Samsung SmartThings began as Samsung Electronics’ Internet of Things (IoT) platform, connecting not only Samsung products but also a wide array of devices from partner companies. This integration has evolved into a seamless, connected experience tailored to fit diverse lifestyles.

Growing from 100 million subscribers in 2019 to over 350 million by August 2024, SmartThings has established Samsung as a leader in the smart home market. The platform continues to expand its influence in the IoT industry by enhancing its AI-driven capabilities and even extending its reach into the B2B space.

Check out the infographic below to explore Samsung SmartThings’ 10-year journey of innovation.

Since 2002, Samsung Electronics has been sharing its philosophy and vision for the year ahead – and beyond – through a total of 6 keynote addresses at CES. At CES 2022, the first CES event to be held offline in two years due to the pandemic, Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman and CEO at Samsung Electronics, is set to walk onto the stage and present his keynote address under the headline ‘Together for tomorrow’ to present the direction for technological development going forward.

Ahead of Han’s keynote at CES 2022, Samsung Newsroom has compiled the key topics and technological trends presented at Samsung’s CES keynote addresses between 2011 and 2020 to provide an insight into the evolution of the phrase ‘future technology’ what really means.

1. 2011: Human Digitalism

The main topic at Samsung’s 2011 CES keynote was the convergence of digital technology and human beings. Humanism, a philosophy that originated in the culture and arts fields, had recently reached the technology industry and become the latest trend. Illustrating this development, Samsung’s keynote that year centered on the concept of human digitalism, and throughout the address, the company advocated for the “reinterpretation of technology”, an idea that sees the values that human beings fundamentally pursue combined with advanced technologies.

BK Yoon, back then President and Head of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, outlined four guiding principles to underlie human digitalism. These are: interacting with the world in an easy and convenient manner anytime, anywhere; creating products that blend naturally and seamlessly into consumers’ lifestyles; providing enjoyment through new discoveries; and pursuing corporate social responsibility that prioritizes the environment and pursuing a better tomorrow. The company also outlined its plan to apply this vision of human digitalism to all its technologies and products in order to bring about a new digital paradigm shift.

2. Mobilizing Possibility

In 2013, it was the very center of all electronic products – their components – that was gaining attention. Accordingly, in their CES keynote address, Samsung introduced its processor – the brain of their mobile devices – its energy-efficient memory solutions – which help reduce electricity usage – and YOUM, its next-generation flexible display line-up.

The keynote speech, delivered by Dr. Stephen Woo, back then President of System LSI Business of Device Solutions Division of Samsung Electronics, highlighted how society and consumers’ lives are set to benefit from the innovations generated when such advanced component technologies go beyond their boundaries and unite with various technological fields.

3. 2015: Unlocking the Infinite Possibilities of IoT

At its 2015 CES keynote address, Samsung presented its blueprint for what the era of IoT the company planned to realize will look like. Samsung’s blueprint envisioned a world in which all kinds of products would move forward together with digital technology. In addition, Samsung introduced its essential technologies for realizing this IoT-powered world, including ultra-small, energy-efficient and intelligent sensors and semiconductor chips. BK Yoon, back then President and Head of CE division, emphasized the importance of open platforms in order to achieve a true realization of this vision, and accordingly introduced the SmartThings platform, a hub for all kinds of smart devices and services.

4. 2016: IoT, In Sync With Real Life

In their 2016 keynote address, Samsung introduced stories of how IoT had become part of daily life to the audience. Samsung began the keynote by introducing the three key elements of IoT: performance, user environment and security. Dr. WP Hong, back then President of Samsung SDS, introduced their innovative technologies, such as the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator which is a perfect example of IoT playing a role in the home environment. Samsung also affirmed its commitment to providing infinite value to its consumers by expanding its platform openness through cross-industry collaboration going forward.

5. 2020: Age of Experiences

At the beginning of a new decade, Samsung opened CES 2020 with a keynote address that heralded the beginning of a new age, the ‘Age of Experiences’ – the age in which personal preferences and experiences are foremost. The keynote speaker H.S. Kim, back then Samsung Consumer Electronics President and CEO, also shared the company’s vision for the electronics industry over the upcoming 10 years, which highlighted that, by merit of users that prioritize their experience and enjoyment of their products rather than just their ownership of them, personalized technologies able to satisfy each individual’s needs, smart homes and cities and robotic life companions are set to become more important. Samsung also emphasized in the keynote that it will become even more committed to expanding and advancing technologies by focusing on a better future for the users as the driving force and ultimate purpose behind their development.

And ‘Together for Tomorrow’ in 2022

At the upcoming CES 2022, Samsung is set to give its keynote address under the theme of the ‘Together for tomorrow’, within which the idea that ‘technology should exist for humanity and the Earth’ is paramount.

Samsung is set to introduce its multifaceted efforts to contribute to making life on Earth more sustainable, and emphasize the need for everyone to participate in reducing climate change wherever they may be. The company will also be introducing its latest innovative technologies to help users enjoy even more enriched lifestyles based on optimized, customized service for each and every person, along with enhanced experiences of being connected to one another.

Samsung’s keynote address for at CES 2022 will be livestreamed online on the Samsung Electronics Newsroom website at 6:30 P.M. PST on January 4^th. Be sure to tune in to learn more about Samsung’s latest vision for how innovative technologies can change the world.

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced plans to expand its NAND flash production capacity in Pyeongtaek, Korea, reinforcing the company’s ability to meet demands from emerging technologies. Construction, which began this May, will pave the way for mass production of Samsung’s cutting-edge V-NAND memory in the second half of 2021.

“The new investment reaffirms our commitment to sustain undisputed leadership in memory technologies, even in uncertain times,” said Cheol Choi, executive vice president of Memory Global Sales & Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to serve the market with the most optimized solutions available, while contributing to growth of the overall IT industry and the economy in general.”

In the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution fueled by artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and 5G expansion, the added capacity will play a major role in helping to address mid- to long-term demands for NAND flash memory. As digital lifestyles become more prevalent, Samsung will continue to be proactive in making new investments in order to seize future market opportunities.

Samsung’s NAND flash production network extends from Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek in Korea to Xi’an, China. Established in 2015, Samsung’s Pyeongtaek Campus is a hub for next-generation memory technologies, consisting of two of the world’s largest-scale production lines.

Leveraging its significant edge in manufacturing and technology, Samsung has held the leadership position in NAND flash memory for the past 18 years, with one recent innovation being the industry-first sixth-generation (1xx-layer) V-NAND introduced last July. Through balanced investment across its global sites, Samsung aims to maintain a robust production network that will further cement its market leadership.

Reference: Samsung V-NAND Mass Production Timeline

At this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), visitors to the Samsung Electronics booth are getting hands on with the very latest of Samsung’s home appliance solutions.

Among other design and connectivity-led innovations, booth attendees are learning how they can harness the Smart Recipe app for best-practice cooking with the 30” Slide-in Range, stay on top of their groceries with Family Hub’s automatic cataloging with the View Inside app, and even answer a video call while in the kitchen on the Family Hub’s interactive touchscreen.

In the booth’s Connected Living zone, visitors are learning about how Samsung’s leading Internet of Things (IoT) technology has revolutionized the culinary experience by harnessing IoT to develop a multi-device connected smart home ecosystem. From the ability to search for recipes using SmartThings on Samsung’s range products to the diverse range of smart capabilities offered across Samsung’s wide Family Hub portfolio, this dedicated experience zone is showing KBIS visitors the difference a connected kitchen can make.

Across the other dedicated zones, visitors are also exploring the full line-up of Samsung household products designed with a wide range of lifestyles, tastes and living situations in mind. KBIS attendees are experiencing first-hand the power of the Samsung connected home, as well as the level of customization available on many leading Samsung appliance products.

If you are unable to make it to the Las Vegas Convention Center this year, take a look at the pictures below for an in-depth look at the latest Samsung home appliance devices built with connectivity and lifestyle design at their core.

