Just as improvements to the steam engine transformed societies during the Industrial Revolution, quantum leaps in mobile technology are redefining our experiences in the Information Revolution. From the way we work, play, learn, and even love, almost everything we do revolves around smartphones, tablets and wearable devices.

All signs show that our reliance on mobile technology will continue to grow exponentially. By 2025, it’s estimated that the average person will interact with connected devices once every 18 seconds.¹ At Samsung, we call this oncoming transformation the Next Mobile Economy.

History tells us that in order for a technological revolution to occur, businesses and organizations of all sizes must adapt to its demands. Samsung is dedicated to help prepare companies of all sizes seize opportunities and overcome the challenges that come with a constantly-evolving mobile landscape. This is why we presented our vision of the Next Mobile Economy at TED2018: The Age of Amazement in Vancouver, Canada to kickstart a global conversation on its implications and potentials.

An Open Vision: Experience New Mobile Economy at Social Space

Samsung showcases Next Mobile Economy via Social Space at TED2018. (Lawrence Sumulong/TED)

TED2018 participants sharing ideas at Social Space. (Lawrence Sumulong/TED)

Social Space offers hands-on experiences with Samsung’s mobile devices. (Lawrence Sumulong/TED)

At its core, the Next Mobile Economy is about transforming businesses by pushing  the boundaries of how we work. This begins with businesses and organizations embracing openness in mobile solutions throughout four key pillars that make up the Next Mobile Economy – a goal which led Samsung to set up Social Space at TED2018, an interactive area designed to foster discussions.

Open Yet Secure

In the Next Mobile Economy, businesses will see an unprecedented increase in the speed and volume of data transactions. While this will enable more seamless operations, it also leaves companies at risk of security breaches and leaks.

Open Yet Controlled

Prevention starts with finding mobile solutions that are open yet controlled and secure. These systems will allow IT managers to update and configure mobile devices remotely, while ensuring sensitive data is protected from potential cyberattacks.

Open Customization

While delivering bespoke services is widely recognized as a key to success, few companies consider customizing their internal and B2B technologies as equally important. But relying on off-the-shelf software and systems will be insufficient in the Next Mobile Economy, as businesses which implement tailored solutions from top to bottom will have a head start.

Open Collaboration

To develop customized mobile solutions and future-ready systems, companies need to establish open collaboration with their technology partners. The principle of open collaboration also has to extend to the technological tools in future workplaces. Equipping workers with mobile devices which encourage collaboration will be vital in creating greater flexibility and enhancing efficiency.

Beyond a Slogan: New Mobile Economy in Action

The ideas and values of the Next Mobile Economy may seem far-fetched for some. But a closer look at the burgeoning mobile ecosystems at leading companies and organizations shows that the paradigm shift is already happening, generating transformative results.

One such example is the Mobile Policing Program launched by the Surrey & Sussex Police Force in the UK.

This police force worked closely with Samsung as its mobile partner to tailor, integrate and roll out secure mobile devices for police officers, which in turn are a vital means of collaborating in-field. Through these devices, the force reports improved sharing of vital information between county control rooms and officers on duty, emphasizing the future benefits such a collaborative approach could provide UK-wide policing.

“Our mobile program has allowed greater co-operation between forces and means we can utilize our officers more effectively,” Shane Baker, Chief Inspector and head of digital transformation for Surrey & Sussex Police explains. “We see mobile as the tool to further unify and collaborate on the front line, bringing police forces together to ensure the public’s safety and experience of the police is joined up across the UK.”

Both now and in the future, the control of certain enterprise mobile devices will be paramount to public safety.

“Control of our mobile devices is absolutely important for us, given the nature of what we do,” states Baker. “We have had devices lost in the field and through using EMM systems such as Samsung Knox, we have been able to remotely wipe devices to ensure information and data isn’t released to the public.”

For Chief Inspector Baker and his police colleagues, the additional layer of control provided by Samsung Knox has instilled greater confidence to use mobile devices in the field, enabling police officers to make more informed decisions at critical moments, with the knowledge that their devices are protected should they be damaged, lost or stolen.

A Mobile Future: Solving Challenges and Creating Opportunities

While the foundations of the Next Mobile Economy are firmly in place, there are still more questions than answers on where the latest phase of digital revolution could take us. Only a multi-disciplinary global dialogue can help us maximize the full potential of this transformation.

At TED2018, Samsung began laying the groundwork for such a platform. Gathering dozens of leading figures in key global industries, we led a three-day workshop to explore the use of mobile technology to solve problems and create opportunities.

Through hours of engaging dialogue, the workshop generated fascinating insights on the future of New Mobile Economy in a wide-range of fields. Participants from the healthcare sector, for example, saw the potential of cloud technology to improve the accuracy and speed of gathering patients’ medical history. Artificial intelligence, meanwhile, could be used to analyze and improve urban traffic management.

At the same time, the workshop served as a timely reminder that the Next Mobile Economy is still very much a work in progress. Debates raged on over potential technical and ethical problems that could arise from greater reliance on mobile technology. Control over information accuracy, the global digital divide and sources of funding for mobile infrastructure were among a long list of issues tackled during discussions.

All technological revolutions are a product of collective actions, and the success of the New Mobile Economy will be no different. The conversations at Samsung’s Social Space and workshops are only the beginning of realizing a mobile future.

To learn more about the Next Mobile Economy, please visit this link.

¹GSMA Mobile Economy 2018

The booth features three sections – an Atelier, Gym, and Workplace – that allow visitors to get their hands on products including Samsung’s newest wearables, the Gear Sport, Gear Fit2 Pro, and the updated Gear IconX, as well as its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note8. Fun and interactive exhibits showcase how the devices’ premium functions, seamless connectivity and intuitive designs introduce new aspects of convenience that become normal to users as soon as they experience them.

See how Samsung’s latest mobile offerings deliver your new normal in the photos below.

Samsung’s latest mobile offerings may be found at the center of the company’s IFA 2017 booth.

