November 22, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics will start selling Harman International’s consumer audio products from Aug 1 through its local distribution channels, the company announced on July 31. 

It is the company’s first official business move since the South Korean tech titan completed its acquisition of the 70-year-old US-based audio system manufacturer for $8 billion in March.  

Consumers look at audio products displayed at Samsung Digital Plaza in Nonhyeong-dong, southern Seoul, July 31. Samsung Electronics.

Samsung will officially release 40 speaker, earphone and headphone products under the Harman Kardon, JBL and AKG brands that represent strong audio systems through 30 Samsung Digital Plaza shops across the country, with a plan to gradually expand distribution points. 

Within the year, Samsung plans to open exclusive Harman shops at malls, providing consumers with better experiences of enjoying sound. 

Harman products have been sold here through Harman Korea with limited distribution channels that are now to be expanded through Samsung. 

After-sales services for the Harman products will be available through Samsung’s service centers nationwide, the company said. 

Samsung took over Harman, which also specializes in automotive electronics, with an aim to expand into the transportation, retail, hospitality and education industries.  

While keeping Harman’s operations separate, Samsung said the two companies would team up for new projects when necessary.  

On July 13, they announced a collaborative theater project adopting Samsung’s light-emitting diode technology for cinema together with Harman’s JBL speakers at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Jamsil, southern Seoul. 

By Song Su-hyun/The Korea Herald (song@heraldcorp.com)