▲ Samsung Electronics’ high-definition displays integrated with Logitech’s conference cameras, webcams and audio systems enable seamless collaboration for hybrid teams.

With the rise of flexible work environments, organizations require meeting spaces equipped with advanced video conferencing technology to enable seamless collaboration for distributed teams. Businesses can now leverage Samsung’s high-definition displays with Logitech’s conference cameras, webcams and audio systems to achieve crystal-clear video and sound, helping remote and in-person participants feel like they are in the same room. Samsung Interactive Displays also enable teams to connect, share ideas and whiteboard on a single screen. These meeting solutions make every participant feel equally engaged regardless of location.

▲ The Samsung Interactive Display is a powerhouse tool for team collaboration.

“Samsung and Logitech products empower teams to work better together,” said Sukhmani Mohta, Chief Marketing Officer, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “With purpose-built solutions that integrate effortlessly into today’s workplaces, we’re helping organizations to reimagine collaboration, spark creativity and achieve greater productivity. We are shaping the future of work by fostering deeper connections and creating fulfilling experiences for teams.”

▲ Samsung and Logitech solutions support dynamic and flexible workspaces for today’s employees.

Traditional workspaces are evolving into more dynamic and flexible environments. “Hot desking,” where employees can choose their workstation for a given day rather than having assigned desks, is supported by Samsung monitors that work seamlessly with Logi Dock Flex. This allows employees to quickly plug into any available desk and start working immediately. This streamlined experience minimizes technical challenges, reduces stress and promotes productivity in an adaptable workplace.

“Our partnership with Samsung is founded on shared values such as drive for innovation and focus on customer needs,” said Sudeep Trivedi, Head of Alliances and Go-to-Market, Logitech. “We collaborate to address challenges and anticipate the evolving needs of almost every industry. We’re eager to continue driving innovation, anticipating and fulfilling the needs of our customers in the years ahead.”

▲ Samsung and Logitech remain committed to building sustainable design into every product and empowering organizations to manage their energy consumption.

Samsung and Logitech also share a mutual commitment to building environmental sustainability into every product. Both companies have created solutions that automatically go into standby mode or turn off when not in use to help reduce energy consumption. Device management systems like Samsung SmartThings Pro offer remote control and monitoring of the performance and environmental impact of connected office technologies. Logitech’s ambitious climate strategy includes Design for Sustainability principles that have resulted in three out of four products using next-life, recycled plastics, 66% of products carbon labeled and 94% of the company’s electricity footprint coming from direct and indirect renewable electricity purchases.

▲ Samsung and Logitech help businesses to minimize technical challenges and promote productivity in adaptable workplaces.

At the Logitech Experience Center in San Jose, California, businesses can view Samsung and Logitech’s joint solutions in a realistic work environment. The collaborative space, which serves as both a fully functioning office for Logitech employees and a showroom for customers, demonstrates how these innovations can unlock new possibilities for modern workplaces.

To learn more about Samsung and Logitech’s immersive, integrated workplace solutions, read the full case study on their collaboration.

The latest agreement expands the collaboration to provide business customers with more convenient and valuable mobility experiences through SmartThings Pro. The B2B management platform offers efficient energy savings and integrated space management by connecting various devices, solutions and services across residential facilities to office buildings and commercial facilities. Attending the signing ceremony were Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President at Samsung’s B2B Integrated Offering Center, and Sangdae Kim, Head of Kia’s PBV Division.

“By integrating SmartThings Pro into Kia PBV, we plan to present an intelligent new way for businesses to be connected to their customers,” said Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President of B2B Integrated Offering Center at Samsung Electronics. “We will provide an optimized integrated store management experience based on customized solutions to cater for a range of B2B customers including the self-employed and small business owners.”

With the integration of SmartThings Pro and Kia PBV, B2B customers can connect their vehicles to external business spaces and execute automated routine controls set in vehicles to increase operational efficiency and convenience. For example, self-employed and small business owners who purchase Kia PBVs will be able to manage automation routines such as air conditioning, signage and home appliances in their stores through SmartThings Pro, making operation and management much more convenient.

Small business owners who remotely operate multiple unmanned stores or shared lodgings can use a Kia PBV to manage them in real time while on the move. As part of remote management, users can receive notifications of abnormal activity and device failures or maintenance. Users can also manage check-ins and check-outs, optimize air conditioning and prevent energy waste when customers are away.

Additionally, SmartThings Pro provides advance notifications of the on-site tasks that need to be carried out — such as consumable replacements and maintenance lists — tailored to the store or establishment where the PBV arrives, enabling easy operation.

SmartThings Pro also helps busy small mobile business owners like food truck operators. Food trucks move frequently and take time to prepare and organize signage, audio, cash registers, refrigerators, cooking appliances and lighting before and after hours of operation. With SmartThings Pro, users can be automate everything at once, allowing a single operator to run a food truck.

“Kia PBVs are designed to be more than just vehicles, they are intelligent business solutions that connect seamlessly with digital ecosystems,” said Sangdae Kim, Head of Kia’s PBV Division. “We anticipate that our business collaboration with Samsung Electronics, leveraging its AI B2B solution SmartThings Pro, will extend the vehicle user experience for our business customers beyond PBVs into the broader IoT ecosystem. This partnership is expected to create new opportunities for discovering customer value.”

¹ Platform Beyond Vehicle is Kia’s total mobility solution that combines fit-for-purpose EVs with advanced software solutions.

Samsung Electronics today announced a new partnership with F45 Training¹ — a leading global fitness community specializing in group workouts that are fast, fun and results-driven — to bring the brand’s functional training workouts to Samsung TV users via Samsung Daily+.² The partnership with F45 Training will provide free access to a library of cardio, strength, hybrid and recovery workouts, which will grow over the coming months to include additional content, enhancing the at-home fitness experience for global users.

“Our objective is to create a central hub that offers fun and unique workouts to help each of our users achieve their personal fitness goals,” said Demian Hyun, Vice President and Head of the Experience Planning Group of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Partnering with F45 Training on Samsung Daily+ underscores our commitment to delivering digital health experiences and improving consumers’ well-being.”

“For many, the idea of starting a fitness journey can feel overwhelming and intimidating, but that doesn’t mean people should miss out on the life changing benefits of working out,” said Tom Dowd, Chief Executive Officer for F45 Training. “Utilizing the power of technology through this new partnership with Samsung Electronics, users can experience F45 Training workouts from the comfort of their home, getting used to the class formats and building confidence to seamlessly transition to in-person training at one of our world-wide studio locations.”

Since 2013, F45 Training has provided group workouts with innovative technology to an ever-growing community at the company’s studios, spanning 65 countries. F45 Training’s holistic approach to health and wellness has fostered community among its members by offering an engaging and supportive environment for all fitness levels. Through its efficient 45-minute sessions, F45 Training provides access to workouts that deliver results in a shorter amount of time, making it easy to fit exercise into even the busiest of schedules.

“At F45 Training, innovation and technology are at the core of our brand. Our collaboration with Samsung to become the first fitness franchise offering our at-home, on-demand cardio, strength, hybrid and recovery workouts on the Samsung Daily+ platform exemplifies our commitment to staying ahead of the curve”, said Brian Killingsworth, Chief Marketing Officer, F45 Training. “This achievement highlights our relentless drive to integrate cutting-edge technology into our fitness experience, ensuring that F45 continues to lead the industry and redefine what’s possible in the world of fitness.”

Led by a team of diverse athletes, all F45 workouts can be easily modified to fit a variety of needs, ensuring everyone can participate and reap the benefits of the training regardless of where they are in their fitness journey. Through Samsung’s new partnership with F45 Training, Samsung Daily+ app users can enjoy a number of key benefits afforded by F45’s unique workouts, including:

• Functional and Science-Backed Workouts: F45’s workouts improve everyday movements by incorporating exercises that mimic real-life activities. Developed with the latest exercise science, these sessions build lean muscle, enhance cardiovascular health and improve daily functionality.
• Variety of Workouts: The app offers four types of workouts: Hybrid, Cardio, Strength and Recovery. With access to on-demand training and a diverse workout library curated by F45’s Global Athletics Team, users can choose from a variety of workouts, ensuring their routines remain fresh, exciting and never repetitive.
• Community, Support and Motivation: The F45 Life area offers motivational content and links to nearby F45 studios, combining the ease of at-home workouts with the support and motivation of a global fitness community.