The new Galaxy Note8 features an immersive, 6.3-inch Infinity Display, an enhanced S Pen, and a best-in-class dual camera with Optical Image Stabilization.

An interactive display in the booth’s Atelier offers a breakdown of the Galaxy Note8’s advanced features.

A large display exhibits a ‘digital gallery’ of selfies that attendees have snapped with the Galaxy Note8 and decorated with fun stickers and animated text using the device’s S Pen.

IFA attendees put the Galaxy Note8’s IP68 water and dust resistance to the test by snapping selfies and dunking the device at the Portrait Pool.

The Galaxy Note8 boasts a wide array of compatible accessories, including various covers, wireless chargers and external batteries.

Attendees get hands-on with the new Gear Sport smartwatch, which features a sleek and versatile design, including a wide range of band options, and premium health- and fitness-management functions.

Samsung’s Gear Fit2 Pro, a water-resistant GPS fitness band, has been enhanced through partnerships with Under Armour and Spotify, and comes preloaded with Speedo’s best-in-class swim-tracking app, Speedo On.

Samsung’s update of its cord-free Gear IconX earbuds, which allow users to stream music from their phone and also function as a standalone music player, features improved battery life and a new integrated Running Coach with a voice guide that offers real-time updates on workout progress.

The Gear Sport’s dedicated fitness zone invites attendees to test out the smartwatch’s exercise-tracking functions properly: by strapping it on to take part in fun cycling and rowing competitions.

Attendees donning Samsung’s Gear VR with Controller take part in immersive intergalactic battle in the 4D VR Theater.

The booth’s Workplace section showcases various ways that enterprises can utilize Samsung’s latest mobile innovations, including the Galaxy Note8 and Galaxy Book, to streamline how they do business.

Notifications, Performance Mode

Quick Panel and Notifications

The Quick Panel features a cleaner aesthetic, as titles have been removed from the icons in the panel’s first depth. Icons in the second depth are organized into groups of nine, making them easier to locate.

Users can also utilize the integrated S Finder to locate what they want on their smartphone or the web straight from the Quick Panel. Notifications are now grouped to display information more clearly and also support Direct Reply.

Multi Window

An improved controller allows the window size to be more easily adjusted in split screen view. Also, with a new pop-up window function that supports up to five separate windows in addition to the two in the split-screen view, users can access up to seven apps at the same time.

Performance Mode

The newly added Performance Mode lets users optimize their smartphones to better meet their specific needs by activating one of the four available modes. Optimized mode, for example, extends battery life and enhances speed, and is suitable for daily usage, while Game mode provides useful functions such as Game Launcher and Game Tools. Entertainment mode enhances sound and image quality and High Performance mode enables the highest quality display settings possible.

Samsung Pass

Samsung Pass, the feature that works as a master key for website login on Samsung Internet, is now supported on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Users can use their fingerprint to log into selected websites and apps with Samsung Pass.** The feature will soon be expanded to support mobile banking app integration.

* Android 7.0 Nougat will be expanded to additional countries on the following devices within the first half of this year: Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge and S6 edge Plus, Galaxy Note5, Galaxy Tab A with S Pen, Galaxy Tab S2 (LTE unlock), Galaxy A3, and Galaxy A8.

** The available functions, features and compatible applications for Samsung Pass may vary by country due to differing regulatory and legal environments.

Australia and Singapore Credit Cardmembers of Citibank, Citi’s global consumer banking business, will have the option to make payments across Australia and Singapore using their compatible Samsung mobile phones. The partnership marks a new addition to Samsung Pay’s extensive portfolio of major payment networks and banks, to provide greater flexibility, access and choice for customers in Australia and Singapore. Additional markets will be added to the network in the coming months. Citi Korea launched Samsung Pay in August 2015 and the service was launched by Citi in the U.S. in November 2015.

“We’re seeing significant global growth for Samsung Pay, and view our expanded partnership with Citi as a key to that continued momentum. With Citi, we’re extending Samsung Pay’s reach into Southeast Asia, giving cardholders an easier and safer mobile payment experience,” said Injong Rhee, CTO and EVP of Software and Services, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.

“We are delighted to work with Samsung Electronics to offer our credit card customers a faster and easier way of making payments using Samsung Pay. Our value propositions are already best in each category and through this partnership, we bring added convenience to our credit card customers who can now simply use their mobile phones to tap and pay for their purchases. At Citi, we continue to prioritize our efforts to make banking easier for our customers by leveraging digitization and innovation. Samsung Pay is one of the many exciting digital solutions that we are progressively introducing to our customers to offer them a differentiated experience that only a Citibank credit card customer can get to enjoy” said Sergio Zanatti, Head of Cards & Unsecured Loans for Citi in Asia Pacific.

Samsung Pay continues to grow its partnership ecosystem with partners like Citi , to provide consumers with a mobile payment solution that is simple, safe and widely accessible. Samsung Pay can be used to make purchases nearly everywhere cards are accepted.

• SIMPLE: To make a payment on Samsung Pay, users can simply swipe up, scan their fingerprint and pay.
• SAFE: Samsung Pay uses three levels of security to enable secure payments – Fingerprint Authentication, tokenization and Samsung KNOX.
• ALMOST ANYWHERE**: Samsung Pay is compatible with the majority of existing and new terminals, allowing users to pay almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your card.

About Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay, a mobile payment service from Samsung Electronics, is simple, safe and works almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your card. Combining NFC with Samsung’s proprietary MST technologies, Samsung Pay provides consumers a way to pay almost anywhere you can swipe or tap a card at millions of merchant locations**. Samsung continues to strategically expand its partnership ecosystem for Samsung Pay to provide greater flexibility, access, and choice for customers while enabling an easy and safe payment experience. Samsung Pay is compatible with select cards and Samsung devices, and leading wireless providers. Visit www.samsung.com/pay to learn more.

* Availability may vary by country and region.

