Samsung

Shin: Samsung on the cusp of announcing the acquisition of a mobile-related tech firm

posted by Alan F. / May 04, 2012, 1:11 PM

Shin: Samsung on the cusp of announcing the acquisition of a mobile-related tech firm

New features for smartphones like Smart Stay can come from M&A

As part of a bigger shopping list containing specialist software and R&D firms, Samsung is about to announce the acquisition of a mobile-related tech firm. That comes directly from Samsung Mobile president J.K. Shin who opened up to the Wall Street Journal. While Shin confessed that an acquisition is in the works, he also said that Samsung had no plans to buy ailing handset manufacturer RIM. Rumors of such a deal had been making the rounds. Shin did say that the company is looking at several software firms.

While Shin would not name the target company that Samsung is close to purchasing, he made a point of discussing the new Smart Stay function on the just unwrapped Samsung Galaxy S III as an example of what these acquisitions can lead to. The Smart Stay function uses the front-facing camera on the Samsung Galaxy S III to see if you are looking at the screen so that the display won't time out.

Shin didn't give any precise date when the deal would be announced although it is believed to be imminent. Samsung is now the world's leading smartphone manufacturer and Shin's mobile division accounted for 75% of the Korean company's $4.5 billion profit in the first quarter.

"The technology industry is growing very quickly and it is too much of a burden to try to do everything in-house. There are many qualified workers from India that are very skilled in software. And there are small companies that we can acquire that have good research and development capabilities … If the opportunity allows, we will do [mergers & acquisitions].-Samsung Mobile president J.K. Shin

source: WSJ via SlashGear

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18 Comments

1. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Samsung is buying Blackberry?

posted on May 04, 2012, 1:13 PM 2

2. jove39

Posts: 2148; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Thinking...what kind of company they might buy...Samsung already manufactures - Processors, Display, Storage...not sure about radio equipment!

posted on May 04, 2012, 1:23 PM 1

4. Rangers

Posts: 12; Member since: Apr 19, 2012

You need to read the article more carefully: "he also said that Samsung had no plans to buy ailing handset manufacturer RIM."

posted on May 04, 2012, 1:27 PM 2

16. networkdood

just joking - do not get your panties all bunched up :-)

posted on May 04, 2012, 8:44 PM 2

13. pbui.818

Posts: 78; Member since: Feb 06, 2012

Also said he's "looking at several *software* firms"

posted on May 04, 2012, 4:14 PM 2

3. rg987

Posts: 130; Member since: Dec 29, 2011

ask MR. SHIN , not to be shinchan and buy a company that knows about phone's designs too . bcoz their phones' designs are really bad . all that kills their phones are their designs

posted on May 04, 2012, 1:25 PM 6

5. Mobile-X-Pert

Posts: 565; Member since: Dec 20, 2010

They said a software related company not a handset manufacturer.

posted on May 04, 2012, 1:39 PM 2

6. mss1988

Posts: 41; Member since: Apr 19, 2012

Motorola, HTC, Huawei or ZTE...?

posted on May 04, 2012, 1:42 PM 0

17. Berzerk000

Posts: 4275; Member since: Jun 26, 2011

Why/how could they buy Motorola? Didn't Google already acquire them? I don't think Google would hand it over, much less so soon after the purchase.

posted on May 04, 2012, 8:44 PM 0

21. poojaroy

Posts: 52; Member since: Apr 29, 2012

hmmm apple m sure

posted on May 05, 2012, 2:46 PM 1

8. Bluesky02

Posts: 1439; Member since: Dec 05, 2011

Mr.Shin you're smart

posted on May 04, 2012, 2:26 PM 2

9. grif_

Posts: 61; Member since: Apr 28, 2012

I think its Meizu:)

posted on May 04, 2012, 2:28 PM 0

10. x7black7x

Posts: 118; Member since: Feb 19, 2012

i think its cyanogen???? maybe?!?!?!?

posted on May 04, 2012, 2:34 PM 1

12. BattleBrat

Posts: 1476; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

I wish someone would purchase SPB, makers of the SPB Shell 3D launcher and incorporate it into their phone. I REALLY like the way it handles folders. That smart stay function sounds epic!

posted on May 04, 2012, 3:15 PM 4

18. networkdood

huh, lots of red thumbs...oh TACoooooooo

posted on May 04, 2012, 8:44 PM 1

19. grif_

haters gna hate:)

posted on May 05, 2012, 4:29 AM 1

20. samfrancisco

Posts: 12; Member since: Feb 26, 2012

Strong software firms will be acquired to build apps for Samsung's own SDKs like the S Pen, AllShare, and possibly the new ones - S Voice, S Beam, etc. This move would cement Samsung's lead over other manufacturers which only focuses on hardware and not the ecosystem.