Samsung launches multiple offers

Samsung launches multiple offers in a bid to boost Galaxy S4 sales

Surbhi Chawla, June 19, 2013

Samsung Galaxy S4 has been in the news for wrong reasons recently, with reports of sales slowing downs and various analysts revising shipping estimates in the downward direction.

On the back of these reports comes the news that Samsung has launched many schemes to push sales of its flagship smartphone in India.

According to one offer, the company is offering a free magnetic cover along with the purchase of theSamsung Galaxy S4. This cover is dubbed S-View Cover and is worth Rs. 2,499. The USP of this cover is that it customises the screen of Samsung Galaxy S4 as a display window.

This offer is valid for all Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphones purchased between June 10 to June 30, 2013. To avail this offer, users will have to login to the special offer page by Samsung and key in the IMEI number of their Samsung Galaxy S4, their mobile number and email address. The website also shares that to redeem this offers, users should keep a copy of their invoice in JPG or PDF form handy.

If the idea of a cover does not sound appealing, you can opt for a one-time screen replacement worth Rs. 7,000 at an additional cost of Rs.500. In addition to this, Samsung is offering 60+ live TV channels, 250 movies, 25 HD games, 2.5lakhs songs worth Rs.12,000. To activate this offer, the users will have to send a text to 56886 with the message 'MYOFFER'.

Samsung had launched its the Galaxy S4 in India in April for Rs. 41,500. However, the smartphone is currently available at the Samsung India online store for Rs. 40,300. The company is also running an EMI scheme for this smartphone, under which the users can purchase Samsung Galaxy S4 by paying zero down payment and 12 installments of Rs.3,358 each. The company claims that purchasing smartphone via this scheme will help users in saving Rs. 3,250.

Samsung has also tied up with Vodafone to offer special 'all-in-one' tariff plan that allows Galaxy S4 users to save up to Rs. 12,000 and enjoy 3G data. This offer is open for both post-paid and pre-paid subscribers.

The post-paid subscribers of Samsung Galaxy S4 will have to shell out Rs. 1,199 as the monthly rental and will be entitled to unlimited Internet (with 3GB data allowance under fair usage policy). In addition to this the subscriber will also get 3000 local and STD voice minutes and 750 local and national SMS. The subscribers will also get Missed Call Intimation for 12 months in this plan.

Pre-paid subscribers on the other hand have a choice of two recharges. The first recharge option is of Rs. 677 and offers unlimited Internet (1GB allowance), 1,000 local and STD voice minutes and 500 local and national SMS. This recharge is valid for 30 days. The other option is with recharge of Rs 345, which offers unlimited Internet (512MB allowance), 500 local and STD voice minutes and 250 local and national SMS and is valid 15 days.

Galaxy S4's new ad

Samsung Galaxy S4's new ad labels iPhone as old

Surbhi Chawla, May 06, 2013

The Samsung launch party seems incomplete without Apple bashing ads and it came as a bit of a surprise that Samsung had not launched any such combative television commercials for Samsung Galaxy S4. Until now.

The Korean smartphone maker has launched a new television commercial that talks about the new features in the Galaxy S4 and mocks Apple iPhone 5. The ad even goes on to state some smartphones (read Galaxy S4) are smarter than others (iPhone 5).

The ad begins with a graduation party taking place and people seem to be enjoying food and jumping into the pool - kids being kids. In the party, the students are shown using the Samsung Galaxy S4, while their parents and teachers (the older lot) are shown using the iPhone.

The television unfolds to demonstrate the Air Gesture feature as the person eating a juicy piece of ribs is able to answer the call by merely waving at the device. Also the pictures clicked at the graduation party are shared between devices using the S Bean functionality of the Samsung Galaxy S4. It further goes on to how the Samsung Galaxy S4 can control an HDTV and recommend TV shows to you.

Samsung has also released a 30 second video that continues with the graduation theme to showcase the eraser shot feature of Samsung Galaxy S4. In this short television commercial, Samsung does not make fun of Apple's iPhone.

Mocking competitive products in a television commercial is not a new concept in the smartphone space. A few days ago, Microsoft has rolled out a new television commercial for Nokia Lumia 920. In this ad, Microsoft seems to be mocking the rivalry between Apple and Samsung to drive home the "Switch to Lumia" message.

However, the current Samsung Galaxy S4 is not as quirky and quick-paced as the Microsoft one.

Galaxy S4 doesn't come with FM radio

Samsung explains why Galaxy S4 doesn't come with FM radio

 April 19, 2013

Samsung Galaxy S4 was unveiled by the company on 14 March. While the phone boasts high-end specs like a 5-inch full-HD screen with 441 pixels per inch, a 1.6GHz Exynos octa-core processor in some regions and a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor in others, and 2GB of RAM, it received criticism in some quarters for missing out on a rather basic feature: FM radio.

The omission of FM was indeed a strange one from Samsung. While Apple has never shipped an iPhone with built-in FM radio - despite receiving its share of criticism - Samsung's first three flagship devices, and indeed, most other phones, come with FM radio. In that sense, Samsung customers are used to enjoying the feature. There have been complaints since the omission was confirmed after Galaxy S4 was officially unveiled but Samsung was mum on the subject - until now.

Samsung's Facebook page in Russia has made the following announcement on the subject, which was picked up by GSM Arena via Hi-Tech.Mail.Ru.

Our studies show a trend shift of interest to digital broadcasting, specifically - focus on listening to music content in social networks or on the channel YouTube. The flagship model of our products are focused on customers who use digital content, which use modern formats and channels of information consumption. (translated from Russian).

While Samsung may be right in believing that flagship customers tend to be focused on digital content, the fact is, if you take something away from people after they become used to it (in other Galaxy flagships), they are far more likely to complain, than if they never enjoyed the feature in the first place.

Something tells us we haven't heard the last on the Samsung Galaxy S4 FM radio debate. What do you think us of Samsung's decision? Will your decision to buy the Galaxy S4 be impacted by it? Let us know via the comments.

Samsung Galaxy S4 key specifications

• 5-inch full-HD (1080x1920) Super AMOLED display (441 ppi)
• 1.9GHz quad-core processor/ 1.6GHz octa-core processor (Depending upon region)
• 2GB RAM
• 16/32/64 GB Storage (expandable by 64GB via microSD slot)
• 13-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front camera
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS/ GLONASS, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, IR LED, MHL 2.0
• Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 2,600 mAh battery
• 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm
• 130 grams

Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4: Hands on review 
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