Where Design Meets Connectivity: The Connected Living Zone

KBIS visitors are invited to explore the full range of features and capabilities of Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator through its interactive touchscreen. When a user touches the screen, they are met with a range of versatile features, including meal planning options, Smart View, music streaming and even the ability to check connected device notifications

A visitor gets hands-on with the helpful View Inside app on the Family Hub’s interactive touchscreen. Not only can the touchscreen help you keep track of your groceries and home cooking plans, but it also serves as a smart home control hub, calendar and media platform

A special board showcases pictures uploaded by KBIS visitors celebrating the latest in the brand’s home appliance innovations

A dedicated exhibit introduces KBIS visitors to the full connectivity and convenience of Samsung’s home devices thanks to the power of IoT and Samsung’s SmartThings platform. From accessing doorbell notifications on refrigerators to checking wash cycles on smartphones, the SmartThings IoT Platform zone provides an insight into the future of the smart home

Innovative Appliances and Interior Trends: The Kitchen Package Zone

As well as being packed full of the latest kitchen innovations, Samsung’s KBIS booth features several example kitchen packages across a range of lifestyle aesthetics

A dishwasher and an oven fit seamlessly together in one of the exhibit kitchens, finished in this year’s Pantone Color of the Year, Classic Blue

Thanks to a wide range of customization options available across Samsung’s home appliance range, visitors are sure to find an option that meets their needs as well as their design aesthetic, such as a stylish wood and metal aesthetic (top). Not just practical but also stackable, Samsung’s Wine Cube (middle) and Beauty Cube (bottom) have been designed to fit into any space, as well as storing user’s wine and cosmetic products respectively at optimum temperatures

Samsung’s laundry machine range features devices in a range of shapes and dimensions to suit a variety of household sizes. With Samsung’s smaller devices, users can even stack their washer and dryer machines to maximize their space

At KBIS, Samsung is showcasing its full refrigerator line-up, including the new side-by-side refrigerator (above). The flat design of its side-by-side doors and simple handles provide a ‘built-in’ look to the refrigerator, which offers 22 cubic feet of interior food storage space and interior walls with reduced thickness thanks to Samsung’s SpaceMax Technology. Samsung’s Digital Inverter Compressor Technology also ensures a consistent temperature throughout the refrigerator.

The Samsung 30” Slide-in Range is able to fit neatly with minimal fuss into any existing kitchen counter formation for maximum convenience thanks to its built-in-esque size and design, along with the simple UX of its operation panel

Understanding that users prioritize space in their kitchens, the Samsung 30” Slide-in Range features a new Air Fry mode for quality frying without the worries of high-fat content or oil mess that come with traditional frying – and without the need for a separate device

A KBIS visitor explores the different capabilities and smart features of the Samsung 30” Slide-in Range

Where Premium Functionality Meets Elegance: The Dacor Zone

Standing right next to the Samsung booth at KBIS is the Dacor booth, which features three kitchen concept zones under the theme of ‘Cook, Cool, Clean and Create.’ In these spaces, leading Samsung appliances have been united for visitors under a coastal theme

Putting Communication at the Core: The Builder Solutions Zone

Samsung’s booth at KBIS 2020 also includes an area informing visitors about Samsung’s US supply chain, extensive service network for builders and Samsung Care. Dedicated Samsung representatives are on hand at the Builder Solutions Zone for consultations and to answer attendee’s questions. “We are honored and excited to be one of the first builders to include a full array of Samsung appliances in every home we sell,” noted attendee Ryan Hays, VP of Purchasing, Touchstone Living Homes

Samsung is committed to bringing new kitchen experiences to users through partnership and innovation. Visitors to the company’s KBIS 2020 booth are encouraged to share their impressions of the dedicated zones using the hashtag #BUILDwithSAMSUNG

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today held the first Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem (SAFE) Forum 2019 in the United States. By sharing the latest technology trends and strengthening cooperation within the foundry ecosystem, Samsung showcased its strong dedication to customers.

SAFE Forum is designed to provide an opportunity for SAFE partner companies to directly meet with customers to discuss comprehensive design technology infrastructure, including electronic design automation (EDA), intellectual property (IP), cloud, design service, and packaging, which is critical to efficiently developing and manufacturing semiconductor products.

While the Samsung Foundry Forum (SFF) has served as a channel to present Samsung’s technology roadmap and leadership to customers, the newly held SAFE Forum is distinctive in that it allows its partners to engage deeper and more efficient collaboration within Samsung’s foundry ecosystem by directly communicating in detail with customers on their own design support solutions proven by Samsung.

“SAFE program has grown in quality over the past two years; it has expanded the number of competitive partnerships and support of flexible product design for customers as well as bolstered the relationship between our partners, customers, and Samsung foundry,” said Jae-hong Park, executive vice president of Foundry Design Platform Development at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue our efforts in enhancing accessibility to enable customers to more easily utilize Samsung’s excellent foundry solutions.”

As the latest system-on-chip (SoC) product requires more sophisticated features in a smaller surface size than before, the number of considerations in IC design optimization has increased exponentially: performance, power, security, design, density, etc.

To actively respond to these IC design trends and lower the design barrier for developing competitive SoCs, Samsung Electronics launched the SAFE program in early 2018.

Under the slogan “Partnering for a bold silicon future”, details on the latest global IC design trends as well as benefits of the efficient easy-to-use platform design infrastructure were introduced.

With more than 400 industry experts attending the first SAFE Forum, 12 detailed sessions were given by around 30 speakers from 15 partner companies, focusing on emerging high-growth applications, including high-performing computer (HPC), internet-of-things (IoT), and automotive. Attendees also had a chance to discover the optimal solution for implementing their new ideas into chips through 40 partner booths at the venue.

Based on a power-efficient 28-nanometer (nm) process technology, the Exynos i T100 is optimized to be used with short-range IoT devices that automate and control environments within homes or businesses. The vast array of applications for such devices would include smart lighting, home security and monitoring, temperature control, fire and gas detectors, and fitness wearables.

“Low-power short-range IoT solutions that connect various products in our homes or buildings can make our lives easier and safer,” said Ben Hur, senior vice president of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “The Exynos i T100, engineered with multiple communication protocols along with strong security capabilities, will help further extend IoT services in areas where they could benefit our everyday lives.”

The Exynos i T100 supports popular short-range communication protocols, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 and Zigbee 3.0, and also integrates the processor with memory in a small single-chip package, all to enhance flexibility in the product development process of device manufacturers.

Strong security features that protect against potential hacking and other threats is a must when it comes to wireless IoT devices that automate and control their environment. The Exynos i T100 comes with a separate Security Sub-System (SSS) hardware block for data encryption and a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) that creates a unique identity for each chipset. 

This new IoT solution also adds to reliability in that it can endure extreme temperatures as low as -40°C and up to 125°C.

The Exynos i T100 is currently sampling.

For more information about Samsung’s Exynos products, please visit http://www.samsung.com/exynos.

The Exynos i T100 enhances the security and reliability of devices designed for short-range communications, and has been developed to be used in smart home or business environment ecosystems – from smart lighting and temperature control to home security and monitoring and fire and gas detectors. Created with multiple communication protocols, strong security capabilities and an integrated processor and memory chip package, the Exynos i T100, along with the Exynos i T200 and Exynos i S111, provides comprehensive connectivity for today’s IoT devices.

Check out the infographic below for more information on the full line-up of Samsung’s IoT solutions and capabilities.

The visual of IoT is a compelling one: With a simple command or touch of a button, you can control the lightbulbs in your living room, lock your back door and set the alarm for the garage door. And while developers and manufacturers all around the world are working hard to create their own smart IoT devices and solutions, few are compatible with each other. What this means for consumers who are keen to make their homes “smart” is a lot of work: how many different apps and what level of tech expertise will they need in order to have their devices work in sync? There are also concerns around privacy and security – surely all this technology means more risk of exposure. While there’s great appeal in the fantasy of the “smart” home, the barrier is all the work it will take to make this a reality.

Samsung believes in a future where our digital world is as ubiquitous and essential as electricity, with security so effective you almost won’t have to think about it. It will just work, on demand and just the way you want it; no need to interact with many different apps to achieve results. With our unified approach, we will deliver a truly integrated experience that touches every single “thing” around our customers – while ensuring privacy and security.

For over 40 years, the user experience is what has driven Samsung to develop technologies that – to put it simply – make people’s lives easier. While the features and products are important, the inspiration behind our IoT offering is the same: the tangible benefits for consumers. With Samsung Connect bringing together our appliances, TVs and other everyday items (such as lightbulbs and locks) to one touch control on your smartphone, ARTIK as our secure IoT platform, and of course, with SmartThings’ open and easy integration solution , we are closer than ever in transforming the “smart” home fantasy into a reality. What’s more, with the introduction of new cellular network infrastructure that can better support IoT, we are looking to expand the IoT experience beyond the boundaries of the smart home. Most importantly, we are removing the barriers and bringing them all together in one, integrated IoT experience.

Today at the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC 2017), we are proud to announce SmartThings Cloud, which will unite all of our IoT clouds into a single powerful platform. Through this new platform and vision for more powerful intelligence through Bixby 2.0, also announced today at SDC 2017, we are working to democratize IoT with intelligence that is easy to use and accessible for everyone.

The newly united SmartThings  will be an open ecosystem, ready to work with not only Samsung devices, but a wide range of connected devices. From early next year, consumers will have the freedom to choose from the world’s broadest range of IoT devices and control them using just a single app. Whether it’s price or design or functionality driving their purchase decision, consumers can now select devices that suit their budget and lifestyle with no constraints.  This spirit of simplicity is also relevant to developers, as they need to code for just one single API to give their products and services instant compatibility across over 1 billion devices. Additionally, it’s a cloud that is designed for intelligence not as a bolt-on. The end result is a seamless experience that will enhance the lives of our consumers in a way they’ve only dreamed of.

As part of the world’s largest open ecosystem of IoT devices, with products that ‘Works with SmartThings’ or even ‘Works as SmartThings Hub,’ our partners are integral in delivering this ultimate seamless experience to consumers. Many are already harnessing the power and simplicity of the SmartThings Cloud to bring next-generation solutions to their customers. We want to help them drive change through scale and have a unique opportunity to grow their IoT business.

