Samsung Confident of Outselling Nokia in 2012

Samsung Electronics Co. said it is confident it will become the world's largest cellphone maker in 2012, ending Nokia's 14-year reign in the mobile handset market.

Samsung became the world's No 1 smartphone maker in the third quarter of 2011 and is quickly building on its supremacy with sleek designs and a rich product line-up. By contrast the latest models from the likes of HTC, Nokia and Research In Motion , maker of the BlackBerry, are struggling to lure consumers.

Samsung Chief Executive Choi Gee-sung told reporters in Las Vegas late on Monday the company overtook Nokia in revenue terms in its latest reported quarter and was confident of topping the Finnish group in shipments this year.

"It really highlights the level to which Nokia has struggled to retain momentum through 2011," said Tim Shepherd, analyst at technology research firm Canalys. "Samsung is really charging forward at the moment. It is delivering really compelling products to the market and consumers are responding," he added.