The Samsung Daily+ lifestyle hub, powered by Samsung Tizen OS, delivers virtual health and wellness experiences with unmatched convenience and accessibility. Beyond F45 Training, Samsung Daily+ offers extensive health and wellness options through additional partners to provide users with many ways to support their individual fitness journey.

Samsung Daily+ also provides personalized service and recommendations through apps like SmartThings, Samsung Health and Workspace. It allows users to manage daily activities easily with a single interface on Smart TVs and enjoy home fitness, telehealth services, video calls and more.³

For more information on Samsung Daily+, visit Samsung.com.

About F45 Training

F45 Training (“F45” or the “Company”) is a leading boutique fitness franchise platform operating the F45 Training, FS8, and VAURA brands. F45 Training is a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout that utilizes proprietary technology, including a proven fitness platform that leverages a rich content database of thousands of unique functional training movements that offer members new workout experiences each day. FS8 is a progressive new fitness concept that remixes the best elements of Pilates, tone, and yoga into a 3-in-1 low-impact, high-energy workout. VAURA is a sensory athletic reformer Pilates experience designed to energize every cell of your body. Additionally, recovery services are available at participating studios including state of the art sauna, cold plunges and percussion therapy. F45 Training is committed to supporting our expanding global franchise network in the high-growth boutique fitness category. Join the pinnacle of fitness franchising with three globally renowned concepts: F45 Training, the leading HIIT training chain worldwide, along with our distinctive Pilates brands, VAURA and FS8. Discover more at https://f45training.com, https://fs8.com and https://vaurapilates.com.

¹ F45 Training app is available through Samsung Daily+ on all 2024 Samsung TV models: Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED, OLED, UHD (above DU7000), and The Frame worldwide. TV model users can download the F45 Training app through the app store. The content is provided primarily in English and supported with subtitles.
² A lifestyle content hub with curated apps and features designed to enrich your everyday life.
³ Its supported features and apps may vary depending on the country.

“In 2024, Samsung TV users can now see the TV as not only a central entertainment hub but also a means to enrich the lifestyle— especially for fitness,” said Demian Hyun, Vice President and Head of the Experience Planning Group of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited to bring Technogym to Samsung TVs because the experience fits right in with our drive to provide more immersive and personalized experiences for users.”

“Within our Technogym Ecosystem open platform strategy, the integration with Samsung TVs represents another step toward reaching more consumers within our wellness vision to help people live better lives through regular physical exercise,” said Nerio Alessandri, Technogym President and CEO.

Trainer-Led Sessions and Customized Programs

The Technogym app offers over 130 trainer-led sessions to help users reach their goals, perform better and stay motivated. Everything from high intensity cardio and bodyweight routines, to mindful yoga sessions, Pilates and meditations are led by Technogym’s certified trainers and are specially designed to be done in front of a screen.

Upon signing into the Technogym app on Samsung Daily+, each user is greeted with training programs tailored to their personal goals, whether it is building strength, improving endurance or enhancing overall health. The app not only tracks and logs progress but also offers personalized recommendations, ensuring a workout regimen that adapts to users’ evolving fitness journeys.

But the Technogym app isn’t just about individual workouts. It also curates a selection of popular workout sessions, including “Most Performed Routines” and “Most Loved Session Episodes.” These sessions are not just about getting fit; they are about joining a community, sharing trends and motivating each other through a shared fitness experience.

Comprehensive Workout Options — Anytime, Anywhere

The Technogym app on Samsung TVs elevates at-home workouts by offering ultimate convenience and access. The basic app is free, with the option for a premium subscription that provides access to exclusive, more in-depth workout content. Users can effortlessly track their workout history on any device through their Technogym account, ensuring a continuous and integrated fitness journey.

Additionally, the app combines Samsung’s immersive screen technology with specialized workout programs using Technogym’s cutting-edge equipment for all-encompassing workout sessions.

Users can browse a broad and diverse library with video training sessions, which include strength, yoga, cardio, Pilates, meditation and body weight. They can choose different levels, from beginner to the advanced. New workouts are published regularly so the experience remains fresh and engaging. Moreover, Samsung TV users can download the Technogym mobile app to access their personalized profile with the same credentials anytime and anywhere.

About Technogym

Technogym is a global leading brand in the wellness and fitness industry, is known for its premium equipment and fitness content that elevate the workout experience in both gyms and homes alike. As the official supplier for the last nine Olympic Games, including the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, Technogym’s cutting-edge equipment and extensive library of on-demand videos reach over 85,000 fitness centers and 400,000 homes around the world.

¹ Technogym app is available through Samsung Daily+ on all 2024 Samsung TV models: Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED, OLED, UHD (above DU7000) and The Frame worldwide. TV model users can download the Technogym app through the app store. The content is provided primarily in English and supported with subtitles.
² Samsung Daily+, a hub for lifestyle experiences, provides a wide range of services and features — from personal training and telehealth to video calls and remote PC solutions — in one single interface.

Best known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York, Kaufman took advantage of the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s filming capabilities to create a short visual art film in beautiful, crystal-clear detail. The film, titled Jackals and Fireflies, is based on a poem by Eva H.D., who plays the role of poet, narrator and lead actor in this uniquely Kaufmanesque love letter to New York City. Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Nightography allowed acclaimed Director of Photography Chayse Irvin to effectively capture New York’s famous night scenes, revealing the City to viewers as if they were witnessing with their own eyes. Kaufman found shooting with Galaxy to be an “effective approach” for bringing the film to life, and is very happy with the final result, adding that “the finished product is beautiful.”

The partnership builds on the Filmed #withGalaxy campaign, which invites visionary directors to demonstrate that the Galaxy S Series is the perfect tool they need to share their epic stories with the world. In October 2021, world-renowned British director Joe Wright used the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 13mm Ultra-Wide lens to shoot his short film Princess and Peppernose. In November 2021, up and coming Chinese director Sha Mo used the Galaxy S21 Ultra to capture the visually stunning Kids of Paradise.

Where To See Jackals and Fireflies

Jackals and Fireflies will be unveiled exclusively at the Galaxy Experience Space in San Francisco coming with Galaxy Unpacked event on February 1. Kaufman will also present the film at a later date in New York City.

Samsung will continue to set epic standards for the smartphone experience at Galaxy Unpacked, with camera capabilities being at the forefront of the new premium Galaxy innovations.

Stay tuned on samsungmobilepress.com for all the upcoming teasers, trailers and news about Jackals and Fireflies as well as Galaxy Unpacked 2023.

That’s thanks in large part to the collaboration between Samsung and Wacom, a leading technology company that specializes in interactive pen displays and graphics tablets. For over 10 years the two companies have collaborated to deliver meaningful innovation to customers.

Now, with the Galaxy Book Pro 360, Samsung and Wacom have drawn on a decade of collaboration to redefine the S Pen for modern computing devices. With a more comfortable grip, and an improved writing experience, the advanced S Pen delivers ultimate creativity and productivity for Galaxy Book Pro 360 users.

“We are honored to have supported Samsung’s S Pen and digital ink technology for over 10 years,” said Nobu Ide, President and CEO of Wacom. “The Galaxy Book Pro 360 demonstrates the strengths of our ever-growing collaboration.”

Since launching the first Galaxy Note in 2011, Samsung has been a pioneer in creating mobile experiences for large-screen devices. Realizing that larger screens had potential for entirely new features, Samsung and Wacom joined forces to create the S Pen. With the success of the partnership, Samsung has brought the S Pen to an ever-expanding line-up of devices, including the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Galaxy Tab S7/S7+.

What started as a stylus for notetaking has evolved into an iconic creativity and productivity tool that allows users to do everything from creating digital art to snapping photos and controlling professional presentations. Along the way, Wacom has played an integral role in the development of the S Pen.

“Our partnership with Wacom has allowed us to expand the possibilities of mobile devices,” said Inkang Song, Vice President and Head of Technology Strategy Group of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “Thanks to our collaborative effort, we’ve delivered truly unique digital pen experiences that have created a loyal Galaxy fan base.”

