RPT-UPDATE 1-TECHSHOW-Samsung phones sell well in US Q4

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By Sinead Carew

LAS VEGAS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - U.S. telephone carrier customers of Samsung Electronics (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) saw slowing sales of cell phones towards the end of the 2007 holiday shopping period, which was a strong sales period for Samsung, a top executive for the phone maker said on Sunday.

Bill Ogle, chief marketing officer for Samsung Telecommunications America, said it was not clear if the slowing sales related to the timing of customer contract expirations or for other reasons such as economic concerns.

"We know our carriers have said that toward the end of the selling season business was slowing for them in terms of phones sold," Ogle said in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show here.

"We had a stronger fourth quarter than we had in the prior year," in terms of phone unit sales volumes, he said, adding that while it was clear the lower-end phones were "flying off the shelves" the company was still waiting for data on higher-end phones that went on sale later in the quarter.

Ogle did not give specific numbers for the company's U.S. sales volume. He said the company does not typically reveal volume sales by region.

Samsung's U.S. carrier customers include AT&T Inc (T.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel (S.N: Quote, Profile, Research). Verizon Wireless is owned by Verizon Communications (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research).

Samsung, the third biggest mobile phone maker in the world, said it trailed only Motorola Inc (MOT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in the United States as of the end of third quarter last year. Global market leader Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) has had a tougher time in the United States.