Samsung's smartphones might be losing market share, but the South Korean tech giant is em-barking into a new area—hi-tech, luxury dog kennels.
On Wednesday, Samsung Electronics unveiled the "Dream Doghouse," which cost £20,000 ($30,600) to make. Aimed at "tech-savvy pampered pooches," the one-off design will be on display this month at Crufts, the world's largest dog show, of which Samsung is a long-term sponsor.
The kennel will not go on sale but is available as a prize in a competition across Samsung's social media channels.
The Dream Doghouse was six weeks in creation and comes with two indoor living areas—one for "rest and relaxation", the other for "dining and entertainment"—as well as an outside astroturfed area. Features include a "doggy" treadmill, a hot-tub spa, a "push-to-woof" call bell, bespoke wallpaper and framed portraits of family and friends, a skylight and a dog-operated snack dispenser.
"The Samsung Dream Doghouse looks sleek and modern, featuring the kind of tech the discerning dog of the future will need," Andy Griffiths, president of Samsung Electronics U.K. and Ireland, said in a news release on Wednesday. "From dogs who have social media profiles, to owners who use video calling to check on their pet while away, technology is fast becoming an integral part of everyday life."
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One-quarter of 1,500 dog owners surveyed by Samsung online said they would like a treadmill for their dog, with a similar number thinking their pooch deserved a TV or tablet device. A further 18 percent wanted Fido to have a hot-tub or spa..
Crufts takes place this year from March 5 to March 8 in the U.K. city of Birmingham.
The unveiling of the Dream Doghouse came one day after research provider Gartner reported that Samsung in the global smartphone market to Apple in the fourth quarter of 2014. Samsung had held first place since 2012, but its market share fell to 19.9 percent in the last three months of 2014, behind Apple's 20.4 percent.
