Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. announced that its customers have downloaded one million apps from Samsung’s HDTV-based application store.
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Unedited press release follows:
Samsung Reaches Smart TV Milestone with 1 Millionth TV App Downloaded Globally
Celebrates 200th Application in Global Samsung Apps Smart TV Library
2011 International CES
SEOUL, South Korea–Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. today announced the 1 millionth TV application downloaded globally from Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based application store, where users can purchase and download applications from an expanding range of content and service providers, directly from their TV. The company’s 200th TV application is now live via the platform. Samsung has reached these milestones in less than a year after the initial launch of Samsung Apps.
Some of the most frequently downloaded applications are Hulu Plus, ESPN Next Level, CinemaNow and Texas Holdem, showcasing global demand for Samsung Smart TV entertainment experiences across key consumer hobby areas – sports, movies and gaming. Samsung is committed to exceeding consumer demand for a better TV viewing experience by providing high-quality Smart TVs equipped with a broad range of interactive content. Samsung customers benefit from having access to content that is customized to their individual likes and interests.
In the first half of 2010, Samsung took over 66 percent of the US connected TV market, according to research firm The NPD Group. Samsung presents Samsung Apps on more than 50 percent of its 2010 TV line-up and is currently the market leader in global LED TV, LCD TV, and plasma TV sales. In the U.S. alone, Samsung expects the market for Smart TVs to reach 6.5 million units by the end of this year, and anticipates demand will grow to 20 million units by 2012.
“The evolution of television in recent years has been astounding as consumers seek technology that enhances their viewing experience, and their lives,” said Mr. Boo-keun Yoon, President of Samsung’s Visual Display Business. “Integrating the traditional TV experience with applications and features like 3D bridges the gap between simply consuming programming and interacting with it. We are seeing that consumers are embracing these new experiences with their TVs.”
To spur Smart TV innovation, Samsung is working closely with the developer community to bring new application to the Samsung Apps library. For example, earlier this year, Samsung held several “Free the TV Developer Days” around the world, which brought together the developer community with notable leaders across the connected TV ecosystem to discuss and plan for the exciting next era of Smart TV. These “Developer Days” included well-attended events and contests such as the “Free the TV Challenge” (http://www.freethetvchallenge.com/), which are a part of a global effort led by Samsung to open up the TV to developers wanting to distribute their content on the biggest screen in the home and on an easy-to-use platform.
More on Samsung’s Smart TV strategy and key news will be discussed at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, where Mr. Boo-keun Yoon will deliver a keynote address on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 4:30 p.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton Center. Finalists for the U.S. Free the TV Challenge will also showcase their applications at the show.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of seven independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs.