Death of Steve Jobs encouraged Samsung to attack iPhone
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All I can say to this news is wow that’s low, even for Samsung this is just a low point. According to an e-mail uncovered by CNET shortly after the passing of Steve Jobs in 2011 Michael Pennington, head of national sales for Samsung Telecommunications America, told company leadership that this was the time to attack the iPhone.
Here’s the full email:
“Unfortunately, Steve Job’s [sic] passing has led to a huge wave of press coverage of Apple’s and iPhone’s ‘superiority,’ all created by the ‘passionate, tireless, perfectionist…’ The point here is that there is an unintended benefit for Apple, since the external messages by 3rd parties are all highlighting and/or supporting the consumer perception that Apple products are superior, since Jobs’ [sic] was such a visionary and perfectionist. What consumer wouldn’t feel great about purchasing a device developed by such a person.
“Sorry to continue to push this issue, but I have seen this far too long and I know this is our best opportunity to attack iPhone. If there is no consensus on the approach I initially proposed, I will stop pushing, but I would like to better understand our strategy so I can align with that.”
Pennington has since left Samsung’s US mobile business.
