A new survey by Axiom Telecom and YouGov has found that Samsung is the most popular smartphone brand in Saudi Arabia. Thirty six percent of a large sample of smartphone consumers from across the Kingdom claimed to own devices from the South Korean tech pioneer, with 25 percent opting for Apple. The figures bode well for Samsung's prospects in Saudi Arabia as anticipation builds ahead of the Galaxy S4 global launch on 14 March. Axiom Telecom has a strong reputation as the leading destination for Samsung products and support services, including becoming one of the first retailers in the region to sell must-have devices like the Samsung S3, Samsung S3 Mini and the Samsung Galaxy Camera. Axiom Telecom has previously won the Samsung Best Retail Display award and offers dedicated, branded device demonstration zones. According to the IHS iSuppli Mobile and Wireless Communications Service, Samsung became the world's best-selling mobile brand last year with a 29 percent market share, knocking Nokia off the top spot for the first time in 14 years. The company's dominance was also reaffirmed at this year's Mobile World Congress, where it was crowned Device Manufacturer of the Year by the GSM Association in the Global Mobile Awards. It also triumphed in the Best Smartphone category for its best-selling Samsung S3. “Samsung is performing extremely well across the world, particularly in Saudi Arabia,” said Faisal Al-Bannai, CEO, Axiom Telecom. “This is a company that has consistently sought to innovate with each new release, and that is clearly something that appeals to discerning Saudi smartphone fans. Their success to date is entirely down to an ability to understand what consumers want and anticipate the latest trends, so it is little wonder that considerable excitement is building ahead of what promises to become one of the year's biggest and most exciting tech releases.” With 2,000 employees, Axiom Telecom is the Middle East's largest mobile retailer, currently boasting a portfolio of 575 retail points and a reach of over 8,000 retailers (3,742 through direct distribution). In addition to a growing reputation for its rapid launches, Axiom Telecom stands out for a host of customer service innovations such as a 60-second data transfer, a pick-up and delivery service for repairs, stand-by phones during the repair period, and a 2-year warranty on select brands. — SG
