Samsung Denies Plans for Music Service

Samsung Electronics isn't planning an online music store to compete with existing services, the company has announced. The statement clarifies remarks made just over a week ago by a senior executive to Korean reporters, and subsequently confirmed by the company, that Samsung is looking to start up such a service.

"Samsung Electronics is interested in how we can improve the customer experience with our products but have no intention to challenge Apple's iTunes Music Store," said Kwon Hyosun, a spokesperson for Samsung in Seoul.

Different Involvement

Just a week earlier, the company had confirmed Korean news reports that quoted Choi Geesung, president of Samsung's digital media business, as saying development of an online music store is already underway. Company representatives also acknowledged that Samsung was working with partners on the service.

On Wednesday last week, a public relations company spokespreson representing Samsung's North American unit said the company is developing a music store for markets outside of that region.

The original reports came as a result of a misunderstanding about the meaning of what Choi way saying, Samsung said on Monday. In fact the focus of the company's work will be on improving the user interface and Samsung won't be working on back-end services such as content development or copyright licensing, Kwon said.