** Some card reader terminals may require software updates to be compatible with Samsung Pay.

Samsung Electronics Singapore today announced that it will be the first in Southeast Asia to make Samsung Pay available beginning on June 16. Secure and easy-to-use, Samsung Pay can be used to make purchases almost anywhere¹ that debit cards or credit cards are accepted. In fact, Samsung Pay is the only mobile wallet that allows users to pay with their compatible Samsung smartphones at terminals that accept contactless payment as well as those that do not accept contactless payment.

“Since the introduction of Samsung Pay last year, we have seen great momentum and experienced significant consumer adoption. Samsung Pay has redefined the way consumers pay and use their smartphones,” said Thomas Ko, Vice President and Global Co-General Manager of Samsung Pay at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to bring this service to Singapore consumers and we hope to introduce value-added services to drive and lead innovation in mobile commerce, giving consumers a safer, smarter and better mobile wallet.”

“We are extremely excited that Samsung Pay is now available in Singapore. As the first market in Southeast Asia to roll out our mobile payment service, Singapore will pave the way for the region’s adoption of Samsung Pay,” said Stephen Suh, President, Samsung Electronics Singapore.

Added Mr. Suh: “We have established extensive partnerships with card networks, issuers and merchants for Samsung Pay to be readily available almost anywhere for consumers in Singapore, so that everyone can have the opportunity to enjoy the simplicity, safety and convenience of the mobile payment service. By supporting both contactless and non contactless payment, we are confident that this benefit will help to drive consumer adoption for Samsung Pay. What’s more, you can transact any value on Samsung Pay², up to the amount of your credit card limit.”

Comprehensive Ecosystem

Partner Ecosystem

Samsung Pay is continually expanding its partnership ecosystem to provide greater flexibility, access and choice for customers in Singapore. Currently, Samsung Pay has partnered with major payment networks such as American Express³, MasterCard and Visa, and major banks such as Citibank, DBS/POSB, OCBC Bank and Standard Chartered.

Additionally, Samsung and Singtel will be exploring potential collaborations in the mobile payment space.

Merchant Ecosystem

At launch, Samsung Pay will be accepted at the vast majority of merchants, wherever MasterCard or Visa is accepted, and is not limited to merchants that have updated to contactless terminals. Singapore consumers will be able to use Samsung Pay at their favorite popular chains, as well as thousands of independent shops.  For merchants that have not yet updated to contactless terminals, Samsung Pay’s proprietary MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) technology enables contactless payment on existing merchant terminals.

As part of Samsung’s efforts to provide a seamless experience for Samsung Pay customers from the first time they try Samsung Pay, Samsung has been actively engaging selected merchants, providing training to their cashiers and point of sale acceptance marks. Samsung Pay will feature close to 40 preferred merchants at launch. From launch, customers will immediately be able to utilize Samsung Pay at most merchants⁴ within the following categories:

• Supermarkets and Convenience Stores
• Departmental Stores
• Healthcare and Beauty Outlets
• Food and Beverage Outlets
• Fashion and Lifestyle Outlets
• Electronics and Furnishing Stores
• Travel and Entertainment

More Than a Payment Service

A secure and easy-to-use mobile payment service, Samsung Pay can be used to make purchases almost anywhere that credit and debit cards are accepted.

• SIMPLE: With Samsung Pay, every transaction is made super easy. You simply need to swipe up to bring up the last transacted credit or debit card, scan your fingerprint or key in your PIN and make payment.

• SAFE: With each separate transaction, Samsung Pay uses an encrypted digital token to replace sensitive card information to prevent fraud. Your payment information is better protected than ever before. Transactions made on Samsung Pay require registered fingerprint or PIN for authorization, so you are in control when each payment is made. The encrypted fingerprint information is stored in a separate, secure area of your device. Samsung’s industry-leading KNOX security platform, which received the most “Strong” ratings of any mobile security platform for Corporate Managed Security⁵, provides real-time kernel protection and monitors malicious software and activities on your device for added security.

• ALMOST ANYWHERE¹: Samsung Pay is accepted almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your credit or debit card. By incorporating Samsung’s proprietary MST technology, together with NFC (Near Field Communication), Samsung Pay will be compatible with the majority of existing and new payment terminals, allowing users to pay with their compatible Samsung smartphone almost anywhere. Thanks to MST, Singapore users can also use Samsung Pay for transactions above $100.

The Galaxy Experience

Samsung Pay is an example of how Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today’s technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences to bring added flexibility and convenience to consumers’ lives.

Samsung Pay will be available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 4G+, S6 edge+ 4G+, S7 4G+ and S7 edge 4G+ beginning on June 16 in Singapore.

1 Availability almost anywhere is based on compatibility of Samsung Pay on MST and/or NFC payment terminals, with some supported for use only after software upgrades. Samsung Pay is exclusive to selected Samsung Galaxy smartphones only, and available across all participating payment networks, banks, and merchants. Availability may vary, please check for updates.

2 Most NFC terminals currently accept payments up to $100, while there is no limit on payment transactions via MST terminals (subject to a cardholder’s credit card limit).

3 Coming soon

4 Subject to changes

5 “Mobile Device Security: A Comparison of Platforms”, Gartner, Inc. (6 April 2016)

Samsung Electronics Singapore today announced its partnership with Citibank Singapore Limited for Samsung Pay, the secure and easy-to-use mobile payment service that can be used to make purchases almost anywhere¹. Upon the service’s launch in Singapore, Citibank credit cardmembers will have the option to make payments across Singapore using their compatible Samsung mobile phones². The partnership marks a new addition to Samsung Pay’s extensive portfolio of major payment networks and banks, to provide greater flexibility, access and choice for customers in Singapore.

“We are very pleased and excited to have Citibank come onboard as our latest partner for Samsung Pay in Singapore,” said Eugene Goh, Vice President, IT & Mobile, Samsung Electronics Singapore. “The partnership with Citibank, alongside our ecosystem of partners across payment networks, banks, retailers and merchants, assures customers that they will be able to enjoy the full benefits of using Samsung Pay almost anywhere in Singapore.”

