Gino Casha, Head of MX B2B at Samsung Electronic Australia said, “There is a growing appetite for custom, enterprise-ready technology products being rolled out as an ecosystem that is fully connected. Specifically, within accommodation scenarios, across various sectors. With this growing demand, diversifying our distribution mix and having mobile or tablet at the core, is critical. By partnering with WBT, we are both growing our network to provide greater customer access, while also offering a bespoke integration option to prospective customers. Through our latest expansion, we are ensuring our MX solutions are considered, given a mobile or tablet has multiple touch points and are critical in controlling and managing an integrated solutions ecosystem.”

With the expansion, Samsung Australia entire enterprise product suite will be available in a sole distribution partner for the first time; and will streamline by enabling WBT’s customers to design and deliver comprehensive solutions, spanning hardware, software, and connected services, more effectively to end customers requiring integrated, multi-product deployments. This aims to be particularly valuable for organisations in hospitality, accommodation, aged care, student housing, and construction, where coordinated technology deployments across multiple locations and property types are essential.

Jaiden Maggs, Sales Director, World’s Best Technology, elaborated: “We’re excited to expand our strategic relationship with Samsung to now encompass full distribution of Samsung’s MX solution portfolio across the Australian channel. Mobile phones and tablets are at the centre of enterprise connectivity, and allow for greater control and synergies. By providing the full ecosystem suite, it strengthens WBT’s ability to deliver integrated technology solutions to our channel partners, enabling Samsung to scale its reach through their established expertise in design, installation, and solution deployment. By combining Samsung’s innovation with our specialist capabilities, we are positioned to unlock new growth opportunities across commercial and accommodation verticals.”

Samsung’s rugged portfolio includes smartphones and tablets designed for various work environments, featuring IP68 ratings and MIL-STD-810H for performance[1], and protected by Samsung Knox built-in security. The partnership with WBT aims to make these solutions more accessible to organisations seeking high-performance, secure and reliable devices integrated with Samsung’s broader B2B ecosystem.

[1] IP68 and MIL-STD-810H ratings vary by device. Please check the specific product prior to purchase to ensure that it meets your requirements. Actual results may vary. Refer to the user manual for further information, including care/use instructions.

Samsung Electronics today unveiled the new Galaxy XCover Pro, a smartphone designed and engineered for frontline workers across a variety of industries around the world. The Galaxy XCover Pro completely re-imagines the enterprise-ready smartphone, delivering a rugged, yet stylish device for both field and customer-facing settings. The Galaxy XCover Pro builds on Samsung Galaxy smartphones’ premium legacy features including an immersive display, long-lasting battery and the protection by Samsung Knox security platform. In addition, the device is enhanced with unique partner-enabled mobility solutions for use in a wide range of business scenarios, including the ability to integrate the newly announced walkie talkie capability in Microsoft Teams.

“The Galaxy XCover Pro is a reflection of Samsung’s increased investment and commitment to B2B market,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “We believe the business mobility market is ripe for transformation in 2020 and we intend to be the leader in pioneering an open and collaborative mobile platform for the next generation of digitally-enabled workforce.”

“Microsoft and Samsung have a deep history of bringing together the best hardware and software to help solve our customers’ challenges,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “The powerful combination of Microsoft Teams and the new Galaxy XCover Pro builds on this partnership and will provide firstline workers everywhere with the technology they need to be more collaborative, productive and secure.”

A Device that Puts Style and Durability to Work

With the Galaxy XCover Pro, Samsung challenges the status quo with a new mobile phone optimized for a broad range of industries including retail, manufacturing, healthcare and logistics. With its thin and light form factor, the Galaxy XCover Pro offers much more than a traditional enterprise device; it is the most stylish and sleekest rugged all-in-one mobile device on the market.

