Customers look at the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge at a store in Sydney on Friday. Samsung said it expects its new flagship smartphone to shatter sales records and pull the company out of a recent profit slump that saw it lose ground to arch-rival Apple and cheaper Chinese smartphone makers. / AFP-Yonhap



By Kim Yoo-chul



Samsung Electronics said Monday it Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are hot-sellers at home and abroad.



Sales of the new smartphones are expected to gain additional momentum given strong global demand.



Samsung is expected to breach the 10 million sales mark just 26 days after their global launch on April 10, faster than previous models, sources said.



"The two new phones are drawing impressive responses. Samsung aims to ship 10 million S6s and S6 Edges in 26 days after the devices' global launch. That target is achievable," said a source.



The target is on top of 20 million pre-orders it has received globally for the two phones.



A Samsung Electronics spokesman declined to comment on specific sales figures. However, he said the sales of the new Galaxy series are gaining momentum.



Samsung has had a hard time with handsets in recent years due to the rise of cheap Chinese smartphone makers. However, Samsung appears to be back in the game with the S6 and curvy Edge models.



"The S6 series especially, with a curved screen, are selling like hot cakes and we have no question that they will play a critical role in helping Samsung regain its market share," said another source.



Each Galaxy device has been sold better than its predecessors.



In Korea, the country's three carriers are ready to launch heavy promotional campaigns in connection with the Samsung phones.



"The supply for the Edge is very tight due to its popularity. If you want to buy the Edge, then please visit us after April 15," said an official at a Samsung Mobile Store in Bundang, on the outskirts of Seoul.



He said competition to secure more Edges is getting fiercer between handset sellers.



KT is the biggest supporter of the products because the nation's No. 2 mobile carrier set 211,000 won as its subsidy for S6 buyers.



"Under the two-year contract, with a customer paying 99,000 won a month, then the S6 with 32GB storage will be offered with a discount of 211,000 won. Also, you can get an additional 15 percent discount from a KT authorized local outlet," said an official at KT.



Its chief rival, SK Telecom, and the nation's No. 3 mobile carrier LG Uplus set 130,000 and 140,000 won as their subsidy ceilings on the Samsung phones as of the second week of this month, officials said.



"It's highly unlikely that SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus will offer more beyond the subsidy cap, which was recently revised up to 330,000 won, as the S6 has been doing well," said an official at the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the country' top telecom regulator.



In the United States, T-Mobile made what officials say is rare move to praise the Samsung phones in a press release that said, "The response to the S6 and S6 Edge from customers has been very good."



In the first 10 days of the pre-order period for the Samsung smartphones, sales of the S6 through T-Mobile have already almost doubled those of its predecessor, which was previously Samsung's most popular smartphone in the Galaxy line at T-Mobile.



"The underwhelming previous flagship smartphone of Samsung is the reason why the company decided to do a major overhaul for the S6, resulting in the massive hype and demand surrounding the device," T-Mobile said.



In India, the most critical target market for Samsung in Asia, the Korean handset manufacturer's two versions are the most sought-after smartphones in the premium segment, according to launch-day sales and pre-orders, Samsung officials said.



Samsung received about 40,000 pre-orders for both devices there, about four times those for the S5, and first-day sales may be close to 50,000.



The two S6s are cheaper than rival Apple's iPhone devices, which has helped to boost the appeal of the S6 models. Apple recently increased its prices in India.