MUMBAI: Samsung India is aiming to achieve a 70 per cent growth in its digital media business this year. The digital media business, which is a new thrust area within the company‘s audio video portfolio, includes products like digital still cameras, digital camcorders, digital audio players (MP3 players) and DVD players.

"We plan to grow our digital media business by launching wow, aspirational products like the NV Series as well as by creating new product segments like the 6-in-1 multifunction camcorders within the digital camcorder segment," said Samsung India deputy managing director R. Zutshi.

(L to R) Samsung India general manager audio - video business Rajiv Kenue; director sales Pradeep Tognatta; model Kamal Siddhu; deputy managing director R Zutshi at NV -Series digital camera launch

The Samsung ‘NV‘ series in digital still cameras launched today comprises NV10: the world‘s first 10 mega pixel digital still camera (DSC); NV7: slim camera with 7x zoom; and NV3: world‘s first camera with MP3 and stereo speaker in-built functionality.

In addition to the NV Series, Samsung has also launched three more products in the DSC category -- Digimax i6: the world‘s first camera with portable media player feature in a digicam; Digimax L-85: the world‘s first HDMI camera and Digimax L60: a six mega pixel camera with MPEG4 VGA recording (30fps movie clip).

With the introduction of the new DSC range, Samsung has 11 DSC models priced in the range between Rs 8,990 and Rs 49,990.

"Our strategy to grow our DSC business is to help the existing analogue consumers to upgrade to Digital Still Cameras on the strength of our aspirational products and attractive pricing. We will also be enhancing our channel presence for this category by tapping both the existing CE Channel as well as strengthening our presence in the photographic channel," said Samsung India director sales Pradeep Tognatta.

Samsung is targeting a 400 per cent volume growth in its DSC business this year.

Samsung India also announced its foray into the fast growing DVD camcorder category by launching its VP-DC 163i and VP-DC 565wi DVD camcorders with optical zoom.

MS-11, the ultra compact memory player from Samsung represents a new segment within the existing digital camcorder category with its 6-in-1 functionality - webcam, storage, camcorder, digital still camera, MP3 player and voice recording functions.

Samsung India has priced its VP-D363i Digital camcorder model at an introductory price of Rs 17,990. With the introduction of the new digital camcorder range, Samsung has eight digital camcorder models priced in the range between Rs 17,990 to Rs 39,990. Samsung is targeting a 200 per cent growth in its camcorder business this year.

The company is also strengthening its Plasma lineup by launching its Q7 series of Plasma TVs in 106 cm (42") and 127 cm (50") screen size segments. These HD ready Plasma TVs are differentiated on account of their FilterBright technology for sharper, deeper and brighter display in any lighting condition; Smooth Motion Driver for clear and smooth image even in fast moving scenes and their 13-bit processing capability for an amazing display of 549 billion colours.

With the launch of these new Plasma models, Samsung now has a lineup of four Plasma models in 42" (2 models), 50", and 63" screen sizes, priced in the range between Rs 99,000 - Rs 700,000.

Samsung India is expecting to grow its audio video business (AV) by 50 per cent in the July - December 2006 period based on its range enhancement in key AV product categories like flat panel TVs and digital media products, enhanced channel presence and awareness creation through Samsung Dream Home Roadshows.

Zutshi added, "Our considerably enhanced sales infrastructure coupled with our new product launches should help us successfully optimize our festival sales in the second half of this year."