Will report of coming Samsung Galaxy S 4 dent iPhone 5 sales?

Just days before the launch of Apple’s iPhone 5, a report has come out of South Korea that Samsung plans to unveil its next Galaxy S phone in February.

The Korea Times, citing unnamed company officials and suppliers, says Samsung has plans to debut the Galaxy S 4 at the Mobile World Congress, which will be held in Barcelona.

It quotes one anonymous official saying that the Galaxy S 4 could curb iPhone 5 sales.

The timing of the report is curious, with iPhone 5 pre-orders already started and the phone’s launch just days away.

Samsung likely wants to put a dent in Apple’s sales by giving consumers enough of a reason to hold off on upgrading now and holding off for the Galaxy S 4.

Regardless, the fighting between the two companies is at an all-time high after Apple won a lawsuit in U.S. federal court earlier this year that will cost Samsung more than $1 billion in damages.

Samsung took a shot at the iPhone 5 this weekend, running an ad in several papers saying “The next big thing is already here,� referring to the Galaxy S III.

As for the details of the S 4, the report says Samsung is likely to increase its screen size to 5 inches, up from 4.8 inches on the S III. Samsung is also expected to stick with Android for the operating system and retain its rounded form.

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