunk to a two-year low this week.
Samsung moved forward its launch schedule for the new Note phone from October after Apple announced the iPhone 6 with a bigger screen.
U.S. sales of the Galaxy Note 4 will start on Oct. 17.
Samsung said the Galaxy Note Edge, which has a curved side screen that serves as a second screen to display weather information, a clock and menu buttons, will start going on sale in late October. But the Edge smartphone is meant to be a "limited edition" rather than a mass market model, Lee said.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More