Samsung has announced that it has sold 5 million units of its Galaxy Note worldwide.

The 5.3 inch smartphone-cum-tablet device first launched in October 2011, and has helped Samsung Electronics achieve a 67 percent share of the Korean mobile phone market.

Samsung is also the current market leader for smartphones in China, France, and Spain. 

Big pockets

The device was finally launched in Japan today too, with Samsung's mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun reportedly saying that the company expects sales of the Note to reach 10 million by the end of 2012.

Samsung's record operating profit of 5.3 trillion Won (roughly $4.7 billion) for Q4 2011 was attributed to "strong sales" of the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note, although at that time the company chose not to release specific figures on handset sales.

[source: Samsung via Korea Herald]