With the new and – most importantly – open SmartThings Cloud, Samsung is connecting the fabric of the IoT experience and leading the democratization of the Internet of Things. Imagine turning on your favorite playlist, adding a few items to your shopping list and dimming the living room lights with simple voice commands, all in quick succession. Imagine devices from different manufacturers and service providers no longer jostling for supremacy – they all just simply work together. This is what meaningful changes in technology ultimately delivers: A better, more enhanced experience that exceeds consumers’ expectations and simply delivers more. For more information on SmartThings Cloud, please visit our SmartThings Developer Website.

“At Samsung, we’re constantly innovating in order to deliver smarter, connected experiences for our consumers. Now we’re taking a big step forward with our open IoT platform, intelligent ecosystem and AR capabilities,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “Through an extensive open collaboration with our business partners and developers, we are unlocking a gateway to an expanded ecosystem of interconnected and intelligent services that will simplify and enrich everyday life for our consumers.”

Samsung also demonstrated Project Ambience, a small dongle or chip that can be applied into a wide variety of objects, allowing them to seamlessly connect, and create a ubiquitous Bixby experience. This new concept reflects the next generation of IoT, that of the “Intelligence of Things,” which combines IoT and intelligence to make your life easier.

Democratizing the Internet of Things

Samsung is combining its existing IoT services—SmartThings, Samsung Connect, and ARTIK—into one united IoT platform: SmartThings Cloud, which will provide a single, powerful cloud-based hub that can seamlessly connect and control IoT-enabled products and services from a unified touchpoint. SmartThings Cloud will build one of the world’s largest IoT ecosystems, and will provide the infrastructure for a connected consumer experience that is innovative, versatile and holistic.

With SmartThings Cloud, developers will have access to one cloud API across all SmartThings-compatible products to build their connected solutions and bring them to more people. It will also provide secure interoperability and services for business developing commercial and industrial IoT solutions.

Next-Generation Intelligence

Samsung is moving intelligence beyond devices and into an ubiquitous, personal and open ecosystem with introduction of Bixby 2.0 with SDK, integrated with Viv technologies.

Bixby 2.0 will be available on a variety of devices including Samsung Smart TV and Family Hub refrigerator. Now, Bixby will sit at the center of consumers’ intelligent ecosystem. Bixby 2.0 will introduce deep linking capabilities, and enhanced natural language abilities—to better recognize individual users, and create a predictive, personalized experience that better anticipate their needs.

In order to build this faster, easier and more powerful intelligent assistant platform, Samsung will provide the tools to bring Bixby 2.0 into a wider number of applications and services. The Bixby SDK will be available to select developers and through a private beta program, with general availability coming in the near future.

Leadership in Augmented Reality

Building upon Samsung’s heritage of creating pioneering technology that delivers incredible experiences to unlock new realities such as VR, the company is committed to continuing to advance technologies in AR. Through a partnership with Google, developers will be able to use the ARCore SDK to bring AR to millions of Samsung consumers on the Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note8. This strategic partnership with Google offers new business opportunities for developers, and a new platform for creating immersive new experiences for consumers.

For more information about the Samsung Developer Conference, visit https://www.sdc2017.com or follow @samsung_dev on Twitter.

This collaboration represents an important step in the evolution of telecommunications. The implementation of the 4.5G network within Mexico and other Latin-American countries is the main objective, but the initiative also looks to perfect and commercialize smart products and solutions that allow consumers to tap into the IoT universe.

The partnership between the two companies consists of supporting the testing of 4.5G technologies using the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy S7 edge devices in countries such as Mexico and Puerto Rico. The aim of these tests and examinations will be to realize the co-development of technologies such as VoLTE, VoWiFi, 4×4 MIMO, 256-QAM, and IoT.

“Given that America Movil provides integrated telecommunication services across 17 countries within the Latin-American region, the company represents an important strategic player for the permeation of the latest mobile networks within the region. We are confident that, with the support of the technology pertaining to Samsung devices, we will soon be able to place new connectivity options within the grasp of consumers,” said Pedro Kim, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Latin America.

“Through this collaboration with Samsung, we will be able to offer our customers innovative solutions that address a variety of needs and allow them to benefit from the Internet of Things and new technological tools to boost productivity, become more efficient and make their lives easier. With the grand telecommunications infrastructure that we have developed and the forthcoming implementation of the 4.5G network, each new device that connects to the internet through our net system will find less latency, much greater speed, vast coverage and the best overall connectivity support,” added Angel Alija, America Movil’s Wireless COO (Chief Operating Officer).

Consistently perfecting mobile networks that are capable of withstanding larger volumes of traffic and transactions is essential for the successful deployment of the IoT. By ensuring that both connectivity and the exchange of high-speed mobile data are sustained at all times and in all places, an optimal user-experience will emerge.

MolenGeek, a relatively new initiative born from a public-private partnership, is no ordinary workspace. Here, young entrepreneurs in the neighborhood can use the space to launch their own innovative startup, while being surrounded by like-minded participants and having access to professional training resources.

This initiative brings positive hope for all young people of Molenbeek, a neighborhood that was once tied to terrorism, most recently after the 2016 bombings in Brussels. In fact, key national Belgian media have reported how Molenbeek’s young citizens of all ethnic backgrounds, genders and religions are harnessing their potential to build a brighter future, through projects like MolenGeek. These projects will hopefully help reduce the high youth unemployment rate in the area – which now exceeds 30 percent. A whopping 136 young entrepreneurs have already joined MolenGeek, and are actively building their own projects and cultivating their skills through various training programs.

In the coming months, the center is expected to offer a host of new programs for participants of different age groups. While the majority of the MolenGeek community is over the age of 18, children between 7 and 12 will soon be able to attend digital workshops, while youngsters between 12 and 18 can join the Supercoders program, where they can learn more about coding.

Additionally, regular Hackathon events will continue to be held, allowing young minds to collaborate to create new products and services that can help alleviate societal challenges. Last year, the projects were centered on improving emergency services and facilitating mobility for people with disabilities. In 2017, they will turn their focus to creating a circular economy and enhancing education.

In this way, MolenGeek is not only tackling youth unemployment but also empowering participants to use their skills and knowledge to build a better world.

On January 13, one year of hard work culminated in the official inauguration of the business center. During the ceremony, key representatives of the public-private partnership behind MolenGeek, such as Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Agenda Alexander De Croo and United States Ambassador Denise Campbell Bauer, applauded the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the center’s young talents, and acknowledged the added value of its corporate partnerships.

The members of the MolenGeek community were eager to present the products of their work, such as a virtual reality app to simulate the challenges that people with disabilities experience when using public transport.

While the federal government backs these creative minds with considerable support for the new business center, companies like Samsung and Google are helping out by bringing in logistic support and digital expertise.Samsung will not only support the MolenGeek community with its products, but also through the sharing of the knowledge and experience of its employees. By engaging its experts, Samsung hopes to help train the young talents at MolenGeek about the newest trends in the digital technology sector, and coach them while they develop their ideas in key digital fields such as the Internet of Things.

“Samsung, as a corporate citizen, is pleased to help young people gain valuable skills that will help them find a job in the 21st century, while also inspiring, empowering and cooperating with young digital entrepreneurs,” said Hoon Chung, President of Samsung Electronics Benelux.

Through its partnership with MolenGeek, Samsung remains committed to empowering the young people of the world to grow as entrepreneurs and to become leaders of innovation in society.

Image Source: SATS

Samsung Electronics Singapore recently worked with SATS Ltd. (SATS), Asia’s leading provider of gateway services and food solutions, to provide Samsung Gear S3 smartwatches for use in technical ramp operations – a world first.

With all 130 of SATS’ technical ramp-handling staff receiving a Gear S3 smartwatch, productivity and workplace safety have been enhanced via the Internet of Things (IoT), helping to streamline on-ground processes and enhance communication, allowing SATS to reallocate resources for greater efficiency.

“It is heartening to see organizations like SATS embracing technology to enhance operation efficiency,” said Eugene Goh, Vice President, IT & Mobile, Samsung Electronics Singapore. “The Samsung Gear S3 offers mobile connectivity with the added benefit of facilitating hands-free operations. Our engineers worked in close collaboration with SATS to understand their requirements, and we were able to ensure optimum deployment of the Gear S3’s functionalities and features for SATS.”

By pairing the smartwatch with their Bluetooth bone-conductor headsets, the technical-ramp staff can make and receive hands-free calls using their Gear S3. These headsets also allow staff to communicate even when wearing protective ear-defenders in an extremely noisy work environment.

The SATS technical-ramp staff will also receive their work duty schedules and instructions in real-time via their Gear S3 smartwatch, enabling hands-free communication as well as greater airside safety and productivity. Previously, work orders had been printed out, and the digitization of this process has helped streamline efficiency, allowing staff to receive their work instructions in a timely and safe manner.