Mr John Denhof, Head of Cards and Personal Loans at Citibank Singapore Limited, said, “We are delighted to work with Samsung Electronics to offer our credit card customers a faster and easier way of making payments using Samsung Pay. Our value propositions are already best in each category and through this partnership, we bring added convenience to our credit card customers who can now simply use their mobile phones to tap and pay for their purchases. At Citibank, we continue to prioritize our efforts to make banking easier for our customers by leveraging digitization and innovation. Samsung Pay is just one of the many exciting digital solutions that we are progressively introducing to our customers to offer them a differentiated experience that only a Citibank credit card customer can get to enjoy.”

The partnership between Citibank and Samsung Pay is a win-win collaboration for both parties. Samsung will be able to leverage on Citibank’s extensive customer base and merchant network to promote greater adoption and usage of digital payments in the country while Citibank’s credit cardmembers using compatible Samsung phones will enjoy greater convenience in the payment process. With their digital wallets, Citibank customers, who are increasingly digitally-savvy, will truly benefit from being able to pay on the go, wherever they are, and whenever they want.

Samsung Pay Beta Test Program

Ahead of its launch in Q2 2016, a select group of consumers has been invited to register their participation in the beta testing for Samsung Pay. They will be among the first to preview the company’s flagship mobile payment service in Singapore. Response from consumers is encouraging, with thousands who have signed up. Registration has now closed and eligible consumers will be notified progressively ahead of the Samsung Pay Beta Test Program.

Samsung Pay will be available to users of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 4G+, S6 edge+ 4G+, S7 4G+ and S7 edge 4G+ in Singapore.

More Than a Payment Service

A secure and easy-to-use mobile payment service, Samsung Pay can be used to make purchases almost anywhere¹ that credit and debit cards are accepted.

• SIMPLE: With Samsung Pay, every transaction is made super easy. You simply need to swipe up to bring up the last transacted credit or debit card, scan your fingerprint or key in your PIN and make payment.

• SAFE: With each separate transaction, Samsung Pay uses an encrypted digital token to replace sensitive card information to prevent fraud. Your payment information is better protected than ever before. Transactions made on Samsung Pay require registered fingerprint or PIN for authorization, so you are in control when each payment is made. The encrypted fingerprint information is stored in a separate, secure area of your device. Samsung’s industry-leading KNOX security platform, which received the most “Strong” ratings of any mobile security platform for Corporate Managed Security³, provides real-time kernel protection and monitors malicious software and activities on your device for added security.

• ALMOST ANYWHERE¹: Samsung Pay is accepted almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your credit or debit card. By incorporating Samsung’s proprietary Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology, together with Near Field Communication (NFC), Samsung Pay will be compatible with the majority of existing and new payment terminals, allowing users to pay with their compatible Samsung smartphone almost anywhere.

[1] Availability almost anywhere is based on compatibility of Samsung Pay on MST and/or NFC payment terminals, with some supported for use only after software upgrades. Samsung Pay is exclusive to selected Samsung Galaxy smartphones only, and available across all participating payment networks, banks, and merchants. Availability may vary, please check for updates.

[2] Samsung Pay will be available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 4G+, S6 edge+ 4G+, S7 4G+ and S7 edge 4G+ at launch.

[3] “Mobile Device Security: A Comparison of Platforms”, Gartner, Inc. (6 April 2016)

About Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Samsung Electronics America announced today that Samsung Pay—the most widely accepted mobile payment system—is giving U.S. users another way to slim down their physical wallets with the support of membership features. Samsung Pay users now have easy, direct access to merchant membership and loyalty cards to receive savings, rewards and other offers—all on their supported Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

The average American household carries almost 30 loyalty cards.¹ With the new feature announced today, Samsung Pay lets users access all of their merchant membership and loyalty cards from one, easy-to-use application on the supported Samsung Galaxy smartphone that is already in their hands. With Samsung Pay, users no longer have to worry about fumbling through their wallet to find the right card, or worse, forgetting it and missing out on savings.

Users can upload and store merchant membership and loyalty cards in Samsung Pay—including from their gym, drug store, grocery store or any of their favorite retailers. Samsung Pay’s new membership feature can also be used to store other cards such as insurance and personal identification cards for safe keeping. To use membership or loyalty cards, users simply launch the Samsung Pay app, select the appropriate card, hold their Samsung Galaxy smartphone screen up to the merchant’s scanner, and let the card’s barcode be scanned at the register

“With this new feature, Samsung Pay is giving users quick access to their favorite membership and loyalty programs and making shopping even easier,” said Nana Murugesan, VP of Strategy and Operations for Samsung Electronics America. “Right now, shoppers have several things—credit and debit cards, membership cards, coupons, gift cards—they need to take out of their wallets and scan at the register. Samsung is simplifying the check out experience by bringing those items to your phone, representing our next step toward a world without physical wallets.”

About Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay, a mobile wallet service from Samsung Electronics, is simple, safe and works virtually anywhere plastic cards are accepted. Samsung Pay supports all major payment networks and many of the country’s major financial institutions, and it continues to expand its partnership ecosystem^*. Click here for the full list of financial partners that support Samsung Pay.

SIMPLE: Samsung Pay is easy to use. Users simply swipe up from their eligible Galaxy smartphone, scan their fingerprint and pay at millions of merchants across the country.

SAFE: Samsung Pay uses tokenization, Samsung KNOX, and fingerprint authentication to provide secure payments. Samsung Pay users are fully protected against fraud by card issuers, and merchants receive Card Present rates with no EMV liability shift.

ALMOST ANYWHERE: Samsung Pay is the most widely accepted mobile payment system. Samsung Pay works with the majority of existing and new terminals, including most magnetic stripe, EMV and NFC terminals. For more information on Samsung Pay, visit www.samsung.com/pay.

Samsung Pay is compatible with select cards, Samsung devices, and leading wireless providers. Visit www.samsung.com/pay to learn more. Some card reader terminals may require software updates to be compatible with Samsung Pay.