Those Galaxy fans will find that Samsung and Wacom have once again delivered an unparalleled S Pen experience with the Galaxy Book Pro 360. An upgraded S Pen comes right in the box, delivering a more true-to-life writing and drawing experience.

“The S Pen allows users to get creative, composed, and organized so they can create content and communicate more effectively,” said Ide. “Large-screen devices like the Galaxy Book Pro 360 give people more surface area to play with, giving them more room to create and work.”

Not only do the large display and S Pen give users more ways to create and work, the versatility of the Galaxy Book Pro 360 makes it the perfect device for the new world of remote work and learning.

“With the rapid changes in the way we work and learn, laptops play a more central role in our lives than ever before,” said Song. “The Galaxy Book Pro 360 maximizes productivity and creativity, and with features like the S Pen, users can get more out of their device when taking notes, editing, giving presentations, or creating art.”

Empowering creative expression, the Galaxy Book Pro 360’s S Pen has been made thicker to better mimic a real pen and deliver a more comfortable notetaking experience. Its ergonomic and responsive design also allows artists to sketch and draw more freely. So whether you are jotting down notes during a lecture, taking meeting minutes, or drawing digital portraits, it feels just as comfortable as using a real pen. Best of all, the Galaxy Book Pro 360’s S Pen is compatible with other S Pen-enabled Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S21 Ultra. However, refining the S Pen’s improved experience wasn’t without its challenges.

While studying the way users engage with the S Pen during intensive tasks on devices like PCs and tablets, Samsung and Wacom discovered there was a need to reduce fatigue when drawing and notetaking, as well as a need to make it feel more like using a real pen.

“We tried various types of materials to coat the pen to keep users from feeling tired after using the S Pen for a long time,” said Ide. “We landed on a special paint ingredient that delivers a better feeling grip. We also refined the pen tip to ensure a reliable writing and drawing experience and more accurate ink line production.”

The Galaxy Book Pro 360’s S Pen represents both a step forward for Samsung’s partnership with Wacom, as well as the next step in digital pen and ink technology. As both companies continue to innovate, the future of the S Pen is more promising than ever. In addition to developing more powerful, and versatile S Pens, Samsung is continuously expanding the range of compatible devices.

“We have worked closely with Wacom to deliver meaningful innovation for the S Pen. Our partnership will continue to grow as we create more innovative devices with S Pen support,” said Song. “Thanks to our collaboration, the S Pen has become an iconic part of the Galaxy experience, and we are always thinking about ways to add value to our customers. From smartphones, to tablets and PCs, Galaxy fans can expect to see more devices with S Pens so they can be productive and creative wherever they go.”

Samsung is working to meet the demands of mobile lifestyles with a new generation of PCs that combine the power of a laptop with the DNA of a Galaxy smartphone. As announced during the most recent Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, the company worked closely with its longstanding, trusted partner, Intel, to develop a new lineup of devices built to transform the future of mobile computing – the Galaxy Book series.

▲ (From Left) Chris Walker, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Client Platforms, Intel, and Dr. Hark-Sang Kim, Executive Vice President and the Head of New Computing R&D Team of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics

Reimagining Mobile Computing

Samsung and Intel have a long history of collaboration and co-innovation. Brought together by a shared vision to deliver premier computing experiences, the partnership has enabled Samsung to combine its industry-leading mobile ecosystem with Intel’s innovative PC ecosystem to create devices that are purpose-built for today’s multi-device world.

“Our teams have jointly invested thousands of engineering hours to ensure deep integration at the platform level. We bring the best of both companies to provide a unified experience across all devices with mobility, connectivity and performance,” explained Chris Walker, Intel’s Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Client Platforms, who oversees the company’s product roadmap, engineering, and customer engagement across all mobility segments.

Dr. Hark-Sang Kim, Executive Vice President and the Head of New Computing R&D Team of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, emphasized that the partnership is driven by the shared mission to innovate quickly to meet the demands of users’ evolving needs.

“Our customers expect their smartphones to offer power and productivity comparable to their PCs, and they want their PCs to behave more like their smartphones, providing connectivity and portability. They also expect reliability, with the assurance that the apps they need will work perfectly, without compatibility issues or hassle. These evolving needs have reenergized Samsung and Intel’s partnership, resulting in even deeper collaboration,” said Dr. Kim.

As part of its work with Samsung, Intel established a co-engineering team dedicated to advancing mobile computing innovation and strengthening cross-devices experiences.

“Samsung continues to reimagine PC design for the future. Together, we’re thinking a step ahead of how people use devices and where they’ll take them,” said Walker. “By blending the best of the smartphone, tablet, and PC, we’ve built a new device class.”

A New Standard of Performance in an Ultra-Thin Form Factor

For several years, Samsung and Intel have been working together to create a new category of devices that deliver unparalleled connected experiences for today’s mobile-first consumers. Following thousands of hours of collaboration, the teams realized their vision in the latest Galaxy Book series.

“This partnership had an immediate impact on the next generation of Galaxy Books. The Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 are optimized for the best Intel Evo platform, ensuring powerful performance and an ultra-thin design for maximum portability and connectivity,” said Dr. Kim. “Galaxy Book users will also enjoy enhanced connectivity with always-connected LTE or 5G and more efficient Wi-Fi connectivity with the most advanced standard available today, Wi-Fi 6E.”¹

Powered by 11th Gen Intel® Core processors and Intel® Iris® X^e graphics, the Galaxy Book series is built to make consumers’ everyday lives simpler, smoother, and more intuitive. Engineers at Samsung and Intel also worked hand-in-hand to ensure that the two devices would Intel Evo platform-verified, guaranteeing that they would provide the powerful performance that users need.

“By measuring workflows under real-world conditions for consistent performance and battery life together, the teams delivered the best possible laptop experience in these thin, light and super sleek form factor,”² explained Walker. “The Galaxy Book Pro series is unique because it has the incredible thinness and responsiveness of a smartphone with the performance of a powerful PC. Together, Samsung and Intel delivered on the promise of uncompromised mobility. We’re setting a new standard for computing.”

Driven by a vision to realize seamless connectivity across devices, Samsung and Intel collaborated to add the SmartThings Find capabilities to the new Galaxy Books.

“More mobile and flexible lifestyles also mean more opportunities to forget your device somewhere. Samsung and Intel worked to fully optimize Intel Bluetooth drivers in order to power Samsung SmartThings Find, an exclusive device location service that provides a sense of security and peace of mind for users on the go,” Dr. Kim explained.

Not only did the project bring SmartThings Find to the Galaxy Books, but the experience also laid the blueprint for future collaborative efforts.

“This has been a true co-engineering effort between Samsung and Intel to deliver this feature in record time, and we will use this to continue to deliver innovation for Samsung devices going forward,” said Walker.

Devices Built for the New Normal

Since virtual connections have become more central to people’s professional and personal lives than ever before, Samsung and Intel engineers focused on creating enhanced collaboration experiences for the Galaxy Book series.

“Our devices should be able to adapt to the way we work. With the Galaxy Book series, we wanted to give users the ability to communicate clearly with others, no matter where they are,” said Dr. Kim.

Harnessing the capabilities of the Intel Gaussian and Neural Accelerator 2.0, or Intel GNA 2.0, Intelligent Noise Cancelling uses artificial intelligence to remove distracting background noises, such as barking dogs, doorbells, and vacuum cleaners, from voice and video calls. Combined with AI-accelerated background blur and integrated Intel® Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), the Galaxy Book Pro series delivers unmatched video conferencing experiences.

And to help users accomplish more on the go, Samsung and Intel joined forces to bring powerful connectivity solutions to the Galaxy Book series.

“Building on its extensive experience and in-depth expertise in developing mobile connectivity features for Galaxy smartphones, Samsung worked closely with Intel to equip the Galaxy Book Pro line up with three industry-leading connectivity solutions from Intel, including Wi-Fi 6E,³ 5G, and custom Bluetooth enablement. These technologies together enable easy access to gigabit-plus speeds across devices,” said Walker.

Creating Devices for an Inter-Connected World

The Galaxy Book series marks a new chapter in the partnership between Intel and Samsung. The experience not only led to the development of category-defying devices, but also built the foundation for the next stage of innovation.