The evolution of telecommunications technology, from 1G networks to our current 4G standard, has utterly transformed how we share and consume information. Now, through pioneering research in the field and exciting core innovations such as adaptive beamforming technology, Samsung Electronics is bringing us ever closer to opening entirely new paradigms of connectivity through 5G.

By utilizing ultra-high broadcast frequencies, 5G will deliver data transfer speeds that are up to 200 times faster than current 4G networks, even in highly dense locations. This will allow us to create more responsive user experiences across a more diverse range of devices and technologies, including those which have not yet leveraged wireless connectivity.

For a start, 5G will make it possible for users to enjoy rich 4K video and more immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences. Imagine being able to take in a front-row concert experience from the comfort of your living room, spark your child’s curiosity with immersive augmented reality edutainment, or simply conference with colleagues through crystal clear video. 5G technology makes it possible to seamlessly facilitate such data-heavy tasks while also opening the door for greater automation in more aspects of daily life, allowing us to streamline everything from the Internet of Things (IoT) and self-driving cars to robotics.

Drawing from expertise gained from more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications field, Samsung first started developing 5G-related technologies in 2011. By ushering in the 5G era, leading research to advance its commercialization and explore its applications in communications and IoT, Samsung is helping create a world where imagination can become a reality.

The launch of the National IoT Strategy Dialogue coincides with the new Department of Commerce IoT proceeding and the pending bicameral and bipartisan Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act – which would establish a working group of federal agency leaders to provide recommendations to Congress on how to plan for and encourage the proliferation of the IoT in the U.S. – in consultation with industry.  The launch of this new IoT initiative answers the call of a chorus of technology leaders seeking a forum to proactively coordinate and drive industry’s role in this process and help policymakers enable the U.S. to fully realize the vast benefits of IoT for economic and societal good.

Leaders representing the two co-founding companies and ITI – Samsung’s OH Kwon, Intel’s Doug Davis and ITI’s Dean Garfield – shared the stage this morning at The Washington Post to announce the new National IoT Strategy Dialogue.

Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon, “We look forward to working with Intel, ITI and other stakeholders in Washington to find the collaborative path forward in bringing the transformative benefits and solutions of IoT to scale.”

“Intel looks forward to collaborating and driving recommendations with fellow ITI members, industry stakeholders and federal policy makers to help enable US IoT leadership,” stated Doug Davis, senior vice president of IoT at Intel. “The National IoT Strategy Dialogue is consistent with the goals of the pending DIGIT Act and as a co-founder Intel is pleased to help drive this important technology transformation in the US.”

“ITI is very excited to host this critically important initiative,” said ITI President and CEO Dean Garfield. “Samsung, Intel, and our member companies, representing the biggest global names in tech, have been at the forefront of the evolution of IoT. Together, we will harness the inventive spirit and capability of these innovative companies and organizations to chart a clear path forward on IoT for U.S. policy makers.”

Among its focus areas, the National IoT Strategy Dialogue will act as a convener and lay the foundation for industry to develop strategic policy recommendations to drive U.S. IoT infrastructure investment; facilitate interoperability; foster security; promote voluntary, industry-led global consensus-based standards and best practices; leverage public-private partnerships; and enable IoT innovation to flourish.

Samsung, Intel and a broad base of other ITI member companies have been actively engaged in driving a pro-innovation policy environment that would enable U.S. leadership in the global IoT future. Both Intel and ITI called for the formation of a National IoT Strategy when testifying before Congress last year. In addition, ITI’s member companies, including Intel, Samsung, and other technology leaders, developed IoT principles for advocacy outreach with government officials.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman & CEO Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon unveiled today Samsung’s vision for ‘Human-Centered IoT,’ including a strategy to spend $1.2 billion over 4 years for U.S.-based Internet of Things (IoT) R&D and investments. This will be led by the Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center, Global Innovation Center and Samsung Research America, part of Samsung’s U.S. footprint of more than 15,000 employees across the country.

Vice Chairman Kwon delivered this news in a speech as part of a Samsung-hosted forum in Washington, D.C. The event, entitled Internet of Things: Transforming the Future, brought together technology industry leaders with policymakers and influencers to discuss the many ways IoT can benefit society, and how to tackle the challenges that remain in bringing it to scale.

Vice Chairman Kwon called for his peers to “start talking and thinking differently about IoT,” with a human-centered approach, embracing the life-changing possibilities of the technology and working together to bring these benefits to society at-large.

“I am excited to show how we are moving IoT to the center of our strategy and am delighted to announce that Samsung is planning to spend $1.2 Billion in U.S.-centered IoT investments and R&D over the next 4 years,” said Vice Chairman Kwon.

“At Samsung, putting people at the center of everything we do is our highest value,” said Kwon. “The same must be true for IoT if we want to realize its full transformative power. Today, IoT is changing individual lives – helping people to age in their own homes. But tomorrow, using IoT, we can give the same independence to millions of Americans. We can keep people out of hospitals and nursing homes. As our populations live longer, these benefits and cost savings for society cannot be ignored.”

In his keynote Vice Chairman Kwon offered industry and policymakers two principles in addition to a ‘human-centered’ approach: to be open and collaborative.

“If we want innovators everywhere to make use of IoT, we must make sure all tools are open to them. This means technologies that connect to each other, because we know that boundaries around technologies hold back innovation and scale,” the Vice Chairman said.

He also warned that sector-specific regulations would inherently fragment the development of IoT, impeding devices and platforms from connecting to each other.

As the IoT ecosystem is by nature connected and interwoven, collaboration is vital to promoting this level of openness and interconnection. In this vein, Vice Chairman Kwon urged attendees to pursue cross-sector dialogue and partnerships, and announced Samsung’s role as a co-founder of the newly launched National IoT Strategy Dialogue.

The Dialogue, to be hosted by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), will design a National IoT Strategy as a tool to inform policy makers on enabling the technology to deliver benefits for individuals, communities, innovators and the U.S. economy.

This announcement, Vice Chairman Kwon reinforced, “is not about the first steps – that’s because IoT is already happening all around us. It’s time to imagine the transformative potential of IoT for our societies – and learn how to achieve its human, social benefits at scale.”

The event is part of Vision for Tomorrow, Samsung’s recently launched public affairs platform for cross-sector collaboration around issues affecting the policy dialogue in the U.S. and around the world.

For more information and to join the conversation visit @SamsungDC, #VisionforTech

Click Here to Download Vice Chairman Kwon’s Keynote.

“Samsung evaluated a wide range of potential companies in the public and private cloud infrastructure space with a focus on leading-edge scalable technology and talent. In Joyent, we saw an experienced management team with deep domain expertise and a robust cloud technology validated by some of the largest Fortune 500 customers,” said Injong Rhee, CTO of the Mobile Communications business at Samsung Electronics.

As smartphones and connected-devices have taken hold across the world, cloud computing has become fundamental in providing users with exciting and reliable services and experiences on their devices. With leadership positions in both mobile and IoT, this acquisition represents Samsung’s commitment to provide a seamless user experience to millions of customers.

Joyent’s technology will strengthen this position, while allowing Samsung to scale its own cloud infrastructure and services as it continues to innovate with new software and technologies. Through this acquisition, Joyent’s talented team of technologists, including CEO, Scott Hammond, CTO, Bryan Cantrill, and VP of Product, Bill Fine will join Samsung to work on company-wide cloud initiatives.

“We are excited to join the Samsung family.  Samsung brings us the scale we need to grow our cloud and software business, an anchor tenant for our industry leading Triton container-as-a-service platform and Manta object storage technologies, and a partner for innovation in the emerging and fast growing areas of mobile and IoT, including smart homes and connected cars,” said Scott Hammond, CEO of Joyent.

In addition, Joyent’s unique combination of container-native infrastructure, object storage, server-less computing, and Node.js expertise is perfectly suited to help Samsung meet the needs of its customers. As one of the world’s largest consumers of public cloud data and storage, Samsung will immediately benefit from having direct access to Joyent’s technology, leadership and talent. Likewise, Joyent will be able to take advantage of Samsung’s scale of business, global footprint, financial muscle and its brand power. Joyent will operate as a standalone company under Samsung and continue providing cloud infrastructure and software services to its customers.

Samsung’s Global Innovation Center spearheaded this acquisition for Samsung’s Mobile Communications business. “We work closely with startups to bring new software and services into Samsung, and one of the ways we do this is by driving strategic acquisitions,” said David Eun, President of Samsung’s Global Innovation Center. “Joyent is a great example of a leading and disruptive technology company that will make unique contributions to Samsung while benefitting from Samsung’s global scale and reach.”

About Samsung Global Innovation Center

Samsung’s Global Innovation Center brings software and services innovation to Samsung by working with technology startups and entrepreneurs through investments, acquisitions, partnerships, SmartThings and the Samsung Accelerator.

About Joyent, Inc.

Joyent is the high-performance container-native infrastructure company. Joyent’s Triton Elastic Infrastructure is the best place to run Docker, making container ops simple and scalable with enterprise-grade security, software-defined networking and bare-metal performance. Joyent’s Manta solution provides robust, scalable and portable object storage, with integrated server-less computing. Triton and Manta are available for on-premises deployments or through Joyent Public Cloud. Joyent is also the original corporate steward of the open source project Node.js. For more information visit joyent.com.

