SEOUL, KOREA - Korea's mobile phone makers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics saw their average selling price (ASP) mark a double-digit growth over the past one year.
According to a US market research firm Strategy Analytics, Samsung Electronics' ASP reached $222 in the first quarter of this year, up 29.8 percent from $171 a year ago. During the same period, LG Electronics' ASP also rose by 15.2 percent or $24 from $158 to $182.
Samsung Electronics' ASP growth was the highest among the top-ten mobile phone makers. LG Electronics' ASP growth rate was the third highest behind Samsung Electronics and RIM of the U.S. whose ASP is estimated at 21.4 percent.
The hike in ASP cannot be interpreted as a rise in earnings. ASP growth, however, is used as an indicator to gauge the degree of improvement in profitability.