For the global developers’ community, the Samsung Developer Conference 2016 (SDC 2016) offers a unique opportunity to connect with Samsung Electronics, meet fellow developers and take in a broad array of exciting new technology.

The event will be held April 27 to April 28 at the Moscone West Center, San Francisco, and will comprise keynote speeches and presentations from a range of tech industry leaders. Attendees can also expect a wide range of sessions whereby developers can exchange ideas and partake in new experiences.

The list of speakers at SDC 2016 includes:

• DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, who will address Samsung’s vision for “Connecting the Future,” and opportunities for developers.

• Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Software and Services, Mobile Communication Business at Samsung Electronics, on strategy for mobile service platforms and partnerships.

• Sang Kim, Vice President, Content and Services, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, who will talk on matters relating to new business opportunities with Samsung Smart TV in 2016.

• Curtis Sasaki, Vice President, Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics, who will speak about the strategy for Samsung’s Internet of Things technology, platform and ecosystem.

• Genevieve Bell, Vice President at Intel, Monique Morrow, Chief Technology Officer at Cisco, Maureen Fan, CEO and Co-Founder at Baobab Studios and Diane Tavenner, Co-Founder & CEO at Summit Public Schools, will have a panel discussion entitled: “From Disruption to Transformation,” highlighting impactful innovation in the modern industry.

• John Riccitiello, CEO of Unity Technologies and David Kenny, General Manager of IBM Watson, and Eric Consolazio, Vice President at Cigna will share their vision as keynote speakers and experience on how to innovate the future.

More than 100 industry leaders and over 70 sessions will educate, innovate and inspire attendees to create new disruptive content and services, including interactive workshops and hands-on device experiences. Developers will be particularly keen to enjoy some sought-after hands-on time with Samsung’s cutting edge technology and software development kits (SDKs).

Some of the areas of technology on the SDC 2016 agenda include: Internet of Things(IoT), Tizen, Smart TV, Enterprise, VR, Mobiles, Wearables, Games and Entertainment, Health and Medical and Business opportunities.

On April 26, the day before the conference officially begins, experts will conduct a series of interactive, hands-on workshops, covering best development practices for a variety of technologies.

For registration details and more, visit the event’s official website at http://www.sdc2016.com

Before the start of CES 2016, Samsung Electronics is launching a mobile application, called “Samsung CES”, equipped with beacon technology for the attendees of the annual trade show in Las Vegas. Once downloaded, the Samsung CES app will provide location-based information to visitors and offer additional background information on Samsung products seen on the show floor.

The Samsung CES app will send relevant news articles and interactive content directly to users, making it easier for visitors to access CES-related information. The app will alert users to Samsung events and activities at CES – including Samsung’s press conference and keynote – and deliver news and video clips from the Samsung Newsroom following each event.

CES visitors can download the mobile app by searching “Samsung CES” on Google Play and the iTunes Store, starting Jan. 5.

On July 26, more than 1,800 swimmers from 49 countries prepared to swim the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey. This body of water separates the Asian and European sides of the city. The first Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race was held in 1989, and it is the first and only intercontinental swimming competition. On the day of the event, which is organized by the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC or TNOC) and sponsored by Samsung, the channel is closed to all shipping vessels. Swimmers took off from Kanlıca, on the Asian side of Istanbul and finished the race in Kuruçeşme Cemil Topuzlu Park, on the European side.

The Event

The goal of the Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race is to bring people together, with the idea that sports is for everyone. Each year hundreds of amateur swimmers of every age, from every corner of the world, successfully complete the intercontinental swimming competition. Among them this year was renowned endurance swimmer, Adam Walker, who was invited as the TOC’s honorary celebrity guest. Walker is one of only five people to have swum the Oceans 7, the seven toughest channel swims in the world. More impressively, he is only the second person to have ever completed the Oceans 7 on his first attempt.