* The above image is for illustrative purposes

Samsung Electronics today announced a new contract with SK Telecom to deploy the world’s first commercial Internet of Things (IoT)-dedicated nationwide LoRaWAN network.

The network will be deployed across Korea using the 900 MHz frequency band. The commercial service is scheduled to launch in Daegu, Korea’s fourth largest city, next month and will be available nationwide by the middle of this year.

Daegu will serve as a test bed for the IoT network, and focus on setting up and adopting infrastructure for renewable energy solutions, cloud platforms and big data analytics of healthcare and medical services, as well as electric vehicle infrastructure for autonomous cars. For example, streetlights in the city will collect weather and traffic information using IoT sensors, enabling cost savings by automatically adjusting the lighting level and also sending air pollution status information.

“With the early deployment of a nationwide IoT network, SK Telecom will be able to maintain its position as pioneer in the field of telecommunications,” said Lee Jong-bong, Executive Vice President and Head of Infra Division at SK Telecom. “SK Telecom will continue to work closely with partners including Samsung to deliver new value and convenience to both individual and enterprise customers over the IoT network.”

“Now is a critical moment for ICT companies looking for new future business opportunities such as IoT services,” said Youngky Kim, President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are very pleased to partner with SK Telecom for its pioneering IoT vision. Samsung will contribute in creating the ecosystem for enabling significant changes driven by new IoT services.”

LoRaWAN IoT networks use an unlicensed, public spectrum called the Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency band. To prevent degradation of other industrial communications already using the ISM band, the network will support the Listen Before Talk (LBT) function. A new service model, the Internet of Small Things (IoST), will also be introduced as a key facilitator for more business opportunities utilizing the Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) like LoRaWAN. LPWAN is a group of technologies optimized to transmit small amounts of data at very low speeds of below 5Kbps.

Samsung’s IoT strategy combines network technology and solutions with leadership across all business units, including consumer electronics and chipsets. This synergy makes Samsung unique, delivering successful IoT assets at an industry-leading pace.

* The LoRa® mark is a trademark of Semtech Corporation.

Samsung Electronics announced its commitment to education and presented its innovations including virtual reality devices at the Brazilian Fair of Sciences and Engineering – FEBRACE 2016, which was held during March , in São Paulo – Brazil. During the event, which was promoted by the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (Poli – USP), students from high school and technical colleges from across Brazil presented more than 300 projects focused on several knowledge areas.

On the third day of the event, three Samsung executives, Gabriel Farias, Guilherme Selber and Antonio Marcon, gave lectures on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Samsung’s innovations. On the following day was an award ceremony, during which a project was awarded the “Samsung Internet of Things Award.” The project was recognized for providing the best solution—using connectivity and technology—to a local community issue. As recognition, the winning team received a trophy, medals and educational kits with electronic materials.

“Samsung uses its global network and its innovations to generate positive changes around the world,” said Helvio Kanamaru, Senior Manager of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Latin America. “We believe that technology is an excellent mechanism for young people to have access to a world of possibilities and develop new opportunities.”

“FEBRACE invites and encourages students from high school to develop projects and exercise scientific research,” Kanamaru said. “It is an important convergence of social responsibility, education and integration with the academic world – topics that are very important in Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship platform.”

FEBRACE’s coordinator, professor Roseli de Deus Lopes, highlighted the expectations of the fair in relation to the students.

“The most important aspect is not the result of developing a prototype or product, but the whole process, the various stages of research, reflection, construction and observation required for projects development,” Ms Lopes said

Samsung has contributed to improvements in education through its own initiatives carried out in Latin American countries, such as ‘Respostas para o Amanhã’ (Solve for Tomorrow), a contest that encourages students and teachers from public high schools to develop projects that  benefit their communities, using the knowledge acquired in the classroom.

The company has also been developing the Tech Institute Program, which offers opportunities for young people to obtain technical training through the sponsorship of scholarships. Last year, Samsung promoted a special edition in Brazil – the Tech Institute Internet of Things, a course offered to high school students in order to encourage them to create solutions for a smart house using the Internet of Things. This edition of the program was held in partnership with the Integrated Technology Systems Lab (LSITEC) that is also responsible for organizing FEBRACE.

“We live in an increasingly connected world,” Kanamaru said. “Samsung’s electronic devices already offer great interaction between them, but we want to go beyond. Therefore, we are promoting the Tech Institute IoT with LSITEC and sponsoring FEBRACE. The new innovation-based labor market needs young professionals with solid training in those fields.”

Samsung Electronics announced that registration for the Samsung Developer Conference 2016 (SDC 2016), which will be held from April 27 to April 28 at San Francisco’s Moscone West Center, is now open.

Centered around the theme of “Connecting the Future Everywhere You Look”, the this year’s SDC will offer more than 60 technical sessions, interactive workshops, keynotes and hands-on device experiences across 10 different topics, including: The Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR), Mobile, Wearables,  Business Opportunities, Enterprise, Smart TV, Games & Entertainment, Tizen and Health & Medical.

“We have been working to share our vision for technology, connection and collaboration with the global development community, by hosting the Samsung Developer Conference, since 2013.” said Seung-hwan Cho, Executive Vice President and Deputy Head of Software R&D Center at Samsung Electronics. “SDC 2016 will  offer the perfect chance for attendees to connect with Samsung in person, sharpen their skills, and meet other developers and partners from the Samsung ecosystem. There will also be new, unique technologies and demos that are simply not available anywhere else.”

SDC 2016 will showcase the latest IoT technologies including Samsung’s ‘ARTIK’ and the open source software framework ‘IoTivity’ of OIC*, along with the company’s ‘Tizen’ platform for Smart TVs, wearables such as the Gear S2, and more. Samsung will also unveil the latest plans and technology for its service ecosystem, and key partnership strategies for the likes of ‘Samsung Pay’, ‘S-Health’, gaming, and the enterprise security solution, ‘KNOX’.

The conference’s keynote speakers will introduce brand new products and reveal Samsung’s new initiatives to further support the worldwide developer community.

SDC 2016’s current speaker lineup includes:

• Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Software and Services, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics
• John Pleasants, Executive Vice President, Media Solutions Center America, Samsung Electronics America
• Pranav Mistry, Vice President, Head of Think Tank Team , Samsung Research America
• Genevieve Bell, Intel Fellow and Vice President, Corporate Strategy Office, Intel Corporation

Early bird registration is available until March 29 on the official SDC 2016 website (http://www.sdc2016.com), where attendees can also find more information about the conference schedule, key visitor information, planned sessions, speakers and technology showcases. Full two-day conference passes are available at early bird rate along with academic, alumni and group booking discounts.

*Open Interconnect Consortium
The Open Interconnect Consortium, a Delaware non-profit corporation, is being founded by leading technology companies with the goal of defining the connectivity requirements and ensuring interoperability of the billions of devices that will make up the emerging Internet of Things (IoT).

Dr. Hong, the President of Samsung SDS and the Head of its solution business, described Samsung’s devices and components, platforms and security solutions as the key ingredients that “bring ‘smarts’ to the everyday objects in our lives.”

During the keynote, Samsung presented new components like an ultra-thin and flexible high-capacity battery and the Bio-Processor, a powerful but extremely small all-in-one healthcare chip.

Dr. Hong also demonstrated the rapidly growing range of Samsung devices and appliances that are equipped to be true IoT hubs for the Smart Home of today, by working with the SmartThings ecosystem. Samsung’s new range of 2016 SUHD TVs, for example, can all be used as IoT hubs. The new Samsung Family Hub refrigerator, with its large 21.5-inch LED display, can be the center of grocery management, family sharing of notes and pictures and entertainment, and even makes it possible to check on your mobile device what’s in the fridge – thanks to its inbuilt cameras.

Openness, Interoperability, Collaboration

Dr. Hong said Samsung’s IoT strategy was to promote “openness, interoperability, and cross-industry collaboration”, because they were the underpinnings of IoT success.

Seamless connectivity of IoT devices was another important factor to ensure a good IoT experience, said Dr. Hong. Samsung is working with its industry partners in the Open Interconnect Consortium to build a truly open connectivity framework called IoTivity.

Samsung believes in an Open Partnership approach, and therefore presented another industry-first: the Samsung Smart Home Cloud API, which makes it possible to integrate any IoT-ready Samsung household appliance into any IoT ecosystem.

Focus on Security

The Internet of Things “is generating enormous amounts of data”, said Dr. Hong, which makes it crucial to develop “incredibly strong security solutions”. However, said Dr. Hong, “there can be only one owner of IoT data: our customers.”

He described Samsung’s progress in expanding its security platform for mobile devices, Samsung KNOX, and presented an equally best-in-class security solution for Smart TVs. Just like KNOX, this smart security solution provides protection that is hardwired into devices and appliances; it will first be used to make Samsung’s 2016 Smart TVs safe and ready for the Internet of Things.

