Samsung launches S9 and S9+ in Oman

Muscat: Samsung launched its flagship phones S9 and S9+ in Oman last week, becoming the highest selling phones in the country and increasing the company’s market share to top 37 per cent.
Samsung Gulf’s IT and Mobile Division head Tarik Sabbagh spoke to Times of Oman about the features of the S9 and the company’s plans for the Omani market.
“We beat our sales expectations in Oman last year. In the second half, we picked up our sales to grow 10 per cent from the previous year,” he said.
According to Sabbagh, most Omani consumers prefer the S9+ and higher storage options as compared to other markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “I believe this may be because Oman has so many picturesque places to visit; so, more people take pictures and videos using their phones,” he added.
Supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and one of the most powerful processors in the market, the S9 promises to be one of the best phones available.
“You can look at any feature, either the camera or the AI, it is just unprecedented. The AI platform, apart from helping out in daily activities like real-time translation and finding locations, can also learn from user habits. So, if you have a routine task everyday and you have skipped doing it on one day, the Bixby notifies you,” Sabbagh said.
Stating that they have their own way to approach the market competition, Sabbagh said, “Samsung is focusing heavily on user experience. That’s our goal. We spend $45 million everyday only on research and development (R&D) in our various labs around the world. We do not look at others or compare ourselves with them, but try and increase the quality of what we are offering customers. We try and understand what they need and we make sure we give them just that.”
Samsung has also been keeping a track of evolving consumer habits, according to Sabbagh. “The way we use our smartphones has changed, as communication and self-expression have evolved,” he said.
“The Galaxy S9 and S9+ enable consumers to shoot great photos and videos anywhere, they are smartphones designed to help them connect with others and express themselves in a way that’s unique and personal to them. We have re-imagined the smartphone camera for today’s generation and the way they communicate, helping them unlock powerful experiences and share them effortlessly,” he added.