“Through strategic partnership and technical cooperation, Intel and Samsung will continue to work towards our shared goal of creating next-generation mobile computing experiences to meet users’ needs,” said Dr. Kim. “Moving forward, Intel and Samsung will deliver even more optimization, reliability, and custom experiences to bring your Galaxy Book to the center of your connected world, allowing you to do more wherever you are.”

Aside from improving device capabilities, the partnership also promises to deliver technologies that will change the future of mobile computing.

“We plan to collaborate on new leading-edge technologies, including our Intel Core processors leveraging multiple types of XPU cores, unique PC designs aligned with Galaxy DNA, more personalized computing through enhanced AI technology, and a stronger continuity of experience across devices,” said Walker.

¹ Wi-Fi 6E availability will vary. Wi-Fi 6E wireless network router required and sold separately.

² As measured by industry benchmark and Representative Usage Guides testing and unique features of 11th Gen Intel® Core i7 processors that power designs, which are co-engineered as part of Intel’s comprehensive laptop innovation program Project Athena then tested, measured, and verified against a premium specification and key experience indicators to ensure unparalleled user experiences. Learn more at www.intel.com/Evo

³ Wi-Fi 6E availability will vary. Wi-Fi 6E wireless network router required and sold separately.

To learn more about the Galaxy Fold and how it establishes an all-new user-experience platform, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Jisun Park, Vice President of Strategic Partner R&D Group, and Sally Jeong, Vice President of Framework R&D Group at Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Division.

(From left) Jisun Park, Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Strategic Partner R&D Group, and Sally Jeong, Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Framework R&D Group

Bigger is Better

The Galaxy Fold’s spacious, 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display is proof of the old adage that “bigger is better.”

As Jeong explained, one of the biggest realizations that the Galaxy Fold’s development team came to when testing the device was just how transformative a foldable device can have on the mobile experience.

“Before the development of the Galaxy Fold, I had a smartphone and a tablet, but the combination of the two created an entirely new experience,” said Jeong. “The larger screen completely changed things like watching movies, checking email and catching up on the news, to the point that I could no longer be satisfied with a smaller screen.”

Park also discussed the experience of using the Galaxy Fold, remarking that it is not only the presence of the big screen that makes the new device special, but the ways in which it has been optimized according to its shape and size.

“With the Galaxy Fold, it’s not just that the screen is bigger, but that the device has been optimized for two-handed use. One example is that the split keyboard feature allows the user to type comfortably when they are holding the wider device in two hands. What’s more, the camera button changes position fluidly when the phone is switched from portrait to landscape mode, and the home key can be aligned to either side of the screen so that the user doesn’t have to reposition their hand to reach it.”

With the Galaxy Fold’s official launch on September 6^th in Korea, users can now experience firsthand what makes the device such a game changer.

A Multitasking Machine

Unfolding the Galaxy Fold’s Infinity Flex Display opens up a world of possibility in terms of multitasking. This is possible thanks to innovations like App Continuity and Multi-Active Window, which make it easy for users to take full advantage of the Galaxy Fold’s versatility.

According to Park, Samsung had been prioritizing enabling users to launch and utilize up to three apps simultaneously since the earliest stages of the Galaxy Fold’s development. Multi-Active Window makes this possible, allowing users to take their multitasking, entertainment and content consumption to the next level.

When gaming, for example, Multi-Active Window enables users to launch an app like YouTube and simultaneously watch walkthrough videos of the game while they’re playing. It also makes balancing multiple tasks, including messaging friends, browsing the web and viewing multimedia, a breeze.

A Bold Vision

The Galaxy Fold is a bold device with a bold vision for the future of the smartphone. It’s a vision that’s built on hardware and apps that power richer content consumption, superior multitasking, and that opens the door for users to enjoy new mobile experiences.

To help carry out that vision, Samsung’s developers have been working closely with Google and other major partners to enrich the Galaxy Fold’s ecosystem with popular apps and services available today. And their efforts have paid off. The development team has optimized hundreds of the most frequently used apps for the Galaxy Fold – including popular apps like YouTube, Facebook and Microsoft Office.

Both Jeong and Park described Samsung’s partnership with Google as key to establishing a smooth and efficient app-optimization process for the Galaxy Fold. “We formed a collaborative taskforce with Google at the very beginning of the development process,” said Jeong, “and we’ve been building this foldable ecosystem together ever since.”

They pointed to the Galaxy Fold’s App Continuity feature as a notable example of this collaboration. Realizing this feature, which enables apps to seamlessly transition between the cover and main displays when users open and close the device, required Samsung’s developers to completely rethink conventional app operations. The challenge was the fact that the Galaxy Fold not only has two screens, but that the aspect ratios of the screens are so drastically different. What’s more, developers needed to create a seamless transition where the user opens their device, and the app they were using on the front screen transitions in its optimized form to the larger screen without stopping or restarting. Fortunately, the development team were up to the task.

Another challenge that the team faced stemmed from Android’s traditional method of managing multiple apps. As Park explained, “With ‘standard’ Android, once two apps are activated, one of them is inevitably stopped.” To solve this issue, Jeong said, the team collaborated with Google to build an all-new multi-window system that was optimized for the Galaxy Fold’s larger screen.

Assisting Developers

With each component of the Galaxy Fold’s foldable UI in place, Samsung and Google started developing the framework necessary for developers to test and optimize their apps for this new device.

Test labs were set up in Korea, the U.S. and China to offer Android developers a chance to familiarize themselves with the device’s foldable UI and update their apps. To open the door for more developers to innovate within this foldable ecosystem, Samsung released a number of easily accessible online resources, including a ‘remote test lab,’ which was supported by Google, and allows developers to test-run apps on their PC using a virtual Galaxy Fold device, and an emulator.

Together, these resources offer developers the tools they need to optimize their apps for the interface of the future. And according to Park, plenty of developers have already jumped on board.

“Our partners and developers have shown tremendous interest in developing apps for the new form factor,” said Park. “We plan to expand our test labs soon to create more opportunities for developers to enrich the Galaxy Fold’s ecosystem with dynamic apps.”

The Future for Foldable

Several of the innovations created during the development process, including App Continuity and Multi-Active Window, have not only made the Galaxy Fold’s user experience more seamless and intuitive; they’ve also set a standard for foldable phones to follow.

As a result of Samsung’s close collaboration with Google, beginning with Android’s newest version, Android 10, both of the aforementioned innovations will be included as standard features for foldable phones. “When Android 10 rolls out and becomes the new standard for Android devices,” Jeong explained, “it will lead more developers to keep foldable-phone users in mind when developing apps.”

Ongoing partnerships with Google and major app developers will help Samsung enrich the Galaxy Fold’s app ecosystem with even more dynamic services – services that will only get better with the latest 5G network.

“The combination of the Galaxy Fold’s large display and 5G’s rapid speeds will revolutionize how we utilize everyday apps and enjoy a wide range of content,” said Park. “That also includes services like 4K streaming, which means that, for instance, users will be able to comfortably view multiple video streams at the same time on their Galaxy Fold’s spacious display.”

Jeong notes that the development process to optimize apps is happening quickly. She remarks that this “rapid optimization” is accelerating the company’s ability to bring a well-rounded foldable experience to users.

If an app has not yet been optimized for the Galaxy Fold, she continued, the smartphone’s built-in app-optimizing technology will help ensure that content is displayed in a way that makes full use of the device’s large display and foldable form. “With a tap of a button, the device automatically converts the app’s size and ratio to fit the display, so users don’t experience any discomfort.”

As Park noted, through app optimization, extensive testing, and by the forging of exciting partnerships, Samsung is “laying the foundation for a seamless and diverse foldable ecosystem – with the Galaxy Fold leading the industry forward.”

“Our ultimate goal is to inspire users with a new and innovative mobile experience,” added Jeong. “Going forward, we will continue to support the development of apps that leverage the foldable UX in incredible ways, and power all-new experiences within this growing ecosystem.”

Read on to learn more about the new fitness band’s ergonomic design, robust fitness tracking capabilities and premium partnerships that help users get the most out of their workouts.

Stylishly Designed with Lifestyle in Mind

Available in Red (left) and Black (right), the Gear Fit2 Pro is a stylish accessory that blends seamlessly with both workwear and activewear.

