Former Samsung Strategist Julien Blin Joins Infonetics as Consumer Electronics and Mobile Broadband Analyst

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Infonetics Research, a world leader in communications industry market research, today announced the addition of Julien Blin to its analyst team as Directing Analyst for Consumer Electronics and Mobile Broadband.

“The long search was worth the wait”

“The long search was worth the wait,” says J’Amy Stewart, CEO and co-founder of Infonetics Research. “I have no hesitation in saying that with Julien Blin on board, Infonetics will ultimately be known for mobile device, smartphone, tablet and smart TV research in the same gold-standard way that we’re known in the other markets we cover.”

The addition of Mr. Blin, the latest in a string of new analysts hired in the last 12 months, brings to 30 the number of industry, market and research analysts at Infonetics Research. Earlier this year Infonetics also opened an office with a new market analyst in Shanghai, China. Infonetics’ rapidly-expanding business in Asia resulted in 40% growth in sales in the region for fiscal year 2012.

Mr. Blin says: “I’ve watched Infonetics for a long time from many perspectives -- analyst, journalist, investor, vendor -- and have a lot of respect for how high Infonetics sets the bar. It’s a pleasure and an honor to join the team. I’m excited to make the most of my experience to advise our clients and help them launch highly differentiated products and gain market share.”

He adds: “The pressure is intense out there. Differentiating is especially challenging in the hyper-competitive, Apple- and Samsung-dominated smartphone and tablet space. Service providers need to offer unique services to retain customers; OEMs need to build the devices that will attract them in the first place. Next up: a war in the living room in 2013 and beyond, with a bigger push from players like Apple, Google and Amazon as they leverage their assets to get a piece of this growing market. Add to that the rising popularity of OTT services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video, and it’s clear why service providers are launching competitive TV companion apps, multiscreen services, and OTT content integration with gaming consoles like the Xbox. This is a very dynamic space, and I look forward to building up Infonetics’ coverage of it.”

JULIEN BLIN BIO (http://bit.ly/U78W6F)

Julien Blin
Directing Analyst, Consumer Electronics and Mobile Broadband
[e-mail] +1 408.583.3385 Twitter: @jblin
Based in Silicon Valley

Mobile device expert Julien Blin joined Infonetics Research in October 2012, bringing with him 10 years of telecom analyst experience with Samsung, IDC, Ovum, and investment bank Wedbush Morgan Securities. He has expertise in smartphones, tablets, e-readers, smart TVs, multiscreen, next-gen UI/UX, over-the-top and set-top boxes, gaming consoles, mobile-to-mobile, and home automation.

As Strategy Manager at Samsung, Julien advised the CEO of Samsung Telecommunication America on the company’s Galaxy Tab tablet, Galaxy Smartphone, Smart TV, set-top box, and content, services, and retail strategy. He also helped conceptualize new designs and services for upcoming Samsung devices to more aggressively compete with Apple and Amazon.

Previously, Julien headed the consulting firm JBB Research, where he advised startups, carriers, and vendors in North America, Europe, and emerging markets. He is also a former Wedbush Morgan equity research associate; IDC, Ovum, Maravedis, and Northern Sky Research market analyst, and freelance tech journalist and editor.

As Directing Analyst, Consumer Electronics and Mobile Broadband, Julien now covers smartphones, tablets, and embedded mobile modems; home automation services; and pay TV, including STBs, OTT boxes, multiscreen services, and cable, IPTV, and satellite subscribers. He authors quarterly market share and forecast reports, annual service provider surveys, and frequent opinion pieces on important communication industry players, technologies, and service provider trends. He provides due diligence and advises on positioning, product development, strategy, partnerships, and business planning to help clients identify new market opportunities, come up with disruptive ideas, and create differentiated products that improve stickiness, sales and market share.

An influential thought leader, Julien is regularly quoted in leading industry publications, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, FORTUNE, Forbes, Business Week, Wireless Week, RCR Wireless Week, FierceWireless, Telecom Asia, InformationWeek, and the Boston Globe. Read more at http://bit.ly/U78W6F.

ABOUT INFONETICS RESEARCH

Infonetics Research (www.infonetics.com) is an international market research and consulting firm serving the communications industry since 1990. A leader in defining and tracking emerging and established technologies in all world regions, Infonetics helps clients plan, strategize, and compete effectively. View Infonetics’ new 2013 Market Research Lineup at http://bit.ly/QT1CE8 and brief About Us slides at http://bit.ly/QUrbrV.

SALES

N. America (West), Asia, Latin America: Larry Howard, [e-mail], [phone]

N. America (East), Texas, Midwest: Scott Coyne, [e-mail], [phone]

Europe, Middle East, Africa: George Stojsavljevic, [e-mail], [phone]

Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan: http://www.infonetics.com/contact.asp