The device is IP68 water and dust resistant, capable of withstanding drops of up to 1.5m, even without a case, and is MIL-STD 810G certified for reliable protection against extreme altitude, humidity, and other severe environmental conditions. Pogo pin charging support and compatibility with third-party charging docks ensure the phone is powered as soon as the workday begins, and a 4,050mAh battery lasts long after the day is done. For times when even more power is needed, the battery is replaceable – just pop in a spare and keep going.¹

The Galaxy XCover Pro allows users to tailor their experience with two programmable keys to create custom actions with one click. This functionality makes complicated workflows simple letting users open the scanner, turn on the flashlight or launch a CRM app all without swiping through apps, scrolling through menus, or even looking at the screen.²

Finally, by removing the physical home button, Samsung has enhanced the elegance and simplicity of the phone design while maintaining its ruggedness. The Galaxy XCover Pro offers a clear, edge-to-edge 6.3” FHD+ Infinity Display with an enhanced touchscreen able to work in any condition, including rain or snow. For users in the field, glove mode allows for gloves-on use and the new voice to text message feature provides real-time dictation and messaging for simple, convenient communication.³

Full Field Solution Powered by Samsung Partner Ecosystem

The Galaxy XCover Pro is capable of meeting all the needs of the mobile enterprise, and features everything customers have come to expect from Samsung. Professionals and field workers can enjoy their favorite mobile solutions from Samsung’s broad partner ecosystem, making it easier to manage inventory and process payments immediately and communicate on the go.

The Galaxy XCover Pro is push-to-talk ready with its two programmable keys, allowing users to stay in contact with anyone throughout their day with a simple push of a button, including the main office, dispatchers or different team members on-site. To make it easier for colleagues to communicate with each other, Samsung worked closely with Microsoft to introduce Microsoft Teams, its new walkie talkie capability on the Galaxy XCover Pro, making it the first partner solution to leverage the push-to-talk feature.

Samsung also empowers workers across all industries with mobile solutions that help accomplish daily tasks through software and hardware solutions from Infinite Peripherals, KOAMTAC, Scandit and Visa. Retail associates can track inventory and process payments, with barcode scanning available. They can take advantage of ready-to-use mobile point of sale (mPOS) whose payment modules are available based on SDK for mPOS solution vendors.

Galaxy XCover Pro will also have Samsung POS, a mobile-based point of sale (POS) solution that has been approved by Visa’s Tap to Phone pilot program. This joint solution benefits sellers by helping them stay in touch with how consumers prefer to pay and removing the need for a dedicated POS hardware with an easy software solution that is reliable, convenient and secure. Tap to Phone’s sophisticated software terminal builds on EMV chip transaction to generate the same functionality while giving peace of mind and assurance that financial data remains safe and secure. Customers will be able to make payments in seconds by simply tapping their contactless card, phone or watch to the Galaxy XCover Pro.

“The Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is a robust retail POS platform for a true retail digital transformation,” said Mary Kay Bowman, Visa’s Head of Seller Solutions. “Its applications for businesses such as healthcare, airlines and restaurants are a great example of how Visa together with Samsung can democratize access to payment experiences that consumers increasingly expect, no matter where they are.”

Defense-Grade Security Meets Enterprise-Friendly Management

In addition to its ruggedness, the Galaxy XCover Pro is also built with data security in mind and is protected by Samsung’s defense-grade multi-layered Knox platform. With Samsung Knox, mobile professionals can take advantage of advanced security features like hardware-backed protection, data isolation and encryption and boot- and run-time protection to ensure that business-critical information is protected against intrusion, malware and other threats. The device also features a fingerprint reader and facial recognition for touch-free accessibility while out in the field.

With Samsung Knox, large enterprises can quickly and easily setup and customize the device, and manage firmware versions, putting IT administrators in control of the management and updates of their device fleet through Knox Configure and Knox E-FOTA. In select markets, The Galaxy XCover Pro will be available as an Enterprise Edition, providing two years of market availability and four years of security updates to ensure business continuity. With the Galaxy XCover Pro, Samsung continues to raise the bar for enterprise-ready technology ready for use anywhere, any time.

Galaxy XCover Pro Specifications⁴

¹  Additional battery sold separately.

² Programmable keys require to purchase Knox license separately.

³  Voice to text message currently only available with native SMS in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish languages.

⁴  All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

⁵ Galaxy XCover Pro will support dual SIM functionality in North America through a future software update once the service is available.