Featuring a lightweight, ergonomic design with an enhanced watch-style clasp, the Gear Fit2 Pro provides a comfortable fit during exercise sessions and other everyday activities. The fitness band’s Super AMOLED curved 1.5-inch display with a high-resolution color touchscreen adds to the user experience by making messages easier to type and notifications easier to read.

But the device’s design isn’t all about functionality. Available in Black and Red, and featuring linear and geometric band patterns, respectively, its polished, sleek aesthetic also makes it a stylish accessory that blends seamlessly with both workwear and activewear. Furthermore, with Small (125-165mm) and Large (158-205mm) strap options, and approximately 3,000 interchangeable display faces that are either preloaded or can be downloaded via the Galaxy Apps store directly from the device, the Gear Fit2 Pro can easily be personalized to fit the user’s individual style.

Users can select from approximately 3,000 interchangeable display faces to personalize their Gear Fit2 Pro.

Preloaded display faces can be further stylized to fit the user’s preferences, while additional display faces can be downloaded via the Galaxy Apps store.

Ideal for Swimmers with 5 ATM Water Resistance and Speedo On

A water resistance rating of 5 ATM (50 meters) under ISO standard 22810:2010¹ enables advanced swim tracking and monitoring directly from the Gear Fit2 Pro to allow users to measure their key swim metrics for better results. Furthermore, when users begin tracking their swimming session, the device automatically activates the Water Lock Mode, which prevents its screen from being accidentally triggered when touched by water.

Speedo On, Speedo’s first wearable swim tracking app, comes preloaded on the device, and allows users to track, analyze and share their swim data with other swimmers. The app measures and tracks key swim metrics such as stroke type, lap time, SWOLF, pace and more, all the while offering personalized tips, training plans and drill videos. After transferring the data to the corresponding app on the user’s smartphone, Speedo On syncs the user’s data with Samsung Health so they can get a more comprehensive view of their overall fitness progress.

GPS and Precise Tracking Features to Improve Well-Being

With a variety of intuitive fitness tracking features, the Gear Fit2 Pro gives users more control over their fitness routines and general well-being.

Its built-in GPS offers precise tracking² of users’ swimming, running, cycling and hiking data, including distance traveled, speed and calories burned, allowing users to accurately monitor their progress throughout their workout directly from the device itself.

Automatic activity detection also recognizes users’ movements and automatically tracks activities including running, walking, cycling, elliptical and rowing machine, as well as other dynamic activities such as dancing and tennis after the user has been exercising for more than 10 minutes. Moreover, users can manually select up to 17 workout categories to track additional activities based on their needs.

Similarly, real-time, continuous heart rate monitoring with improved accuracy tracks every second of the user’s heart rate and provides them with detailed feedback. The device measures maximum heart rate³ and breaks it down into three zones (moderate, vigorous and maximum) so users can stay informed and motivated throughout the day, whether they’re enjoying a stress-free snooze or an invigorating cycling class.

Because the Gear Fit2 Pro tracks the user’s activity for 24 hours a day, the user is able to not only monitor their exercise, but can also view information about the quality of their sleep as well as the number of calories that they burn throughout the day.

Premium Partnerships for a More Connected Life

Adding to the Gear Fit2 Pro’s robust tracking capabilities are an assortment of unique partnerships with industry-leading brands such as Spotify, Under Armour and, as previously mentioned, Speedo that help to deliver premium fitness experiences.

The Gear Fit2 Pro is the first wearable to offer Spotify Offline mode.⁴ This means that users can store and listen to up to 500 songs – even when they’re offline or without their smartphone⁵ – so they can stay entertained and motivated even during the most grueling of workouts.

Samsung’s Under Armour partnership provides users with access to the brand’s popular fitness apps⁶ that offer a connected experience via exclusive features including activity, nutrition and social functions. Users will also have access to a one-year free membership of premium access to content on MyFitnessPal, MapMyRun and Endomondo, including personal training plans, advanced statistics and a nutrition dashboard. Under Armour’s apps sync with Samsung Health to make it easier to keep track of fitness data and workouts no matter which app the user is in.

Samsung’s Gear Fit2 Pro is now available for purchase in select markets.

¹ Water-resistant in up to 50 meters of water under defined conditions of pressure, time, velocity and temperature per ISO 22810:2010 certification. Not intended for deep-water snorkeling, scuba diving or waterskiing. Avoid excessive, sudden temperature changes and high-velocity water activities. Falls and shocks may breach integrity. Rinse in fresh water and dry after use in sea water.

² GPS accuracy may be affected by factors such as weather conditions, trees, buildings/structures and satellite interference.

³ MHR (Maximum Heart Rate) = 220 – Age, Moderate: 50~70% of MHR / Vigorous: 70~90% of MHR / Maximum: 90~100% of MHR

⁴ A Spotify Premium subscription is required to play music offline.

⁵ The Gear Fit2 Pro is compatible with Samsung Galaxy devices (Android 4.3 or later) and other Android devices (Android 4.4 or later), as well as iOS devices for iPhone 5 or later (iOS 9.0 and above).

⁶ Under Armour’s MapMyRun, Endomondo and Under Armour Record for Gear devices are not supported in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Under Armour’s MyFitness Pal for Gear devices is not supported in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

20^th Century Fox, Panasonic Corporation and Samsung Electronics announced today a new partnership to create an open, royalty-free dynamic metadata platform for High Dynamic Range (HDR) through an associated certification and logo program, tentatively called HDR10+. Together, the three companies will form a licensing entity that will begin licensing the HDR10+ platform in January 2018. The entity will license the metadata broadly to content companies, ultra-high definition TVs, Blu-ray disc players/recorders and set-top box manufacturers, as well as SoC vendors, royalty-free with only a nominal administrative fee.

“As leaders in home entertainment content and hardware, the three companies are ideal partners for bringing HDR10+ into the homes of consumers everywhere,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are committed to making the latest technology available in our TVs and are confident that HDR10+ will deliver premium quality content and enhance the way you experience television programs and movies in the home.”

HDR10+ is a cutting-edge technology, building upon the benefits of HDR televisions, which offers the best possible viewing experience for next generation displays. HDR10+ provides unprecedented picture quality on all displays with brightness, color, and contrast automatically optimized for each scene. In previous iterations, static tone mapping applied a fixed enhancement across an entire piece of content. With HDR10+ dynamic tone mapping, every scene is individually enhanced to bring to life vibrant visuals and achieve unprecedented picture quality. This new enhanced visual experience will allow consumers to see pictures that match the intention of filmmakers.

“HDR10+ is a technological step forward that optimizes picture quality for next generation displays,” said Danny Kaye, Executive Vice President at 20th Century Fox and Managing Director of the Fox Innovation Lab. “HDR10+ provides dynamic metadata, which precisely describes every scene to deliver unprecedented picture quality. Working in partnership with Panasonic and Samsung through the Fox Innovation Lab, we are able to bring new platforms like HDR10+ to the market that more accurately realize the vision of our filmmakers beyond the theater.”

There are several key benefits for partners who wish to adopt the platform for their HDR10+ compliant products. HDR10+ offers system flexibility, allowing a variety of partners, including content creators, content distributors, TV manufacturers and device makers, to incorporate this platform and improve the viewing experience for audiences. The HDR10+ platform was designed to allow for future development and innovation in order to deliver a more powerful technology in the years to come.

“Panasonic has a long history of working with industry leaders to develop lasting technical formats. We are delighted to work together with 20th Century Fox and Samsung to develop a new HDR format, which will bring consumers so many benefits,” said Yuki Kusumi, Executive Officer at Panasonic. “By offering considerable HDR picture quality improvements across a wider range of TVs while accelerating the amount of premium HDR content available, we expect HDR10+ to quickly become the defacto HDR format.”

This year’s IFA attendees are encouraged to visit the Samsung Electronics and Panasonic booths to learn more about HDR10+ technology.

20^th Century Fox, Panasonic and Samsung will announce further details on the license program along with a demonstration of HDR10+ technology at CES 2018.

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film. TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions as well as all third party distribution partners on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, Digital HD, and VOD (video-on-demand). Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets and digital stores throughout the world.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018, the company has expanded globally and now operates 495 subsidiaries and 91 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.343 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2017. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global.

