해외 이동통신사업자들의 움직임이 심상치 않다.
27일 SK텔레콤을 비롯한 국내 통신 3사가 갤럭시 S5의 조기출시 발표 이후 삼성전자는 글로벌 출시 일정은 4월 11일로 변동이 없다고 못 박았지만, 일부 해외 언론에 따르면 AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon과 같은 통신사들이 예정된 출시일 보다 앞당겨 상품 발송을 시작할 것이라고 전했다.
Verizon의 데브라 루이스 (Debra Lewis) 홍보 담당은 “Verizon은 갤럭시 S5를 출시 할 예정이라고 발표는 했지만, 가격과 출시 예정일에 대해서 아직 공식적으로 발표하지 않은 상태”라고 코리아헤럴드에 전함으로써 미국 시장에서 갤럭시 S5가 예정보다 일찍 선보일 수 있을 가능성을 열어두었다.
다른 업계 관계자들 또한 해외 통신사들이 조기 출시를 원한다면 이미 한국에서 SK텔레콤을 비롯한 통신사들이 출시를 했기 때문에 삼성전자로서도 크게 할 말이 없을 것이라고 말했다.
하나대투증권의 김홍식 연구원은 “해외 통신사들이 삼성전자에 강력하게 요구를 한다면 갤럭시 S5가 빨리 출시 할 수도 있을 것”이라는 의견을 내놓았다.
최초 글로벌 출시를 위해서는 최소 5백만 대 이상의 수량이 확보되어야 하는데,삼성의 국내외 모든 제조 공장을 풀 가동 하더라도 통신사들이 원하는 날짜를 맞출 수 있을지 미지수다.
삼성은 지금까지 SK텔레콤, KT, LG유플러스 각 이통사 당 약 3천~5천대 가량의 물량을 제공한 것으로 알려지고 있다.
업계 관계자에 따르면 갤럭시 S5 국내 출시에 필요한 초기 물량은 약 3~4만 대로 알려져 있다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Galaxy S5 global release may be pushed up
Global mobile carriers making demands on Samsung for an earlier launch
The global release date of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S5 smartphone may be pushed up from April 11 as overseas mobile carriers are anticipating an earlier-than-expected shipment after the phone was prematurely released in Korea.
“The Galaxy S5 could be shipped a bit earlier in other countries including the U.S. if overseas mobile carriers continue to pressure Samsung,” said Kim Hong-sik, an analyst from Hana Daetoo Securities.
Other market watchers also said a premature global release would be likely since the floodgates have already been opened in Korea.
For now, mobile carriers abroad have started taking preorders but have yet to specify the exact shipment date.
They did, however, confirm that shipping for preorders will start in early April, touching off speculation that an earlier global release may be possible.
The carriers also did not acknowledge April 11 as the official release date.
“Verizon has said it will carry the Samsung Galaxy S5, but we have not made any other details about pricing or availability public as yet,” said Debra Lewis, an associate director of Verizon Wireless’ corporate communications team, hinting at the possibility of an earlier release in the U.S.
Other global telecom firms including AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are said to be planning to ship orders several days ahead of April 11, according to news reports.
This means the carriers would, as the local telecoms had done, be pushing ahead with the launch regardless of Samsung’s wishes.
In such a case, however, supply would be a major hurdle, industry watchers said.
Samsung would have to secure at least 5 million units for a worldwide release, and whether its factories both at home and overseas are ready to churn out such a number remains to be seen.
In Korea, Samsung is rumored to have given only 3,000-5,000 handsets to each of the three domestic mobile carriers. A nationwide release requires a minimum 30,000-40,000 units, according to industry sources.
One source close to Samsung said the factories are currently running 24-7 in order to meet the demands from overseas mobile carriers.
On Thursday, SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus started selling the Galaxy S5 here.
SK Telecom and KT are said to have pressured Samsung into supplying the Galaxy S5 because both will be undergoing business suspensions at the time of the original global release.
LG Uplus’ business suspension does not coincide with the original launch date.
Samsung had no choice but to comply with the two, since without the support of the nation’s two largest carriers, it would be difficult to propel the lackluster Galaxy S5 to the top.
Others believe Samsung and SK signed an under-the-table deal as both knew they could not survive without mutal support.
“This also could have been a part of promotions conducted jointly by Samsung and SK Telecom to get people to pay more attention ahead of the global release,” said another source close to the matter.
By Kim Young-won (
wone0102@heraldcorp.com)