Partnerships to Deliver IoT Value

Joined by partners from many different industries, Samsung showed how the Internet of Things is ready to bring immediate value to our lives. Dr. Hong and top executives from Microsoft corp.’s Windows and Devices Group, Goldman Sachs, BMW, serviced residence owner and operator the Ascott Limited, materials science firm Corning, and energy solutions provider Samsung SDI, demonstrated how Samsung devices and platforms can provide a much smarter environment to live and work in.

With a broad range of devices, platforms and services – from Smart Mobility and Samsung Pay to healthcare solutions using the Bio-Processor, and solutions that bring the Internet of Things to Smart Cities and Smart Nations – Samsung is ready to inject smarts in all aspects of our world. The expertise of Samsung SDS, meanwhile, helps companies to transform the quality of their production lines, output, logistics and maintenance services.

“Unlocking the value of the IoT is an amazing opportunity for all of us: as consumers, as businesses and as society,” said Dr. Hong. “When we all work together, IoT can be in sync with real life.”

About Samsung SDS
Samsung SDS Ltd. Co. provides ICT services and IT solutions across industries including manufacturing, education, healthcare, security, retail, financial services and the public sector. We help companies to innovate with data processing operations, system integration, and ICT services. We specialize in enterprise mobility solutions as well as retail and enterprise learning and development
solutions, and are the sole systems integration, ICT services and solutions provider for Samsung Group contributing to the Group’s global growth for more than 30 years.

For more information about CES 2016, please visit our exclusive page #SAMSUNGxCES2016

That spirit will once again be on display at the CES 2016. To get a deeper sense of Samsung’s long tradition of achievement and progress, here is an overview of some of its most transformative innovations.

Innovations That Matter

Whether TVs or mobile phones, semiconductors or home appliances, Samsung has been turning the future into the present for decades. It developed the world’s first 30-inch TFT-LCD TV in 1997 and in 2006 it unveiled the world’s first 82-inch LCD TV with an LED backlight (LN-S8297D). More recently, 2014 CES was where Samsung debuted its lineup of curved UHD TVs, then in 2015 it introduced SUHD TV, with displays that offer the brilliant colors, vibrant details and immersive UHD resolution.

Samsung has also introduced some more unusual innovations, like the touch display table in 2012 (the SUR40), the first transparent LCD TVs ready for mass production in 2012 (LTI460AP01) and the world’s first bendable UHD TV at CES in 2014 (85U9B)—and that’s just for displays.

Mobile devices are key parts of people’s lives, giving them the unprecedented freedom and convenience to work and enjoy life while on the go, from anywhere they choose, and Samsung long has been at the forefront of bringing these advances to life. It introduced the world’s first commercialized watch phone in 1999, the SPH-WP10, which—at 50 grams and 2 centimeters thick—was unlike anything else in the market at the time.

Samsung also introduced a wearable sports device back in 2004, the CES Innovation Award-winning MP3 player YP-60. Known at the YEPP Sports, this MP3 player was worn like an arm band and was capable of calculating heart rate, tracking calories burned and being used as a stopwatch. Today Samsung is continuing to lead the way with wearables, and the Gear S2—with its unique rotating bezel and more than 1,000 compatible apps—has been recognized with a Best of Innovation award at the 2016 CES. And the Gear VR turns the Galaxy Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ smartphones into an incredibly immersive virtual reality experience, in a comfortable and convenient headset.

Semiconductors and storage devices have long been areas where Samsung had been at the cutting edge. It won a CES Innovation Award in 2008 for its 64GB SSD memory. This groundbreaking memory device, using NAND flash memory, was one of the first SSDs to use a SATA II interface, and helped to usher in the transition to SSDs.

Since then, Samsung continued to innovate and break new ground in the SSD sector. In 2015, it introduced the portable SSD T1, which offers up to 1TB of memory in a form about the size of a credit card. The T1 was a 2015 CES Innovation Award winner. And with the 2016 CES Innovations Awards, Samsung has been recognized for its 2TB T3 and 950 PRO SSD drives.

How different is Samsung’s 950 PRO with NVMe? The 64GB SSD drive from 2008 offered read/write speeds of 100MB per second. But the 950 PRO has read speeds of 2,500MB per second and write speeds of 1,500MB per second. With progress like that, it is not a surprise that Samsung is the world’s No. 1 SSD memory maker.

IoT Advancements Reshape Everyday Life

The Internet of Things (or IoT) has been front-and-center for Samsung since its keynote address at CES 2015. But, in fact, Samsung has been developing IoT-related technologies for years, having long seen the potential in connecting all the devices in people’s homes and in their lives.

Samsung’s Anynet platform, which integrated home theater components, debuted at CES in 2004. Then in 2008, Samsung’s UbiCell compact base station also won a CES Best of Innovation award. UbiCell was the world’s first home use mobile base station to provide secure, indoor wireless service over existing broadband networks.

In 2013, Samsung won an innovation award for its LED Smart Bulb. The Samsung Smart Bulb used less energy and lasted longer than incandescent bulbs, integrated with wireless communications capabilities so people could control their lighting using their smartphone.

Today, Samsung’s IoT services are taking the possibilities and convenience of the IoT to a whole new level. Underpinned by openness and interoperability, the IoT is interconnecting people’s homes, cars and other key parts of their lives, creating ever more efficiencies and synergies as they work together. That is the idea underlying the IoT, and the reason Samsung has said all its devices will be IoT-compatible by 2020.

Always Moving Forward

The goal for Samsung is to shape a future for people everywhere that is more convenient and full of possibilities. It’s not about being a flash-in-the-pan with the latest trend. Instead, Samsung is committed to creating devices and innovations that inspire and enrich people’s lives. It takes relentless dedication over the long-term to maintain that leadership, but that is Samsung’s vision for the future.

For more information about CES 2016, please visit our exclusive page #SAMSUNGxCES2016

The IoT platform is currently compatible with more than 200 devices, a number that is continuously increasing thanks to the efforts of the more than 15,000 developers involved in the SmartThings community.

Relying on this growing community to refine and enhance the platform, the SmartThings founders have persistently reached out to and fostered developers to continue to expand the ecosystem. Ben Edwards, cofounder of SmartThings and Vice President of Community and Developer Advocacy, leads this initiative, and works to engage with and advocate for individual partners, developers and developer enthusiasts.

His work recently brought him to Seoul for IoT Week Korea 2015, where he spoke to developers about the SmartThings platform, as well as the company’s aspirations for IoT. During his trip, Edwards sat down with Samsung Tomorrow to discuss the importance of developers, the current state of SmartThings and the unlimited possibilities of a more connected world.

Connected Chairs and Talking Tables: The Near Future of IoT

The developer community, Edwards believes, is essential to the success of the ever-expanding ecosystem, and open IoT platforms like SmartThings make it easy for developers to get involved.

“Everything is going to be connected, even things we wouldn’t necessarily think of. Tables and chairs and couches and buildings, for example,” Edwards explained. “They’re all going to be connected in ways that we can’t even imagine right now.”

Although it might not happen immediately, object manufacturers, such as furniture companies, for example, are understanding that this level of connectivity, though it may seem novel at the moment, won’t be so unconventional a decade from now. Edwards used the example of a smart dining room table to illustrate how this may be possible.

“Imagine, a table display pops up that is unique to what I’m interested in because it knows that I am sitting here. Across the table in another seat, the display might show something different. Or, maybe there’s not a display at all. But the table knows that I have to catch a certain metro train, so it might notify me that it’s time to leave,” he stated, noting that the technology already exists, even though the use cases may not.

As such, Edwards encourages developers to envision what the future trends of IoT may be to better equip evolving platforms. “Developers shouldn’t focus on simple applications or devices but rather service platforms like SmartThings,” he added. Users and developers can easily create functions for the platform, enabling the advancement of the platform itself. These kind of activities will become more common as IoT expands.

Grasping the Opportunities of an Omnipresent IoT

Although there are many ways IoT will offer value to consumers in the near future, home automation still has a way to go. Part of this has to do with technical hurdles, and part of it has to do with the fact that some people who may not be enthusiasts or early adopters of technology might be a bit hesitant about it.

Edwards compares the dawn of IoT to the advent of smartphones, as many consumers were not immediately able to recognize the need for the technology at that time. Over the past couple years, however, smartphones have rapidly become so ingrained in our everyday lives that it has become difficult to function without them. In this way, IoT will rapidly become an essential part of life, as consumers will quickly recognize the convenience of IoT, just as they did with smartphones.

Increasingly, IoT will move beyond spaces like the home, across market verticals, and will eventually be present just about everywhere, Edwards claimed. “When I walk up to a take-out restaurant, the menu might rearrange itself based on my preferences, or the things I generally like. Or make recommendations based on the dishes that I’ve eaten and rated before.”

In due course, Edwards noted, we will no longer live in cities, but smart cities. We will no longer be citizens of countries, but smart countries. These changes, brought on by the growth of IoT, and driven by developers, will provide endless opportunities to other developers seeking to contribute to the ecosystem.

