“Our company considers adding Apple’s iPhone 5 to the (patent infringement) case… but we cannot say when,” a Samsung spokesman told AFP.
“Our decision will be made after our company has analysed the iPhone 5 to see what aspects of its device constitute patent infringement.”
Apple was also facing growing criticism from users around the world after it ditched a maps application made by its rival Google in favour of a native app that is reportedly riddled with errors.
A day after the new iOS 6 system was released, users from countries including the United States, Britain, China, France and Japan protested that the new maps misplace some landmarks and leave others off altogether.
The global launch could also be affected by a call from unions for staff at Apple’s 13 stores in France to go on strike Friday over a pay dispute.
Apple, whose shares soared past US$700 in anticipation of the launch, says the iPhone 5 will be available in 100 countries by year’s end.
Some analysts have tipped Apple to sell 10 million units globally in the opening days and 50 million before the end of 2012, giving a small but welcome boost to the US economy.
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