[1] 2015 COLLOQUY Loyalty Census. Rep. COLLOQUY, 9 Feb. 2015. <https://www.colloquy.com/latest-news/2015-colloquy-loyalty-census/>.

“I am delighted to have Wells Fargo on board with Samsung Pay and that our users can now enjoy more choices in debit and credit cards,” said Injong Rhee, Head of R&D, Software and Services, Samsung Electronics Mobile Division. “Samsung Pay is gaining its momentum in customer adoption, and we will continue to expand the list of issuers. I look forward to offering many compelling mobile payment services to our joint customers together with Wells Fargo.”

“We are pleased today to announce that Samsung Pay is available for Wells Fargo customers,” said Jim Smith, head of Virtual Channels for Wells Fargo. “Innovations like Samsung Pay further our commitment to giving our customers the ability to make payments anytime and anywhere, including from a mobile wallet.”

Samsung Pay announced last week that about five million registered users processed over 500 million dollars in the first six months, showing a strong adoption rate in South Korea and the U.S.* This also demonstrates the increasing use of Samsung Pay for its convenience, flexibility and security.

Samsung Pay supports all major payment networks and many of the country’s major banks. It continues to expand its partnership ecosystem. Click here for the full list of financial partners that support Samsung Pay.

• SIMPLE: To make a payment on Samsung Pay, users can simply swipe up, scan their fingerprint and pay.
• SAFE: Samsung Pay uses tokenization, Samsung KNOX, and fingerprint authentication to provide secure payments. And, as terminals are upgraded to EMV, that security is leveraged, too.
• ALMOST ANYWHERE**: Samsung Pay is compatible with the majority of existing and new terminals, including most magnetic stripe, EMV and NFC terminals. That means Samsung Pay works at more places than any other mobile payment service.

Samsung Pay launched in August 2015 in South Korea and in September 2015 in the U.S. market.

**Samsung Pay is compatible with select cards, Samsung devices, and leading wireless providers. Visit www.samsung.com/pay to learn more. Some card reader terminals may require software updates to be compatible with Samsung Pay.

Samsung Electronics’ Dongjin Koh will unveil the company’s latest mobile products at Unpacked in Barcelona on February 21, challenging consumers to rethink what a phone can do. Koh, who was appointed President of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business in December 2015, is responsible for driving Samsung’s global mobile business, from smartphones and smart wearables to emerging mobile services.

Having joined the company in 1984, Koh has worked for Samsung for just over 30 years now. Prior to being named president, he served as the Executive Vice President and Head of the Mobile R&D Office within the Mobile Communications Business. As the Head of the Technology Strategy Team from 2007 to 2015, he created strategic alliances with partner companies to help bring innovative technologies to market as well.

Koh was also responsible for bringing key innovations to software technology when he was Head of the Samsung R&D Institute in the U.K. His background also includes a decade’s worth of experience in Human Resources, where he learned the company’s efforts to increase employee engagement and operational excellence throughout the organization.

Koh sat down with Samsung Newsroom to discuss the business’ vision for 2016, as well as his own personal objectives, ahead of the highly anticipated launch of the next Galaxy device.

With the bright, interactive screens on today’s mobile devices, children love playing with them—maybe too much. “It can be a great challenge taking back a smartphone from a kid; they cry their eyes out,” noted Hyungbo Sim, a UX designer at Samsung Electronics and father to a young boy.

But Sim’s smartphone has Kids Mode installed, which means that once his son has reached his daily limit for using the device, the cute Crocro character from the app appear to doze off, locking the device. “He brings my smartphone back to me voluntarily after Crocro falls asleep, saying he’s done. It’s amazing.”

Kids Mode is Samsung’s service which lets parents control the content their children have access to when they use a mobile device and for how long they can use it each day. But more than that, Kids Mode is also fun and natural for children to use, specially designed for them at all levels, from the physical interface to the graphics to the content. To get a better sense of how Kids Mode was created, the Samsung Newsroom talked with some of its designers and developers—including designer Sim.

Making a Safe Space for Children to Play

Kids Mode had its origins in the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids, a tablet Samsung designed expressly for children. “It was in late 2013 that Galaxy Tab 3 Kids was launched globally,” recalled Jongin Lee, Senior Manager of Service R&D Team. “Later on, we saw that kids were increasingly sharing their parents’ smartphones, so we asked ‘Why not install Kids Mode on smartphones in the first place, so parents could hand their device to their kids and let them play with it safely?’”

“The focus of the original version was to assure parents they could let their children use their smartphones without worrying,” said Sim. “But then we thought it would be better if we could make it interesting for kids.”

Stimulating Imaginations Through Fun

The developers and designers focused on creating a world that was fun and natural for children, so they would enjoy using it. Instead of focusing on text, like for regular platforms for grown-ups, Kids Mode focused on a more organic storytelling that children could explore on their own.

“An app’s graphic elements are about entertaining kids,” said Jookyung Woo, UX designer. “There needed to be storytelling, so that a child can imagine what happens next. Kids Mode doesn’t have any text. The graphic user interface should stimulate their imagination, based on the story.”

“Kids Mode does not limit how children use the smartphone, but allows them to explore and play in a safe environment, just like in the real world,” said Woo. “Kids learn by touching. To develop a UX for children, it was very important that the interface naturally encourages children to touch and try the buttons and move on to the next step.”

Part of that storytelling approach also meant having cute characters to interact with. At first there was just a simple crocodile, but now Kids Mode uses four colorful characters to help guide children through its fun world: Crocro the crocodile, Cooki the sloth, Bobby the beaver and Lisa the bird.

“They’ve been upgraded to 3D and they look cuter now, too, with more facial expressions so children relate more easily,” said Woo. “In the past, kids’ characters would be good and bad. But in Kids Mode, there are no bad-guy characters, just different ones. Every character has a different personality: the sloth is lazy but he also likes things, the bird sings and dances, the beaver likes to paint and the crocodile enjoys decorating.”

