Samsung Electronics’ mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun said Monday that the company aims to sell up to 10 million units of its new flagship smartphone Galaxy S3 worldwide by next month.

“We expect it to surpass the 10 million mark by the end of next month as it is being well-received globally,” he said in a media event held to introduce the handset to Korean consumers.

“It will be noted as the mobile phone that reached the 10 million mark faster than any other phone in Samsung’s history and it is finally being rolled out in Korea. It took us more time to make local consumers satisfied with the service quality.”

The predecessor Galaxy S2 topped 10 million units in sales five months after it was launched across the world.

Shin’s comments came as the firm expanded its partnerships to 302 telecoms and retailers in 147 different countries, up from 296 telecoms and retailers in 145 nations previously announced following its London event on May 3.

The company’s rapid expansion comes just two years after its first Galaxy S smartphone was showcased in Seoul on June 25, 2010, said Shin.

The Galaxy S3 running on the third-generation communications networks is currently provided in Korea solely by SK Telecom and is priced in the 900,000 won range, according to Samsung officials.

Meanwhile, the model operating on the fourth-generation Long Term Evolution networks will be released through all three mobile carriers, including KT and LG Uplus, as early as the second week of July.

The Galaxy S3 was first launched in Europe on May 29. With support in eight languages, including Korean, English, Italian, German and Spanish, the gadget is 9 millimeters thick and weighs 138.5 grams.

Powered by Google’s latest Android mobile operating platform, called Ice Cream Sandwich, it is also equipped with a dual-core processor and an 8-megapixel camera as well as unique functions including face recognition, near-field communication technology, eye-tracking and direct calling, its officials said.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)