Choi Gee-sung

There’s no denying Samsung’s best days are yet to come. Their mobile devices arm is hot and has risen to become the conglomerate’s consumer face charged with dreaming up exciting gadgets, such as the Galaxy family of smartphones and tablets. Just last week, they branched out into new form factors with the introduction of the 7.7-inch Galaxy Tab and a brand new 5.3-inch device with a stylus, dubbed the Galaxy Note. Granted, they have no plans to launch the new devices in the U.S. because Apple would likely ask for injunction (unless Obama intervened).

Samsung has also added a WiFi-only 3.6-inch personal media player to their lineup. This is happening despite an escalating patent dispute with Apple which has resulted in tablet launch delays in Australia, the Galaxy smartphones sales blockage in the European Union and a possible video testimony in court. In all, patents expert Florian Mueller counted nineteen lawsuits Samsung and Apple are currently embroiled in, spawning twelve courts in nine countries on four continents.

But the future is bright, CEO Choi Gee-sung told reporters in Korea today. The company zoomed past Nokia and Sony, according to The Korea Times report, and wants to become the world’s top-tier software firm by the end of 2013. Ongoing litigation with Apple?

Samsung regards court battles with Apple as destiny. We are clashing with Apple in certain areas. Current situations will make us stronger.

Another company executive said “Samsung has no reason to send a ‘goodwill gesture’ to Apple first and therefore it is highly unlikely that Samsung will come to a licensing deal with Apple”. The CEO also flatly denied the rumors calling for his company to license Hewlett-Packard’s webOS software or buy the computer maker’s ailing PC business. He likened acquiring an operating system to “becoming a fashion”:

One thing clear is that Samsung will never buy HP’s webOS patent portfolios and I think that’s not important. We have over 20,000 software experts and Samsung prepares beyond normal imaginations. We are open to strike small M&A deals, though.

In fact, it would appear that Samsung has realized (on time, too) that software is the single most important building element that makes the gadget lovers’ hearts sing. That’s why the chairman is said to have demanded that the executive team double down on software. As a result…

With the Galaxy Note, pictured above, Samsung’s mobile devices division has branched out into a wider array of form factors.

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