“Kids Mode is the only Samsung app that features characters,” added Wonje Mok of the Service R&D Team.

More than just fun, though, these characters also are designed to teach children. Children can help Bobby brush his teeth, or help Crocro get dressed. “Children should want to dance, wash and play the way their favorite characters do,” said Sim. “It should be fun to help them develop.”

The native apps designed for Kids Mode also use these characters—for instance, Bobby hosts the Kids Drawing app, while Lisa appears on Kids Music and Kids Magic Voice.

“Parents liked Kids Mode, but how to make it usable from the perspective of children emerged as another challenge,” said Sim. “So a music app was added, and then Kids Drawing, which lets children draw on an empty canvas, color in coloring books and draw in sand. The concept was to stimulate children’s creativity and intelligence development. Different contents for different countries were added as well.”

Facing the Challenges

Throughout development, the developers and designers never stopped refining and improving Kids Mode. “The process was not easy,” said NamSuk Koo, Developer on the Mobile R&D team. “We were not creating an app for adults, so even after we finished the app, we were not sure if children would really like it.”

In addition to optimizing the app for children and making it fun, they also had to deal with many technical challenges. “Kids Mode is mostly an animated app” said Koo. “It was quite challenging to synchronize the motion. On top of that, we had to deal with battery usage and then memory and then heat, because of the size of the app. Sometimes we had to start all over.”

“At an early stage, the problem was with battery consumption,” said Keunchang Hur, Developer on the Mobile R&D Team. “Since there were no apps from Samsung or other developers to compare, we approached Kids Mode from an adult’s point of view on issues like power consumption or text. It was difficult to get other ‘grown-up’ members to understand those points.”

“It took so long to convince everyone,” said Woo. “Some people even wondered why there should be a cloud in the background. That’s natural given that we tried to understand everything from an adult’s point of view. The graphics were quite strange as well. People didn’t understand why a crocodile should appear at all. That’s why I created a backstory for the characters.”

Constantly Refining for a Child’s Point of View

Getting the interface just right for the inquisitive, grasping hands of children also required plenty of fine-tuning. “I found that children like unpredictable things,” said Gyusik Kim, Manager of Service R&D Team.

“That made me realize that I have to think from a kid’s point of view. I can anticipate to some extent what adults like, but there is no such thing as logic for how children think.”

“Some children would touch the display so hard, the distinction between a long touch and a regular touch was not clear,” Sim said. “So simple touching became the main interface, not dragging or double-touching or long touches.”

For Woo, who earned her nursing teacher’s license while on maternity leave, she brought a strong interest in child development to the project. “Kids Mode was the first project I had right after I got the license,” she said.

Other developers tried thinking more like a child. “Rather than trying to study and analyze, I tried to become a child again,” said Jaechan Ahn, Developer on the Mobile R&D team. “I even started watching kids TV channels.”

“I’m lucky that I like Disney characters,” said Jeun Park, from the Service R&D Team. “Am I some sort of ‘kidult’? Maybe that’s why I like kids.”

“I’m trying to be childish all the time,” said Lee with a laugh.

Most children find long car trips horribly dull, but keeping them occupied by buying interactive pop-up book apps can be expensive. But what other choice do parents have to keep their child entertained during a protracted drive? Or at a nice restaurant, during a long dinner, what can a parent do if their 4-year-old suddenly starts crying? For many parents, the easiest solution is giving the child a mobile device, like a smartphone or a tablet. Children love their bright, flashy images and intuitive, responsive interfaces, and are happy to spend hours watching videos and playing games. But how to protect children from inappropriate online content and limit them from using the device too much without spending too much on an expensive, complicated monitoring service?

Samsung’s Kids Mode provides a solution to these problems, creating a free and easy-to-use interface on smartphones and tablets that is simple to control and monitor, while providing plenty of fun and educational apps for children. Indeed, already Kids Mode has gained 1.9 million monthly active users and supports 2,500 child-friendly apps and video content, with more appearing all the time.

Samsung Introduces an Easier Option

With Kids Mode, parents can select and control apps and monitor how their children use mobile devices, making those devices as open or as closed as they wish. Kids Mode controls the apps that a child can use, the videos, music and other content they can access, and how long they can use a device.

But just as importantly as helping parents out, Kids Mode is also fun to use. Its simplified user interface features large and colorful buttons designed for children, with controls that are uncomplicated but that give a wide range of options for children to explore. In addition, there are a variety of exclusive native apps that come preinstalled and that can be downloaded. Plus, Kids Mode and many of its related apps are free, so it’s a solution that every family can afford.

Getting Started

To begin using Kids Mode, parents need to download the app from Galaxy Apps. After installing, they set up a PIN code and a profile for their child, then the app is ready to go.

Parents can then go to the Parental Control area (the button in the lower-left) to customize Kids Mode as they see fit. They can limit the amount of time each day their child can use the device, setting different amounts for weekdays and weekends. Parents also get to control the list of contacts, apps and media their child has access to, ensuring the content is always appropriate for their family.

Kids Mode comes with the Kids Store preinstalled, as well as the Play Zone, a 3D block house with seven themes users can choose. The Play Zone comes with several mini-games that feature the app’s four cartoon characters: Crocro, Cooki, Bobby and Lisa (see box below).

Adding the Exclusive Native Apps

Once the device is configured, parents will need to download apps to get the most out of it. Kids Mode offers a variety of exclusive, native apps, featuring those familiar cartoon characters and the same easy-to-use interface. Among those apps are Kids Camera, Kids Drawing, Kids Music, Kids Magic Voice, Kids Video and Kids Call, offering lots of fun options for playing and developing creativity.

For example, the Kids Camera lets children take a picture of someone, then add funny stickers to the photograph, like googly eyes, mustaches and silly hats. Kids Drawing lets children unleash their artistic side, with a drawing application, coloring book, sandbox and a scratchboard.

Kids Music offers a playful, interactive space for children to play digital instruments along to tunes that a parent has uploaded to the device. And Kids Media lets children watch only the content their parents make available.