The interactive event offers attendees up-close looks at convenient Tizen-based products made possible through collaboration with innovative partners from around the globe. Among the showcased innovations are solutions that allow more businesses and users to streamline connections in their work and daily life, and make it easier for developers to innovate within the Tizen ecosystem.

Check out some of the seamless products and solutions for yourself in the photos below.

Attendees view a demonstration of location sharing platform Glympse’s Family Map service, which allows users to seamlessly share their location using a variety of devices within the Tizen ecosystem, including Samsung’s Gear S3 and Family Hub refrigerator.

A display demonstrates how the workflow of the You.i Engine app platform makes it easy to port comprehensive C++ based apps onto Tizen TV apps using NaCl (Native Client).

Attendees view a video that’s been optimized for Smart TVs with NexStreaming‘s NexPlayer for Tizen, a video player SDK for Tizen-based apps that offers video service providers advanced playback and customization tools.

New Cloud Technologies’ comprehensive, Tizen-based MyOffice/Collabio productivity suite features apps that allow users to access and share documents, edit text and spreadsheets, view presentations and manage emails.

NIISOKB‘s SafePhone is a mobile device management solution that allows administrators to lock and unlock devices remotely, send secure messages, and manage applications, including browsers and cameras.

The exhibit for Tekoia’s OCF (Open Connectivity Foundation) certified ‘SURE Universal Remote’ app demonstrates its ability to seamlessly manage OCF-compliant devices through an Android mobile phone.

Accedo’s exhibit showcases its framework for deploying apps on top of the Tizen SDK and focuses on the ‘10-foot UX’, which considers the user’s experience viewing a smart TV from a 10-foot distance.

Fuse’s exhibit features a live demo of the Fuse UX engine, designed to address current app development challenges. Utilizing Fuse’s UX, intuitive Markup and JavaScript allows developers to produce a sophisticated, beautifully animated UI/UX that runs natively on multiple platforms – all without writing enormous amounts of code.

The Institute for System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ISP RAS), a research organization that specializes in system programming, showcases how the Svace static analysis tool may be used to check Tizen codes for defects and potential vulnerabilities.

Kyrio Security Services, a cyber security provider trusted by some of the largest device networks in the world, outlines its efforts to make device manufacturers’ IoT security implementations simple, strong and effective.

Optimized for Tizen-based smartphones, Android to Tizen’s (A2T) Wish mobile app makes it easy to browse a worldwide selection of trending fashion, electronics and more, and facilitates simple and secure purchases.

TecAce’s exhibit features demonstrations of B2C and B2B apps designed for Tizen wearables. Showcased apps include Gear For Nest, a connected-home application that allows users to conveniently control their Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Cam security camera via their Gear S3, as well as Retail Checkout, a smart mobile checkout solution that utilizes a Gear device and a handheld barcode scanner.

Starting April 21, with the launch of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Google Play Music* will be the default music player and music service on Android-based Samsung phones and tablets launched in 2017.** With the service, users can enjoy free curated radio and smart music recommendations based on their preferences, and can discover and subscribe to podcasts.

In addition, Samsung has also collaborated with Google Play Music to create exclusive features for users of the aforementioned devices. For example, users can upload and stream up to 100,000 songs from their own music collection on Google Play Music – twice the number available for general service users.

With the purchase of a Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ or Galaxy Tab S3 device, users will also receive a free three-month subscription to Google Play Music, and thus ad-free, on-demand access to over 40 million songs, as well as tailored playlists that cater to any mood or occasion. In addition, with access to YouTube Red (where available), users can enjoy ad-free videos during the trial period.

* Availability varies by country. For a complete list of countries where Google Play Music is available, please click here.

** Availability may differ by market and mobile operator. Device support will be expanded in the future.

Designed and engineered in close collaboration, Samsung and Microsoft are excited to introduce the new Galaxy Book, a new premium 2-in-1 device designed with the mobile enterprise customer in mind. Built on the Microsoft Windows 10 platform, the Samsung Galaxy Book provides easy access to the full Microsoft Office experience in an ultra-portable 2-in-1 design that delivers unmatched productivity for the professional on-the-go.

Available in 10.6-inch and 12-inch models, the Samsung Galaxy Book is lightweight with ultimate portability that is easy to take with you no matter where you’re headed. The Galaxy Book brings the best in enterprise-grade performance with a 7^th Generation Intel® Core i5 processor Dual Core 3.1GHz for the 12-inch and an Intel® Core m3 processor, Dual core 2.6GHz for the 10.6-inch.

Creating seamless experiences that allow simple and secure communication between devices is a key component to a successful mobile transformation. Samsung improved Samsung Flow with Microsoft on the Galaxy Book. Samsung Flow allows customers to sync their Galaxy smartphone with the Galaxy Book for convenient login and Wi-Fi connection through the smartphone’s mobile hotspot when a data connection is not available. The Samsung Flow app communicates with Windows Hello for simple, secure login and notification display directly from your smartphone.

“We believe collaboration with key partners like Microsoft is essential for innovation, as it shares our vision for building excellence in mobile productivity,” said Jeeho Baek, Senior Vice President of B2B Product Management Group, Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics. “Enterprise mobility allows businesses to expand the boundaries with which they operate and workers to gain flexibility in how they work. Together with Microsoft, we hope to further solve the challenges our customers face by creating flexible and secure technology.”

“Microsoft and Samsung are working together to deliver innovative mobile experiences that help organizations with digital transformation, and the Samsung Galaxy Book is a great example of that focus in action,” said Peter Han, Vice President, Partner Devices and Solutions, Microsoft. “Samsung’s new Galaxy Book lights up digital capabilities of Windows 10, such as Windows Ink, that empower employees to achieve more by working in a more intelligent, portable and secure way.”

With this partnership, Samsung and Microsoft are placing the needs of their customers at the top of their priorities. In addition to bringing a new device and software solution, the companies have aligned their worldwide marketing, partner and sales programs to deliver a positive go to market experience for its customers.

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

Samsung Electronics and the World Surf League have just released a new spot, “The Snail,” for the WSL’s 2016 World Championship Tour. The inspirational and whimsical video celebrates all those who defy barriers, as part of the Samsung’s campaign this year.

“The Snail” contrasts the journey of an ambitious snail with a young Indian boy who is passionate for surfing. Through this video, Samsung tried to show the need for all living beings to connect with something greater than themselves, even when the effort and obstacles seem enormous.  Just as tiny snails are driven to make mysterious journeys, risking their shells every day on the dangerous sidewalk, so too do surfers ignore their own fragile “shells” each time they paddle out into the awesome power of the ocean.

This is the third year that Samsung has been partnering the WSL, applying its leading technology to the dangerous and dynamic sport, and inspiring athletes to spread their passion and dedication. Last year’s “We Are Greater Than I” campaign and 2014’s “Every Day Is Day One” won numerous awards at the Cannes Lions, D&AD Wood Pencil and Spikes Asia.

The partnership sees Samsung as the official sponsor and exclusive electronics partner of the Australian Netball Diamonds, the Queensland Firebirds and the New South Wales Swifts and the sport at a grassroots level in NSW and QLD.

Through the partnership, Samsung will work with its newest brand ambassadors and netball players – Laura Geitz, Sharni Layton, Kim Ravaillion, Caitlin Bassett and Paige Hadley to shine a light on female role models.

Samsung has developed a mini-series entitled ‘Rethink Role Models’, which honours the talent, determination, resilience, humility and passion that our Australian netballers embody.

Samsung ambassador and Diamond’s captain, Laura Geitz said the campaign was a reminder of the impact that sport and role models can have on our lives.

“As we move through another netball season, I am really excited to be working alongside Samsung to encourage all Australians to rethink who they regard as role models. The game of netball, my team mates and my own role models have had such a significant impact on my life and who I’ve become. I hope that by telling my story, and my teammate’s, we can inspire not only netballers but all Australians,” Ms. Geitz said.