SmartThings remains devoted to developing relentlessly to best prepare for a future that isn’t so far away, and will continue to cultivate its relationships with developers around the world to enable an IoT of unlimited possibilities.

It is worth reflecting back on the road we have taken towards the Internet of Things (IoT) era. Has the future that we imagined in the past become a reality? Some sci-fi films from decades ago correctly predicted a future that included technologies like video conferencing, digital cameras and even drones. The future we envisioned decades ago has become a reality. It also begs the question, in which ways will the future that we dream of today become a reality in the decades to come?

We will continue working to develop technologies that will make the world a simpler, more convenient place to live. We believe that in the IoT era, all things will get smarter and all things will be connected and automated, with a focus on making things more convenient for human beings. We have identified four keywords that sum up our approach to IoT era: human-centric, openness, connectivity and security.

Technology for Necessity

A human-centric IoT means automated cash registers at supermarkets to increase efficiency and cut down on customers’ wait times. It means families in which both parents work enjoying more free time together while a robot vacuum does the housework. These are technologies that are based on necessity. IoT is something that can enrich our lives.

The Internet has connected nearly all people on earth – our vision for IoT is that it will connect nearly all “things” on earth. Devices from all different platforms should be connected. Rather than adapting to a certain organization or company’s standard, expansion of the ecosystem in the industry has to be promoted. We have to encourage investment in startups and developers with innovative ideas. In order to achieve our vision to provide a variety of services that are valuable to our lives, it will require active cooperation across sectors. This will allow Smart Homes, Smart Healthcare and Smart Buildings and more, to be realized.

In the IoT era, the importance of security cannot be overemphasized. We face critical challenges in protecting our personal information. We will have to establish technical solutions while also reinforcing policies that will ensure security and privacy.

Connected Things Everywhere

The number of connected devices will continue to grow. The market forecasts the number of connected things will reach several billions by 2020. What will connectivity in the IoT era look like?

When various objects in the home become connected, the number of connected devices will grow faster than we can imagine.  This will also result in a change in network traffic patterns. While smartphone traffic use is governed by the number of users, which is manageable, IoT traffic is the result of various devices sending and receiving back and forth. There is no limit to how much traffic could grow. It will also be difficult for us to predict patterns in IoT data, because we expect that natural disasters such as wildfires will cause spikes in IoT data, unlike smartphone traffic, which is predictable by the time and location.

The IoT era will also cause drastic changes in cellular technology. The current 4G system is optimized for smartphone connectivity, however 5G will reflect the demands of the IoT era and the dynamic traffic patterns that go along with it. I expect that in the IoT era, all things will be connected at all times, whether fixed or mobile through seamless connection via Wi-fi, NFC and ZigBee indoors and cellular networks outdoors. In the IoT era mobile network itself and mobile service providers will play an even more crucial role.

Samsung’s Role

Samsung Electronics is making every effort to contribute to a human-centric IoT service and to expand the open ecosystem at home and abroad. SmartThings is an IoT-Open Cloud Platform that enables users to have the control over home appliances. Currently, the SmartThings platform offers services in which Samsung’s air conditioners, washers and robot vacuums can be controlled by a remote. It can also let you know when the refrigerator door is open. In the spirit of openness, Samsung will continue to develop SmartThings as a platform by connecting our products and the products of other companies.

Samsung has developed a set of tools that are now available for developers. SIMBAND is a modular sensor platform that can be inserted into wearable devices, which will allow users to measure heart rate, perform electrocardiograms and record calories burned. SAMI is an open cloud server platform that stores and secures the data provided by users. Last but not least, ARTIK is a comprehensive IoT Developer Platform encompassing a Hardware Development Kit as well as Software Development Kit, consisting of an Application Processor (AP), memory chip, communication chip and sensors as one system. With these open platforms, Samsung is making a contribution to the vitalization of IoT.

Working Together

Besides Samsung, a number of companies and standard organizations have presented their own platforms. As part of our endeavors, Samsung is planning to support interoperability with other companies. In addition, we are looking to invest in developers and startups and to advance our IoT platforms to give them more opportunities.

While cooperating with companies in the electronics industry, we also have entered into partnerships with BMW, Volkswagen, Nike and others. Also, there are dozens of IoT services that have been created to increase public safety, designed with the common good in mind. These are available for local governments to use.

New Possibilities for Public Service, Smart Buildings and the Olympics

With consideration for the safety of citizens and common good, there are dozens of IoT services that can be provided publicly by the government. Examples include a service that provides open-air pollution levels by measuring the amount of micro dust in the air in each community. There is also a service that helps users stay safe while hiking, by analyzing the history of wildfires and the current dryness of the air to predict the likelihood of another wildfire.

Another concept is the Smart Building, which will make offices go completely wireless by applying advanced cellular technologies such as 5G/LTE-U in the building. Smart Buildings will see all devices connected to one another for increased efficiency and convenience.

In 2020, the Olympics will be held in Tokyo. I think that the Olympics will mark a significant milestone where IoT services that we can only imagine today will be realized. Just as we’ve seen in sci-fi movies of decades ago, many of the things we could only imagine back then are now part of the present. We are, in a sense, living in the future we envisioned in the past. What we imagine today in 2015 will become a reality someday as well.

The Next Big Thing, the IoT era, is well on its way. It will create new possibilities and values for us all. It is up to us to unlock them. Let’s create the future together.

The President and Chief Strategy Officer of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Young Sohn has called on the technology industry to use the Internet of Things (IoT) to address major challenges the world faces today. He also emphasized the importance of open platforms and industry collaboration to accelerate development of new IoT applications and services.

“As an industry we must join together to use the power of IoT to address challenges posed by issues such as aging population demographics, water shortages, increasing traffic congestion, pollution and major health issues,” said Sohn. “We need to create powerful open platforms that will harness the information generated by IoT to develop new insights and new approaches to meet the challenges we face as a society.”

To enable faster deployment of IoT applications and services, Sohn announced the Samsung ARTIK platform. ARTIK is a production-ready, open platform that includes the hardware, software, development boards, drivers, tools, advanced security features and connectivity for rapidly building cloud-connected IoT devices. The ARTIK platform comes in a variety of configurations to meet the specific requirements of a wide range of IoT market segments from wearables and home automation, to smart lighting and industrial applications. More information on the ARTIK platform can be found by visiting www.artik.io.

SmartThings Founder and CEO Alex Hawkinson joined with Young Sohn during his keynote to introduce SmartThings Open Cloud. Open Cloud is powered by SAMI, a data driven development platform that Samsung announced last May that includes simple, open APIs and SDKs. The open platform is a cloud-based software layer that allows the sharing of diverse data sets from an unlimited number of sources. This vast amount of data, which previously would have been impossible to bring together, can then be broken up into smaller chunks for visualization and analysis.

SmartThings Open Cloud allows any device connected to the Internet to communicate with any other connected device, generating new information, new correlations and entirely new insights. It enables device makers to focus on building IoT devices and applications without having to build and maintain the cloud infrastructure required to connect those devices.

To demonstrate the potential for IoT to meet major societal challenges, Sohn also announced the Samsung ARTIK Challenge – offering a top prize of $100,000 for the most effective use of IoT and ARTIK technology for reducing water consumption by individuals or municipalities.

More information on the Samsung ARTIK Challenge can be found at ARTIK.challengepost.com.

Throughout his keynote address, Sohn underscored the importance of open platforms, security and an ecosystem of partners that are all necessary to accelerate the growth of IoT and achieve its full benefits. He was joined on stage by representatives of several startup companies Samsung is working with to develop technologies based on open platforms. In addition, the company announced that the Samsung ARTIK platform would be incorporated into future versions of Samsung digital appliances and that those appliances would also connect to the SmartThings Open Cloud.

Samsung Electronics announced the Samsung ARTIK platform to allow faster, simpler development of new enterprise, industrial and consumer applications for the Internet of Things (IoT). ARTIK is an open platform that includes a best-in-class family of integrated production-ready modules, advanced software, development boards, drivers, tools, security features and cloud connectivity designed to help accelerate development of a new generation of better, smarter IoT devices, solutions and services.

“We are providing the industry’s most advanced, open and secure platform for developing IoT products”, said Young Sohn, president and chief strategy officer, Samsung Electronics. “By leveraging Samsung’s high-volume manufacturing, advanced silicon process and packaging technologies, and extensive ecosystem, ARTIK allows developers to rapidly turn great ideas into market leading IoT products and applications.”

The ARTIK Family

All members of the Samsung ARTIK family incorporate unique embedded hardware security technology, on-board memory and advanced processing power in an open platform. Security is also a key element of the advanced software integrated into the module along with the ability to connect to the Internet for cloud-based data analytics and enhanced services. As an open platform, Samsung ARTIK can be easily customized for more rapid deployment of IoT devices and the services that can be delivered using them.

