At Mobile World Congress 2012, held February 27-March 1 in Barcelona Spain, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Beam, a new smartphone with an embedded pico projector . The DLP based projector produces 15 lumens at nHD (640×360) resolution, a 50% increase in brightness over previous models. All models in Samsung’s premier Galaxy line use Google’s Android operating system, in this case the 2.3 version (Gingerbread). With its 2,000 mAh battery, the projector offers sufficient run time to share photos and video from YouTube and social networking sites with small to medium audiences.

PMA’s projector market analysis has followed Samsung’s efforts as they almost single-handedly pioneered the projector phone with the introduction of the w7900 in 2009 and the Beam i8520 in 2010. Despite the high level of innovation incorporated into these models, both achieves only moderate sales. The carriers who dictate every facet of the cell phone market declined to adopt them, failing to recognize the revenue opportunity they offer.

Samsung Galaxy Beam