The ‘Rethink Role Models’ mini-series highlights personal battles of injury, losing a family member, self-confidence and sacrifice. The series champions what the athletes stand for, as well as the broader qualities they represent. The mini-series includes:

• Hero piece – https://youtu.be/1nsyIw0k_Iw
• Laura Geitz – Inner Strength https://youtu.be/gfZPAZt9-aQ
• Sharni Layton – Prove Them Wrong https://youtu.be/ld498lYz0bE
• Kim Ravaillion – Worth the Sacrifice https://youtu.be/MZnO7vFGio8
• Caitlin Bassett – Rise Above It  https://youtu.be/sU2j2kMsU2Y
• Paige Hadley –  Never Give Up https://youtu.be/UVNz3ZHm1Oo

Holly Adams, Head of Corporate Brand, Samsung Electronics Australia, said Samsung would give these inspiring athletes the recognition they deserve.

“There are so many inspiring examples of role models among us,” Ms. Adams said.

“As a brand, we have a heritage of defying barriers and through this partnership we want to not only tell the story of Samsung as a sponsor, but spark a discussion and encourage Australians to rethink who they hold as role models. We want to drive a new conversation focused on positivity. As a country, we need to stop and think about how important positive role models are in shaping our society. Our netball stars are the perfect examples of this – worthy to inspire the next generation of Australians” continued Ms. Adams.

Philip Newton, Corporate Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics Australia, said: “Netball is iconic to Australia and we are proud to support the sport right down to the grassroots programs across the country. Our newest ambassadors are some of the country’s strongest athletes and personalities. Not only are they gifted netballers, they are positive role models for all Australians and we’re delighted to have them on board.”

Samsung will support netball in Australia at a national, state and grassroots level via signage, naming and digital rights, community programs, branded content and an ambassador program.

The campaign will be delivered through live and digital experiences at grassroots netball games, as well as at Queensland Firebirds, New South Wales Swifts and the Diamonds’ matches.

Chief Executive of Netball Australia, Kate Palmer welcomed the new partnership and recognised the potential of the initiative.

“We are proud to partner with Samsung to support this meaningful campaign, encouraging the notion of a role model. Our Diamonds demonstrate courage, skill and dogged determination, with the utmost respect for their teammates and opposition alike. With 1.2 million Australians currently playing netball, we hope our Diamonds’ values and personal stories will inspire young Australians,” she said.

More detailed plans for the partnership and activations will be announced over the coming months. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/SamsungAustralia/

Official hashtag: #rethinkrolemodels

Samsung Electronics Singapore today announced that Singapore will be the first market in the region to introduce the company’s flagship mobile payment service, Samsung Pay, a secure and easy-to-use mobile payment service that can be used to make purchases almost anywhere² credit and debit cards are accepted. By as early as Q2 2016, Singapore will join South Korea, U.S and China in the list of Samsung’s priority markets to roll out this highly anticipated mobile payment service.

The service will cater to a positive demand in Singapore where 71% of Samsung users have indicated interest in using Samsung Pay once it becomes available. This was based on a research study¹ commissioned by Samsung in February this year on users’ interest in Samsung Pay involving 400 Singapore respondents.

“We are extremely excited that Singapore is the first market in Southeast Asia to roll out Samsung Pay. Singapore’s connectivity and openness are ideal conditions for our new mobile service to thrive, together with the interest and readiness of consumers here in adopting this new method of payment,” said Injong Rhee, EVP and Head of R&D, Software and Services of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung Pay is an example of how Samsung is always striving to introduce new technologies that help to enhance and improve the quality of lives of consumers, especially as Singapore moves towards becoming a Smart Nation. Our goal has always been to drive and lead innovation that matters, and we are happy to extend this into the mobile commerce space.”

Extensive Partnership Ecosystem

Samsung Pay is strategically expanding its partnership ecosystem to provide greater flexibility, access and choice for customers in Singapore upon its launch. The service has confirmed its partnership with major payment networks – American Express³, MasterCard and Visa, and major banks such as DBS/POSB, OCBC Bank and Standard Chartered.

Deborah Heng, group head and general manager, MasterCard Singapore said, “Mobile phones are becoming indispensable to the daily lives of Singapore’s digitally savvy population who are looking for new ways to pay. According to MasterCard’s Mobile Shopping Survey 2016, digital wallets have seen the fastest uptake amongst Singapore consumers with a four-fold increase over the last year. This partnership with Samsung will offer MasterCard cardholders a new way to make payments simply, securely and swiftly with just a tap of their Samsung mobile phones.”

“Today, more than one in three Singaporeans are making Visa payWave contactless payments, so we believe the time is right for consumers to embrace mobile payments. The introduction of Samsung Pay will continue to help displace cash and help to propel Singapore towards a cashless society. Visa is pleased to work with Samsung to introduce Samsung Pay, enabled by Visa Token Service for secure payments,” said Ms. Ooi Huey Tyng, Visa Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei.

Desmond Tan, Head of Group Lifestyle Financing, OCBC Bank said: “Our partnership with Samsung Pay is an opportunity for us to bring the ease and benefits of mobile payments to our customers. This also allows us to provide our customers with more choice in the payment methods they use. Samsung Pay’s interface is simple, swift and safe to use, and coupled with OCBC’s wide network of commercial partners, which includes major supermarkets, departmental stores and dining outlets, 1.5 million of our card customers can soon choose to adopt mobile payments and rely less on cash.”

Samsung Pay is currently expanding its list of retail and merchant partners to deliver on its promise to provide the service to consumers almost anywhere². Consumers will soon be able to utilise Samsung Pay at the following merchant categories⁴:

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

More Than a Payment Service

A secure and easy-to-use mobile payment service, Samsung Pay can be used to make purchases almost anywhere² that credit and debit cards are accepted.

• SIMPLE: To make a payment on Samsung Pay, consumers simply need to swipe up on their compatible Samsung smartphone to bring up the last transacted credit or debit card, scan their fingerprint and make payment. It’s that easy!
• SAFE: Samsung Pay uses three levels of security to enable secure payments – fingerprint authentication, tokenisation and Samsung KNOX. Each transaction uses an encrypted digital token to replace user’s personal payment information and payments can only be authorised with approved fingerprint or PIN. Meantime, Samsung’s industry-leading KNOX security platform monitors malicious software and activities on user’s device for added security and protection.
• ALMOST ANYWHERE²: Samsung Pay is the only mobile payment solution⁵ that lets consumers pay almost anywhere credit and debit cards are accepted. 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 anywhere² that allows payment by swiping or tapping a credit or debit card.

Samsung is currently expanding its network of partnerships and providing training for cashiers at partnering retailers and merchants in preparation for the roll out of Samsung Pay in Singapore. Samsung will also be engaging consumers to participate in a beta usage trial to test the service ahead of the launch in Q2 2016.

Samsung Pay will be available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 4G+, Galaxy S6 edge+ 4G+, Galaxy S7 4G+ and S7 edge 4G+ upon its launch in Singapore.

¹Based on research study “Samsung Pay Adoption in Singapore”, February 2016, by YouGov Asia Pacific, commissioned by Samsung
²Availability of Samsung Pay service will require relationships with participating payment networks, banks, retailers and merchants, and may vary at launch. Some payment terminals may require software updates
³Coming Soon after Q2 2016
⁴Subject to changes
⁵Based on compatibility of Samsung Pay service with both MST and NFC payment terminals

Samsung Electronics announced today new partnerships with the world’s largest POS makers, including Verifone (NYSE: PAY), Ingenico Group, First Data and Clover, PAX Technology, Equinox, ID TECH, MagTek, USA ePay and OTI Global, to accelerate mobile payment adoption by ensuring the best possible user experience at merchants’ point-of-sale (POS) systems during checkout. Samsung Pay is the only contactless payment solution that works at over 90 percent of the top 250 retailers and the vast majority of merchants, including small, local businesses.

Working with the largest POS makers, Samsung Pay is driving toward the goal of universal merchant acceptance, which is critical to consumer adoption. Samsung Pay uses both Near Field Communication (NFC) and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST). MST is Samsung’s innovative technology that delivers secure transactions for new EMV chip and NFC terminals, as well as traditional, magnetic strip terminals, enabling consumers to use Samsung Pay almost anywhere they can swipe or tap a card. The announced partnerships will help systematically test and validate the different POS systems in the field to ensure maximum compatibility and universal acceptance for Samsung Pay.