All these apps are available both in the Galaxy Apps store and Kids Store. They are free to download, appearing on the Kids Mode home screen. The first time they are downloaded, they appear as a cute gift ready to be unwrapped; tapping the gift opens it up to reveal the regular app icon.

Thousands More Apps and Media to Choose From

Aside from those native apps, Kids Mode is optimized for thousands of partner apps and media content around the world, which can be downloaded from the Kids Store. Samsung has focused on the quality of its apps through partnerships with the most popular content providers from around the world—including Lego and PBS Kids.

The Kids Store groups apps by three different age groups or by category, to make selecting the appropriate apps easier for parents. Just a few taps on the Kids Store download the content, once again appearing on the phone’s home screen as a cute gift. Some apps are educational, some functional and others are just fun, but there are plenty of options in the Kids Store for everyone.

Samsung introduced the tablet designed especially for children in 2013, and since then the company has continued to enhance both usability and content on smart devices for kids. Kids Mode was a major step forward in ensuring mobile devices were optimized for young people.

Now, in 2016, Samsung is showing its continued commitment to children through a newly launched Kids Mode website, which offers more content and services than ever to parents around the world.

* Features and functions of Kid Mode can be vary by device. This article was written using a Galaxy Note5.

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

Samsung Electronics launched its new Samsung Smart View app, currently available on select Samsung Smart TV models in beta format. The full version is scheduled to be released in early 2016. The new software, which allows users to conveniently share personal content with Samsung Smart TVs, integrates versions 1.0 and 2.0 and improves connection reliability, as well as expanding device compatibility.

The new Samsung Smart View app enables a wider range of devices to connect to Samsung Smart TVs, even beyond Samsung’s own Galaxy devices, for which the service was originally designed. As a result, Smart View now supports Android, iOS and Windows PCs, enabling users to transfer their own pictures, music and video content from their devices to their Samsung Smart TV.

Smart View can also now be used on a wider range of Samsung’s Smart TVs, from the 2011 models up to the latest 2015 SUHD line up.* The full version will also support the new SUHD TVs of 2016.

Once a device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as a Smart TV, consumers can immediately use the Smart View service simply by choosing which TV set to connect with. At the push of a button, this intuitive, newly designed app can instantly transfer content stored on mobile devices and PCs to TVs. Consumers can also use multiple functions simultaneously, and access other apps on their mobile devices without affecting the sharing function. For example, consumers can browse the internet on their smartphone, while watching a movie via Smart View on their Samsung Smart TV.

Consumers can install the updated Samsung Smart View app on their mobile device from the Google Play, App Store and also onto their Windows PC** by visiting www.samsung.com/smartview. Once installed, users can enjoy a range of Smart View features, including the ability to create playlists for music, video and photos, easily switch between these content types and instantly share content with any Samsung Smart TV on the same Wi-Fi network.

Currently, a survey is in progress at www.surveymonkey.com/r/smart-view to collect consumers’ feedback on the Smart View beta service.

For more information on the Samsung Smart TV lineup, Samsung Smart View application or upcoming announcements, visit the official website at www.samsung.com/smartview and Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

*List of Supported Devices

Samsung Smart TV

2011 LED D7000 and above, PDP D8000 and above.
2012 LED ES7500 and above, PDP E8000 and above.
2013 LED F4500 and above (except F9000 and above), PDP F5500 and above.
2014 H4500, H5500 and above (except H6003/H6103/H6153/H6201/H6203).
2015 J4500, J5500 and above (except J6203).
Please note supported TV models may vary by region.

Mobile

Android OS 4.1 and above.
iOS 7.0 and above
Please refer to the app description in your preferred app store for a list of supported devices and models.

PC

OS Windows 7, 8, 8.1 (32/64 bit supported)
CPU Intel Pentium 1.8GHz processor or above (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz higher recommended)
RAM 2GB (recommended)
VGA 1024 x 768, 32bit or above

**Please note the availability of the Smart View software for Windows PCs may vary by country

Samsung Electronics, a leading provider of mobile broadband networking solutions, announced that it has successfully demonstrated the capabilities of Telco Software-Defined Networking(SDN) in a proof of concept test deployment with South Korean operator SK Telecom.

The proof of concept demonstration was composed of Samsung technology, including a test-scale LTE network provided by Samsung, a virtualized EPC along with the addition of several SDN switches and an SDN controller to manage traffic flow. The test network simulated multiple transport routes within the network, and allowed for traffic to be dynamically anchored to optimal routes for an application or user. Even in simulated node overloads and failures, the SDN system showcased the ability to re-route traffic to maximize operating efficiency and prevent degradation in the quality of user experience.

Critically, the system also enabled separation of user and control planes, allowing more appropriate and direct routes for each. This will play a very important role in enabling dense IoT (Internet of Things) traffic, where rapid growth in device and sensor communications has the potential to overburden unprepared telecommunications networks. Multiple types of traffic were also simulated, including web and video data, in order to demonstrate the system’s routing and data-plane separation capabilities.

“The results of this demonstration show exciting promise for the capabilities that SDN can bring to the mobile network, and we are looking forward to the next phase of this project slated for early next year.” Said Seongyong Park, Vice President and Head of Next Generation R&D, Network Business at Samsung Electronics. “With the help of partners such as SK Telecom, Samsung is delivering on its commitment to next-generation mobile technologies; together with our leadership in other areas, such as 5G radio and NFV, it shows the innovation potential that Samsung bring to the mobile industry.”

“Efficient transport of data traffic through the mobile network is a key area of interest as we strive to meet growing demand for mobile data and differentiated network services,” said Jin-hyo Park, Senior Vice President & Head of Network Technology Center at SK Telecom. “This feasibility demonstration represents an important first step, and SK Telecom remains committed to taking a leadership position in the development of future generation mobile telecommunication technologies.”

