Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a South Korean multinational conglomerate company that produces consumer electronics, mobile phones, semiconductors, and other industrial goods. The company’s name is derived from the word “galaxy” which means “a vast collection of stars” in Greek and Latin. Samsung began producing televisions in 1969 and became one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronic products. In 1979, Samsung entered the mobile phone market with the launch of the Galaxy model. The Galaxy was one of the first phones to use a color display and had a built-in calculator. In 1984, Samsung acquired Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., a Japanese manufacturer of mobile phones and other consumer electronics. This acquisition gave Samsung a strong foothold in the Japanese market and increased its competitiveness against Sony Corporation, which was then the world’s leading manufacturer of mobile phones. In 1995, Samsung acquired TCL Corporation, another leading American manufacturer of consumer electronics. This acquisition gave Samsung access to advanced technology and increased its presence in North America. In 2006, Samsung announced plans to purchase Motorola Mobility for $12 billion; this purchase made Motorola a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. The purchase allowed Samsung to gain access to Motorola’s patents and manufacturing capabilities as well as its customer base. In 2013, Samsung announced plans to purchase Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) smartphone business for $1 trillion; this purchase made Apple Inc.’s CEO Tim Cook an honorary chairman ofSamsung Electronics. The acquisition marked the largest ever merger between two companies and created a global leader in smartphones with over one hundred million customers worldwide. ..
We’ve talked about how Samsung got the name “Samsung” and what the “S” in “Galaxy S” stands for, but what about the company’s biggest brand name? The story behind “Galaxy” is probably not what you’d expect.
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The Origins of the Samsung Galaxy
As you may have guessed, the very first device with the “Galaxy” brand was simply named “Samsung Galaxy.” It was an Android smartphone launched in 2009, and it would be followed by the first phone in the “Galaxy S” series the following year.
With a name like “Galaxy,” you wouldn’t be alone in thinking Samsung chose it because it sounds cool and futuristic. Or perhaps it’s based on the name “Samsung” itself, which means “three stars.” While both of those things may have played a part in the decision process, it’s not where the inspiration came from.
According to Geoffrey Cain, author of Samsung Rising, the “Galaxy” name actually came from a Terlato Wines bottle of all places. The story is from former senior vice president, Ed Ho, who said the executives liked the name for its “premium ring.” (The wine is a California red blend of merlot, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon.)
Raise Your Glass
That’s the story behind the name, but you may have a second question now—can you still buy the Galaxy wine? As of October 2022, it does not appear to be available anymore. However, if it does, you’ll be looking at $95 per bottle. Cheers.
There you have it. Not every brand name has an elaborate or meaningful history behind it. Sometimes you just see a word on a wine bottle that sounds impressive. In fact, that’s probably the origin for a lot of brand names, and sometimes the cool-sounding word is completely made up.
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