Interesting Samsung move!
it seems Samsung will merge video and photo compartment in one. This will probably affect their product roadmap with future photocameras having video capabilities.
Source (Korean): http://stock.mt.co.kr
Translation:
“Samsung Merged Camcorder and Camera Departments It is confirmed that Samsung Electronics (SE) Camcorder production line and Samsung Digital Imaging(SDI) production line are merged and practically Samsung Camcorder and Camera business are merged. So far SDI manufactures digital cameras and SE takes care sales and marketing for them. But, analysts said that SE will manage all processes of digital camera business, such as product plan, manufacturing, sales and marketing from now on. A analyst said, “The meaning of merging manufacturing lines of SE and SDI is that SE intends to control manufacturing of digital cameras as well as sales and marketing. By SE’s merging these two business which are based on optic technologies, SE is looking forward to having benefits to achieve the goal – becoming global market leader of digital camera and camcorder” In according to electronics business news, SE moved its camcorder manufacture line in TSEC, China into a SDI factory, TSOE in China on last July. A SE reprisentative said “Merging digital and camcorder lines will maximize synergy effect and it will be much effective for the marketing.” Merged manufacturing lines will be managed by SE and SDI separately for a while, but eventually SE will manage them all in the future. Since SE has better global sales network and marketing power, it should be better choice that SE manages digital camera business to shorten the time to become the business global leader. About a question why camcorder production line was moved to the digital camera line, SE explained the way was easier because the camcorder line is relatively smaller than the other one. SE has a goal to be in Top Tier by 2012 in global digital camera market. Recently, Ji-Sung Choi, the president of SE DMC departement said in IFA 09, Berlin, “We will make our digital camera business global top leader as well as Consumer Electoronics, PC business.” Also, there is a expectation that it could be a part of big process that SE will merge SDI in the future. Security analysts said “When SDI was separated from Samsung Techwin, a lot of analysts expected the camera business will be moved in SE eventually. Already 90% of SDI internal system are integrated with SE, and it is a better choice that SE manages it for achieving the goal in the global market.”“