During the event, Samsung’s experience booth was located at the center point of the event area, attracting more than 1,000 visitors from July 25-26. Samsung’s range of hand-held products (HHP), was displayed throughout the entire event area.

Sponsoring the Spirit of Bosphorus

Samsung Turkey has been sponsoring the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Race since 2003. In 2014, Samsung became the official name sponsor, and the race came to be known as the “Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race.” Samsung hopes to strengthen the emotional bond of the brand by showing how Samsung supports local communities through supporting sports.

“This event is a huge source of pride for Samsung. It makes a strong contribution to the promotion of Turkey, and Samsung’s goal is to bring even more awareness to the event through the power of its brand.” said Yoonie Joung, President of Samsung Electronics in Turkey. “At Samsung, we believe that sports has an important mission as a powerful tool that crosses borders and continents, uniting people from different cultures and promoting peace and tolerance. We are proud to host a swimming race, where thousands of swimmers strike out in the Bosphorus Strait, which has become a symbol of removing borders and uniting Asia and Europe.”

President of the TOC, Professor Dr. Uğur Erdener, said, “The Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race is one of the world’s most famous swimming competitions which is why it continues to attract record participation year after year. Through our cooperation with Samsung, who has sponsored this race for the last eleven years, we have helped this event grow from a local swim with 68 swimmers into a major international competition featuring thousands of swimmers from across the globe.”

In 2006, the location of the MWC was moved from Cannes to the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Europe’s second largest exhibition centers, due to the growing number of participants and attendees. The GSMA, the organization behind MWC, expects that attendance for Mobile World Congress 2015 will exceed the record of nearly 86,000 attendees set at the 2014 event. Mobile World Congress will be held 2-5 March 2015 at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, with events also taking place at Fira Montjuïc.

One event in particular has been generating an enormous amount of excitement and buzz, and will take place ahead of official start of MWC on March 1^st, 2015. Samsung’s Unpacked event will reveal to the world the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the new flagship models to which the smartphone technology leader has dedicated an unprecedented amount of research and development, in hopes of creating the best smartphone available on the market.

The full Unpacked event will soon be available to be viewed.

The Unpacked Event

Samsung’s Unpacked event set sail on a beautiful sunny day in Barcelona, near the Mediterranean Sea. The atmosphere was filled with languages from around the globe, as people from all over the world gathered to witness Samsung’s revealing of the groundbreaking Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. As the event was nearing the time of launch, news and media were invited into the auditorium, and a once empty venue filled with thousands of chairs, was instantaneously occupied as a wave people wearing orange wrist bands flooded in to get the best seat.

When the time finally arrived at 6:30 PM, the auditorium was transformed into an immersive presentation, surrounded by near 360 degrees of screens, displaying futuristic effects accompanied by music with similar themes. Then, a voice began addressing the crowd with the first official images if the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge being brilliantly displayed on the screens.

“What’s next? It’s the question that begins all our exploring. It ignites our imagination. Inspires us to bring in tomorrow, today. Tomorrow, metals will flow. Beauty will be powerful. Walls will disappear, reflections will be free. Colors will live. The future will be the present. Light the way to next. Welcome to Galaxy Unpacked 2015.”

With the audience’s full attention placed on center stage, Young Hee Lee, Executive Vice President opened the presentation and readied the world for the revealing of the next Galaxy. She then introduced JK Shin, CEO and head of the IM division.

Two words appeared on the screens that encapsulate Samsung’s tireless effort to bring the world the best mobile device possible; Relentless Innovation. “No more internet rumors, today we introduce what’s next.” JK Shin delved deeper into Samsung’s mission in not only developing the most beautiful device, but also the most powerful before fading into mesmerizing and detailed displays of the new Galaxy. JK Shin discussed the key elements of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, focusing on Samsung Pay, Knox Security, the powerful and revolutionary front and rear cameras, and Samsung’s cutting-edge developments in wireless charging.