Samsung ARTIK platform comes in a variety of configurations to meet the specific requirements of a wide range of devices from wearables and home automation, to smart lighting and industrial applications. Initial members of the ARTIK family include:

• ARTIK 1, the smallest IoT module currently available in the industry at 12mm-by-12mm combines Bluetooth/BLE connectivity and a nine-axis sensor with best-in-class compute capabilities and power consumption. It is specifically designed for low-power, small form-factor IoT applications.
• ARTIK 5 delivers an outstanding balance of size, power and price-performance and is ideal for home hubs, drones and high-end wearables. It incorporates a 1GHz dual-core processor and on-board DRAM and flash memory.
• ARTIK 10 delivers advanced capabilities and high-performance to IoT with an eight-core processor, full 1080p video decoding/encoding, 5.1 audio and 2GB DRAM along with 16GB flash memory. The Samsung ARTIK 10 includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE and ZigBee connectivity and is designed for use with home servers, media applications, and in industrial settings.

“Industry requirements for IoT devices vary in terms of battery life, computational horse power and form factor,” said Sohn. “With this family of ARTIK offerings, Samsung is directly addressing the needs of the widest range of customers, uses and applications.”

Additional Technical Highlights of the Samsung ARTIK Family

• Security and Privacy: The ARTIK platform offers a best-in-class, end-to-end security solution. At the hardware level, ARTIK contains am embedded secure element that goes beyond software-based encryption solutions alone. At the application level, ARTIK is equipped with a machine learning based anomaly detection system. This allows the user to identify abnormalities and unusual behavior in order to address possible hacking or intrusion activity.
• IoT Software Stack: Samsung’s ARTIK platform comes with an extensive IoT software stack and tools needed to accelerate product development. Developers can go directly to application framework development, instead of spending time building low-level software libraries.
• Local Storage and Computational Capability: ARTIK supports unique local storage and computational capabilities that in most current IoT environments are generally only addressable by large-scale cloud servers. Depending on user requirements, data can be managed locally or in the cloud in encrypted or unencrypted formats.
• Low-Power Architecture: The ARTIK platform offers best-in-class power consumption to enable longer battery life for battery operated IoT devices like wearables. The platform includes a tiered architecture that allows applications and tasks to run at the right power-optimized performance and memory utilization.
• Small Form Factor: All ARTIK modules offer the smallest form factor in their class. Certain ARTIK modules use Samsung’s next generation ePoP (embedded Package-on-Package) technology. Samsung Electromechanics, a global leader in component manufacturing, played a key role in developing advanced packaging technology for ARTIK.
• Connectivity: Depending on the configuration, the ARTIK family offers all major connectivity protocols including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (including BLE) and ZigBee.

More information about the ARTIK platform and development tools may be found at www.artik.io.

4:30pm

An old pipe on in your basement starts to leak. Your home detects it and notifies you that the washing machine is running and that is the reason of the leakage via smartphone. You turn off the washing machine that is causing the problem. Your smartphone also asks you if you want to call a plumber. But you decide to come home from work to fix it yourself.

5:00pm

As you arrive at home, an outdoor lamp turns on to light your path, and the front door unlocks as you approach the door. When you step inside the house, the lights turn on and the speakers (WAM6500) start playing MILK music that was playing on your phone.

8:00pm

After taking care of the problem, you decide to relax and watch some TV. You have your TV as loud as possible. You didn’t hear any knocking, but your Smart TV notifies and shows you that there is someone at your front door. You let him in with a simple tap on the Smart TV remote control.

8:00am

The next morning, as you wake up, you speak into your Gear S and say “Good morning.” The lights are dimmed and your favorite music plays to help you wake up easily. Your room also broadcasts the day’s weather forecast and smart blinds slowly let the sunshine into your room. You start smelling the coffee, exactly the medium roast you like, and by the time you are out of the shower, it is ready.

8:30am

You can also monitor how much energy your home is currently using, and how much energy your home has used during the last day, week, and month.

Samsung Smart TV app tells you about the morning traffic and basis status of your car such as battery level. You select today’s destination using the map on the app to send the information to your car.

You check out the TV to see a live-streaming feed coming from each of your smart cameras that you’ve placed around your home before you leave the home.

You say, “Pick me up’ to your Gear S. Your BMW i3 automatically turns on, releases itself from its automated inductive charging, and picks you up in the driveway.

As you step out of your house, you say “Goodbye.” The thermostat, the A/C unit and the lights turn off to save energy. Also the curtains/blinds cover the windows, and the robot vacuum starts sweeping up.

How it works

The key to all of these possibilities is the IoT based app and sensors. For example:

The built in GPS sensor in your smartphone triggers your smart home to activate when you arrive or leave home. You can control which action your home is going to take by a few simple taps in the SmartThings app for each situations.

It can also sense your presence even if you are not carrying a smartphone. SmartThings hub can sense the SmartSense Presence sensor on your key chain.

SmartSense Multi sensor can detect vibration, so if someone knocks, it will trigger the IP Cam at the door to turn on, and it’ll display directly on your Smart TV.

SmartSense Moisture sensor can detect the slightest amount of water. So when SmartSense Moisture is placed in a leakage-prone area such as in your basement or near your washing machine, it can notify you as soon as there is some kind of leakage and let you know about it via the SmartThings app.

Does all of this sound like something you could get used to? The Internet of Things is right around the corner! Stay tuned to our coverage of CES 2015 for more on the IoT.

Summary:

• BK Yoon, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics, announced that openness and collaboration across industries is needed for the Internet of Things to succeed at the opening keynote speech at 2015 CES.

The Internet of Things needs openness and industry collaboration

to succeed, says Samsung Electronics CEO BK Yoon

Samsung outlines its Internet of Things roadmap, as Mr. Yoon opens

2015 CES with a keynote on IoT’s infinite possibilities

The President and CEO of Samsung Electronics, BK Yoon, delivered the opening keynote speech at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), calling for greater openness and collaboration across industries to unlock the infinite possibilities of the Internet of Things (IoT).

“The Internet of Things has the potential to transform our society, economy and how we live our lives,” said Mr. Yoon. “It is our job to pull together — as an industry, and across different sectors — to make true on the promise of the Internet of Things.”

Mr. Yoon also emphasized that IoT must center on people and fit into their lifestyles, adding, “The Internet of Things is not about ‘things.’ Instead, it is about people. Each person is at the center of their own technology universe, and the IoT universe will constantly adapt and change shape as people move through their world.”

As part of Samsung’s commitment to realizing the IoT era, Mr. Yoon announced a timetable for making Samsung technology IoT-enabled. By 2017, all Samsung televisions will be IoT devices, and in five years all Samsung hardware will be IoT-ready, further accelerating the expansion of IoT devices available in the market.

He also emphasized the importance of developers in building IoT and announced that Samsung will invest more than USD 100 million in its developer community in 2015.

Expanding IoT Devices and Components

In the IoT era, sensors become even more advanced and precise, and key components become ever more compact and highly energy efficient.

Mr. Yoon described Samsung’s advanced sensors, which are precise enough to understand a person’s surrounding environment and offer the right solution or service. For example, Samsung is developing a new three-dimensional range sensor that can detect the tiniest movements.

The company is also working on chips, such as the embedded package on package (ePOP) and the Bio-Processor, which are energy-efficient and compact enough to go into a wide range of devices, especially wearables and mobile devices.

“Expanding the devices in the IoT ecosystem and the components that power them is the first step in fulfilling the promise of the Internet of Things,” said Mr. Yoon. “Samsung already has a broad range of IoT devices. Last year, Samsung delivered more than 665 million products, and this number is set to increase. We have already begun to unlock the value hidden in connected devices and all the everyday objects around us.”

Creating an Open Ecosystem

In addition to IoT devices and components, Mr. Yoon emphasized the importance of openness in bringing IoT to life. Joining Mr. Yoon on stage, SmartThings CEO Alex Hawkinson underscored Samsung’s vision for an open infrastructure.

“For the Internet of Things to be a success, it has to be open,” said Hawkinson. “Any device, from any platform, must be able to connect and communicate with one another. We’ve worked hard to accomplish this, and are committed to putting users first, giving them the most choice and freedom possible. The SmartThings ecosystem is now compatible with more devices than any other platform.”

Supporting the Developer Community

Samsung deeply values the role of developers and their contributions, and firmly believe that developers will play a key role in realizing the IoT era

“We at Samsung are committed to supporting the developer community,” said Mr. Yoon. “Only together can we shape this better future.”

As part of this commitment, Mr. Yoon announced that Samsung would invest more than USD 100 million to support its developer community in 2015 by strengthening its accelerator programs and further expanding its international developer events.

Collaborating Across Industries

Samsung believes that IoT will have far-reaching impact, much more so than the consumer electronics industry has so far, as it will touch every aspect of people’s lives and revolutionize every industry. For IoT to succeed, companies across all industries will have to collaborate to build the necessary infrastructure and develop the many tailored IoT services that can meet the needs of consumers.

“I know in my heart that neither one single company nor one industry alone can deliver the benefits of the Internet of Things,” said Mr. Yoon. “To create this IoT universe, we have to see the potential of the Internet of Things across all kinds of industries. Only if we work together can we improve people’s lives.”

For more information, please visit: http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/CES2015