Samsung Launches New Website to Serve as Consumer-Driven Connective Hub

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics and telecommunications, today announced the company?s robust digital platform for Samsung Electronics on the web in the U.S., the redesigned Samsung.com. Poised to transform the manner in which Samsung interacts with its consumers online, the new site further shifts the company from a product and technology provider to providing an overall digital experience.

?We were impressed by the level of commitment Samsung showed to innovating their digital touch points. From ecommerce to customer service to the latest social dialogues, we will begin delivering on the full promise of a digital future?

?We are in the midst of a significant advance in the evolution of the world wide web where an emphasis on brand experience is becoming equally important to product offerings in today?s competitive marketplace,? said Ralph Santana, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Samsung?s North American Headquarters. ?We understand how critical it is to provide top quality products to our consumers, and we want to make sure they receive a seamless and interactive two way communication experience on our new online digital platform.?

Expected to become the world?s largest technology manufacturer by sales this year, Samsung is utilizing communication as an innovation tool to drive business performance and continue to stay ahead of its competitors. The new site is driven largely by consumer-generated content ? including consumer contributed images and videos, Q&As on products and topics, as well as giving visitors the ability to comment on credible third party reviews and articles, share content on their social media networks and hear from respected bloggers and social media advocates. The new site also serves as a hub for Samsung brand loyalists.

Some of the additional features to the new Samsung.com include:

• Bringing the social media conversation into the Samsung.com home-page
• New e-commerce components ? including the ability for consumers to purchase a limited number of products through Samsung Marketplace
• Third party product reviews for consumer to reference, comment and receive feedback
• Social media components ? including trending topics on Twitter and Facebook wall posts
• Direct access to customer support, with response time of 24-hours or less
• Samsung?s new digital platform which houses the world?s first TV app store ? where consumers can browse and purchase more than 80 apps currently available for their Samsung TVs.

In this year-long initiative, Samsung took an unconventional approach to building and designing the company?s new site, bringing the former CEO of Razorfish, Craig Kanarick and former CEO of Agency.com, Chan Suh on to the development team immersing them in the brand and helping set an agenda for digital innovation.

?We were impressed by the level of commitment Samsung showed to innovating their digital touch points. From ecommerce to customer service to the latest social dialogues, we will begin delivering on the full promise of a digital future,? stated Chan Suh, Founder of BroomeCrosby Ltd. ?It is impressive to see a company as large as Samsung move so quickly and decisively into the world of converging media.?

With the official launch of Samsung.com, the company is aiming to start a two-way conversation that engages visitors and provides them with a brand experience in addition to the Samsung product portfolio.

?With Samsung?s new digital platform we wanted to engage consumers in a meaningful way that would support how they interact with one another online and with our brand,? said Kris Narayanan, VP of Digital Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. ?The site is not a singular investment for Samsung, but the foundation for ongoing digital initiatives and businesses that aim to benefit our consumers and the online conversations they are receptive to, well into the future.?

This change aims to enhance how people interact with the brand and the way Samsung interacts with them. While this digital platform is the first milestone of the significant shift in Samsung?s approach to the company?s digital future there will be exciting features and additions on the website leading up to the holidays.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung?s North American operations including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, the Samsung organization is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #19 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand ?100 Best Global Brands,? and named as one of Fast Company?s ?50 Most Innovative Companies of 2010.? For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on www.Facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.