Then, out from his jacket pocket, came the device everyone was waiting for; the Galaxy S6 edge. Mr. Shin explained that Samsung has an important role to play in advancing technology in our lives. With Samsung’s firsts in smartphone innovation and advancements, the technology leader is setting the bar high, and other companies will soon follow, realizing the need in incorporating similar technology in their products. “The next is now!” Samsung has set up to deliver something better than ever before.

Hyun Yeul Lee, the User Experience leader behind the Galaxy series, went on to describe the new design interface and functionality. Simple and refined, the UX is designed to be beautiful and basic. Text has replaced symbols, color codes group applications together based on their functionality and the edge’s curved screens further enhance user’s interaction with the device, allowing then to know who is contacting them and the urgency needed in response. There will no longer be hard to use and hard to find features and most importantly, “No more scrolling!” Hyun Yeul Lee says with amplitude.

Following Hyun Yeul Lee, Justin Denison, from Samsung America, reiterates how Samsung has set the bar for the rest of the industry in memory, battery life, wireless charging, and smartphone camera technology. The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge will feature eMMC memory cards that will integrate seamlessly with SSD’s, creating a whole new world of Universal Flash Storage.

Justin Denison shortly touches on the new Gear VR 2, and how it and the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge will bring about an out of this world immersive experience. The super AMOLED screen on the next Galaxy displays practically crystal-clear images for Gear VR 2 users, creating the best virtual adventures possible.

When describing the Galaxy battery capabilities, Mr. Denison explains that it only takes 10 minutes of charge time to product enough battery power that will last 4 hours of normal usage.

The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge will come with Samsung Pay, a highly secure and universally accepted mobile payment system that will work with most credit cards, debit cards and NFC. The MST even allows the users to use mobile payments even when mag strips can only be used. For ease of mind, users’ data remains only with their banks, not within the device or with Samsung Pay.

The last presenter, Gregory Wade, described in depth the emphasis Samsung has put into its mobile security with Samsung Knox. “Ready for business, right out of the box!”

After the Unpacked presentation, the audience was invited to have a hands-on interaction with the devices of the future. The moment everyone was waiting for, actually having the opportunity hold and use the devices, had arrived. Crowds quickly surrounded the exhibition stalls where several models of the phone could be held.

One attendee explained that he was very impressed with the S6, particularly the sleek design of the metal frame and that the S6 is the best model he has seen from Samsung, or any other mobile company.

The Galaxy S6 and S6 lived up to the hype and far exceeded expectations, especially when attendees could actually feel the lightweight and impressive metal design in their hands.

The next Galaxy will be available in select markets beginning on April 10th, 2015.

Updated at 11:00 PM CET, following the conclusion of the Unpacked event

Samsung’s Presence at MWC

It is clearly evident that Samsung has a strong presence at this year’s MWC. After yesterday’s Unpacked event and unveiling of Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 and S6 edge flagship models, crowds were in constant flow with attendees wanting a hands-on interaction with the most powerful and innovative smartphone soon to be in the consumer market.

Samsung’s impressive mobile exhibition showcases the key elements of Samsung’s arsenal of products, applications, security, and memory solutions. The obvious excitement was surrounding the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, drawing scores of people and media to the Samsung Mobile stage.

Those with the necessary credentials were allowed access into Samsung’s elegant exhibit, housing the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge and Gear VR Innovator Edition for Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, as well as demonstrations of the S Health app, Samsung KNOX security system, and the highly anticipated Samsung Pay, which is set to revolutionize mobile payment.

In addition to mobile offerings, Samsung has an exhibit dedicated to Networks Solutions and Device Solutions.

Samsung Tomorrow will be covering the entire event with exclusive, onsite interviews, video demonstrations and exciting information and coverage. Follow Samsung Tomorrow for up to date news and announcements from Samsung during the Mobile World Congress 2015.

Updated at 12:00 AM CET, following the official opening of MWC 2015