Samsung has proven its dedication to the stylus pen through a sizable investment in Wacom, a company that accounts for 85 percent of the worldwide pen tablet market.
The South Korean technology giant is investing $58.9 million in Wacom, which builds styluses as well as drawing and design tablets. The investment gives Samsung a 5 percent stake in the firm.
Wacom's technology has been used in many Samsung devices, including the Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1. The firm said the sale of shares will be invested in "product development and manufacturing and supply system enhancements for products to be supplied to Samsung Electronics." It also aims to "expand its relationship" with Samsung further.
"It is becoming increasingly important to form close relationships with manufacturers of mobile information terminals, particularly smartphones and tablets, and to bring new products to market in a timely manner," said Wacom.
"With regard to digital pens for smartphones in particular, Wacom’s sales to Samsung Electronics have increased in recent years. Wacom digital pens are used in Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note smart phone, which is sold in 99 countries around the globe including North America, Europe, Japan, China and India. Wacom expects the inclusion of its digital pens in Samsung Electronics’ smartphones and tablets to lead to the expansion of the user base of its products."
Samsung, which has sold over 5 million Galaxy Note 2 phablets and over 100 million total Galaxy S smartphone units, is expected to offer a stylus with the Galaxy S4. It's also creating a Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet, a pair of Galaxy Tab 3 slates and the eight-core, 6.3-inch Galaxy Note 3.