Software-Defined Networking, in parallel with Network Functions Virtualization, has been identified by Samsung and SK Telecom as key technologies for the enablement of 5G networks, and is expected to contribute significantly to improvements in network capacity, latency, flexibility and total cost of ownership. This demonstration closely follows on the heels of commercial deployments of Samsung’s AdaptiV Core platform for SK Telecom, including its AdaptiV vEPC and AdaptiV vIMS solutions in August and September, respectively.

As mobile devices are becoming the center of our personal and business lives, we are moving from having mobile as an option to using only our mobile device as the main way to manage our lives. This means that security and privacy have to be top of mind for everyone, starting with the device manufacturer and ending with you, the user. But any system is only as strong as the weakest link in the technological chain, so it is vital to have protection over the entire infrastructure of a mobile device, from the factory at the hardware level to everyday usage, when consumers and businesses are actually depending on it. It needs to be versatile enough to complement people’s lives, but powerful enough to protect their data.

Samsung KNOX, the security platform of Samsung mobile devices since 2013, provides this total approach to mobile security, ensuring that your device is secure, out-of-the-box. Let’s take a look at what Samsung KNOX is exactly, and how it offers consumers unprecedented privacy protection for their mobile devices.

Defense-Grade Security the Moment You Power On

As soon as you power on a Samsung device, KNOX is immediately activated to ensure the device is in a known good state and is not compromised. This happens because Samsung KNOX takes a multi-layered approach to security, beginning with protection installed at the hardware level, right from the factory. It also implements security checks from the hardware level of the operating system all the way up to the application layer–giving users defense-grade security simply by turning their devices on.

Bottom line: All you need to do is power the device on to get the best Android device protection in the industry.

Even More Assurance for Businesses

When it comes to enterprises–large and small-and governments, Samsung KNOX-enabled devices have even more control to ensure security and privacy, and data leakage protection is superior in every way.

First, our device management partners (MDM) such as SOTI, MobileIron, Airwatch and others, provide businesses with thousands of policies that can be created and applied to compatible mobile devices. These polices are the result of extensive interfaces (APIs) made available to our partners. Everything from locking down the camera to protection against unauthorized applications, work together to allow businesses to maximize device protection.

Additionally, we work with many third parties to offer solutions that add more layers of security and protection for specific purposes. Using KNOX Workspace, the award-winning, secure container adds even more layers of security and protection of your company’s data.

Samsung KNOX has earned one of the largest numbers of certifications and authorizations by governments, militaries and enterprises of Android manufacturers. All of these things combined make a Samsung device with KNOX the most secure Android device available.

Security Best Practices and Samsung KNOX

Samsung KNOX, our MDM and security partners all come together to provide maximum security and privacy protection but, as mentioned, all of this is only as effective as the weakest link in the process.

That means that following simple, but important best practices ensure you aren’t the weakest link! Some examples:

• Never click on links from unknown sources.
• Set your device to accept updates automatically and apply them when notified. This will ensure your device is current with the latest security patches.
• Don’t open SMS messages from unknown or unrecognized numbers. Instead, call the number and verify the sender.
• Verify all your social media contacts within KakaoTalk, Twitter and others to confirm you know who is sending you what. If it looks suspicious, ask your friend first before clicking on something.

In August, Samsung announced an industry-wide, first-of-its-kind monthly security update to offer continuous protection from vulnerabilities.

Working with our many global carrier partners around the world to implement this process as a timely security update practice, we were able to roll out our inaugural Security Update in October so users can be assured that updates will be sent regularly, in addition to the defense-grade security that KNOX already provides.

We believe your personal privacy and security is of paramount importance, so we released My KNOX, which lets you control your own level of security. You can download the My KNOX app from my.samsungknox.com or Google Play, at no charge. Like enterprises, you can protect your data with the same level of security and privacy. You are in charge of your security settings, so that you have the ability to ensure that your private data stays private and protected.

KNOX Keeps Samsung Pay Safe, Too

Today, Samsung Pay is the most widely accepted mobile payment system in the world. Because it doesn’t require stores to install new software or devices, Samsung Pay can be used on almost any card reading device, just by holding it next to the magnetic reader.

KNOX protects your device on multiple levels to guard your data. With Samsung Pay, KNOX brings its hardware-backed security to the features of Samsung Pay to protect your transactions and personal information. In line with its industry-leading mobile security features, KNOX constantly monitors for malicious activity. KNOX puts to work a series of security features to protect the device, the payment information and the Samsung Pay application, so that customers can focus on shopping.

In addition to KNOX protection, all payment transactions also have three additional layers of security. The first layer is biometric authentication to prevent card fraud when phones are lost or stolen. Since payments are authorized with your fingerprint, your phone only allows payments with your consent. The second layer protecting Samsung Pay is KNOX, which constantly monitors for malware and suspicious activities on Samsung devices equipped with Samsung Pay. The third layer is tokenization of card payment data, which means each transaction uses a digital token instead of the card number.

In addition, if a smartphone is lost, the data in the device can be deleted remotely or the Samsung Pay function can be suspended through the “Find My Mobile” service.

Significant Progress in Mobile Security with Samsung KNOX

When we first introduced KNOX in 2013, it was a solid start to protecting devices and data contained on them. From day one, it has always been about protecting devices, starting from the hardware up.

Through a lot of hard work by my teammates around the globe, we delivered devices that proudly gained certification from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Since then, KNOX has evolved to be the industry leader in mobile security. It is known for delivering user-centric benefits that provide security and protection for both individuals and businesses.

The recognition we’ve received in the market since first launching KNOX has surpassed all others in the mobile security space, giving KNOX third-party validation. KNOX has received certifications from government agencies around the globe, including the U.S., the U.K., Korea, Australia and Finland. Additionally, in early 2015 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, KNOX Workspace won a Best Security Product award, with judges hailing that “the technology behind this product is a genuine and significant step forward in providing verifiable security on mobile devices.”

The goal is safeguarding all of our customers, from the largest organizations to each individual. We consider this to be one of our greatest investments, and it’s an area in which we will continue to build and expand.

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