Samsung organizes 'Fun Club'

As a response to the call for a service that allows users to maximize the capabilities of their mobile phones, Samsung has established its Samsung Fun Club (SFC) which also aims to increase its market share further and strengthen industry position.

Recently, Samsung Electronics Philippines, Corp. held its Fun Cub Day at the SM City Cebu’s activity area and took phone users inside its live website.

“The Samsung Fun Club Day celebrates the coming to life of the Samsung Fun Club, the official website of the Samsung mobile which has long hibernated within the bounds of the computer. It gives more dynamic, fun and live on-line experience of user’s mobile phones,” said Stephanie Chua, SFC Officer in an interview.

Chua said that SFC is actually a global brand and currently there are already 40 SFCs around the world.

“The club provides an alternative venue for the consumers to learn more about their Samsung mobile phones in a very interactive and dynamic way,” she said.

Right now, the Club here in the country is already has around 62,000 members and Chua said that there are even members who are not Samsung phone users.

The members are mostly yuppies aged from 18 to 35 years old.

“Our members are composed of tech savvy people who are into the latest trend and are interested in something new, are adventurous and always trying out new gadgets,” she said.

 After holding the same event in Manila weeks ago, Samsung bought the concept here in Cebu in the hope of enticing more Cebuano mobile phone users to join the club.

“Cebu is very important for Samsung because it is one of the major metropolitan areas here in the country and aside from Metro Manila, this is actually the next biggest city with a huge segment of trendy consumers,” said Chua.

The Samsung Fun Club could be accessed in http://ph.samsungmobile.com and registration is for free, she said.

The site offers member services with its different pages such as SFC Products that provides a directory of Samsung units.

Building on its ‘Live Loud’ integrated music campaign which creates a larger than life music platform for the new generation, SFC offer user- friendly communication applications and compelling lifestyle content.

It has a Community page with a social network that works like Friendster, MySpace and Multiply; the SFC Support that provides software manuals, tutorials and the SFC Downloads allows members to access wallpapers, ring tones and videos while the SFC Promotion plugs subscriber promos and contests.

Chua said that they are looking at extending the reach of SFC by bringing the experience in other major cities so aside from Cebu; Samsung is also looking at bringing SFC in other major cities in the country such as Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

“We want Samsung Fun Club to become a social community for both Samsung and non-Samsung users so that Samsung will become the top of mind in terms of mobile products,” said Chua.

Right now Samsung is considered as the second top mobile phone brand in the county next to Sony Ericsson in terms of sales and market share.

It rose to second position in the global handset market in 2007 after selling more than 161 million units, up by 42 percent year on year and more than three times the industry growth rate.

The company seeks to double regional handset sales to capture more than 25 percent of market share by year end and it also aims to cross the 200 million mark this year. – Rhia de Pablo