Using Samsung Pay is faster than using a chip card, and safer than swiping a mag stripe card because tokenization protects against copy and reuse at even mag-stripe-only terminals.  With tokenization of MST and NFC transactions Merchants receive Card Present rates with no liability shift, regardless of what type of POS terminals they use.

“Consumers love Samsung Pay because it is fast, safe, and so widely accepted by merchants everywhere” said Sang Ahn, Chief Commercial Officer Samsung Pay, Inc. “We are excited to be working with our POS partners to accelerate the adoption of mobile payments and bring greater innovation into the marketplace.”

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.

Samsung Electronics announced today that Samsung Pay, the most widely accepted mobile payment system, will soon support eligible credit and debit cards from TD Bank and Regions Bank, in addition to 60 Visa and MasterCard banks and credit unions launched since early March 2016.

With the addition of these banks, Samsung Pay continues to grow momentum in the United States—supporting eligible credit and debit cards from more than 130 banks and credit unions, representing over 75% of the US credit and debit card market.

Samsung Pay supports all major payment networks and many of the country’s major banks, and 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 Electronics announced that it provides three new software packages related to document imaging solutions through the company’s partnership with Nuance Communications.

The strategic partnership with Nuance, first announced in September 2015, enables Samsung to sell and distribute document imaging solutions within its printing business, including:

• Equitrac—both Office and Express—is a print management software solution that allows businesses to print what they need regardless of location, routing the documents to nearby printing devices through a pull-printing system. Equitrac also reduces IT complexities by removing dependencies on print servers, print drivers and complex print fleets.
• AutoStore is an electronic document capture solution that automatically recognizes and stores various types of user documents, including PDF files and information captured from multifunction printers (MFP), smartphones, copiers and scanners.
• SafeCom helps consolidate and standardize different types of printing jobs without installing additional print drivers. It can also reduce printing budgets by restricting printer access to only authenticated

“Samsung is quickly and consistently bringing incredible products to market,” stated Chris Strammiello, Vice President of Global Alliances & Strategic Marketing for Nuance Communications. “Nuance has long enjoyed a strong relationship with Samsung and extending the partnership to our imaging solutions is strategic for both companies. We look forward to bringing innovative solutions to market that address the business needs of our joint customers.”

“Samsung is continuing to expand cooperation with the world’s leading vendors to develop software offering specialized and customized solutions to improve workflow,” said David SW Song, Senior Vice President of Printing Solutions Business at Samsung Electronics. “B2B customers will be able to purchase solutions and services optimized for their business directly with Samsung printing devices.”

Nuance Communication is the world’s leading output solution company. According to a 2015 report by IDC, the company is the largest imaging software vendor in the document/MFP space, with more than 58 percent market share. It has built a relationship with Samsung by providing voice recognition capabilities that ship across a range of Samsung devices.

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, announced a partnership with Academy Award® winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (“20 Feet from Stardom”; “Best of Enemies”) on “A Fighting Chance”, a documentary short that will tell the inspiring, untold stories of four Olympic Games hopefuls on their quest to overcome remarkable odds and obstacles to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The collaboration is part of Samsung’s commitment to spread the Olympic spirit by shining a spotlight on these athletes as they relentlessly push the boundaries of what is possible.

The documentary short, slated for release next month, will take viewers on an emotive journey as they are exposed to the unexplored worlds of athletes from three diverse countries – Lesotho, Vanuatu, and the Dominican Republic. Neville traveled thousands of miles to capture the history, ambition and shared passion of these Olympic Games hopefuls, each fighting daily constraints in hopes of seeing the flag of their country fly from the podium in Rio de Janeiro. Similar to its relentless pursuit of innovation that enriches people’s lives, Samsung aspires to fuel meaningful progress for the future by sharing these stories.

“I am happy to be working with Samsung to create this documentary film in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Samsung is a brand known around the world, and I’ve seen the positive impact it can make on not just these athletes, but on others as well,” said director Morgan Neville. “If the Olympic Spirit is about overcoming every hurdle and accepting no limits, then I think Samsung is a great ambassador for these values.”

“A Fighting Chance” will introduce the world to the following Olympic Games hopefuls:

• Tsepo Mathibelle (Marathon Running, 24 years old, Lesotho): In Lesotho, a small country landlocked by South Africa, viewers will meet Tsepo Mathibelle, a determined marathoner running to support his entire family. After finishing in last place at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Tsepo remains steadfast in his quest to win Lesotho’s first Olympic medal.
• Miller Pata & Linline Matauatu (Beach Volleyball, 23 and 26 years old, Vanuatu): In Vanuatu, an island country in the South Pacific which was devastated by Cyclone Pam in 2015, viewers will be introduced to Miller Pata and Linline Matauatu, a beach volleyball team whose everyday tenacity and perseverance is inspiring  generation of Ni-Vanuatu women to think beyond the limits of traditional boundaries and follow their dreams.
• Yenebier Guillén Benitez (Boxing, 75kg, 29 years old, Dominican Republic): Yenebier Guillén Benitez is a young woman striving to be the first female Olympic medalist from her country, smashing gender barriers with every punch. She is determined to keep the sport legacy alive in her family, following in the footsteps of both her father and grandfather.

Neville, known for his unique ability to make relatively unknown subjects become the stars, took a unique approach to bringing these stories to life through documentary storytelling. He spent time in each athlete’s home country, where he conducted intimate interviews with the Olympic Games hopefuls, their coaches, teammates and community members to learn about the ways in which they are breaking the mold and writing history for their countries. He also observed and captured their rigorous training routines – a universal theme of dedication and determination weaving each athlete’s journey together under the umbrella of a shared goal: to win an Olympic medal.

“Samsung is in a unique position to tell the untold stories of these athletes because we live the same dreams of being extraordinary and pushing limits to achieve the impossible,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “As a dedicated Worldwide Olympic Partner, we believe that this film will captivate the world in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, fueling the Olympic Movement overall and shining a spotlight on athletes and countries that many fans would have never known before.”

Samsung is constantly striving to connect and help people stay connected, share experiences and create the memories that write history. To enhance each athlete’s training and help them stay connected with family, friends and coaches on the road to Rio, they were provided with a variety of Samsung Galaxy mobile products and technology.

For more information and to view the official film trailer, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com or www.youtube.com/samsungmobile.

About Morgan Neville

Morgan Neville is a documentary filmmaker whose films focus on culture. His acclaimed film 20 Feet From Stardom won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Documentary as well as a Grammy Award for Best Music Film in 2015. His most recent documentary, Best of Enemies, was released by Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media in 2015 and was shortlisted for the 2016 Academy Award. Neville has been nominated for three additional Grammys for his films: Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story, Muddy Waters Can’t Be Satisfied and Johnny Cash’s America and won an Emmy Award for his film Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues. Neville’s non-music films include The Cool School and Beauty Is Embarrassing. His current projects include: The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble, slated to be released by The Orchard in 2016, Chelsea Does, a four-part documentary series to be released in January 2016, and Keith Richards: Under the Influence, recently released in September 2015.

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games

Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

“More Samsung users will be able to use Samsung Pay to shop this holiday season, thanks to new support from MasterCard and Visa issuers, including our valued partners at PNC Bank and KeyBank,” said Injong Rhee, EVP of Samsung Electronics, Global Head of Samsung Pay. “With the widest acceptance of any mobile payment service, Samsung Pay continues to expand its reach and provide its customers unparalleled choice, flexibility and access.”

“Samsung Pay delivers the purchasing power of PNC credit and debit cards right to the place where customers want it most – on their mobile devices,” said Thomas Trebilcock, who leads Mobile & Emerging Payments for PNC. “Offering payment services like Samsung Pay illustrates PNC’s commitment to convenience and delivering enhanced mobile capabilities to customers.”

“Key is pleased to offer Samsung Pay to its clients,” said Jason Rudman, Head of Consumer Payments and Digital Banking at KeyBank. “Its wide acceptance and simple user experience are consistent with Key’s effort to bring ease, value and expertise to our clients and provide choice in their ability to make mobile payments.”

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: To make a payment on Samsung Pay, users can simply swipe up on their phone screen to launch Samsung Pay, select a card, 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.

Legrand and Samsung will be joining forces to strengthen the interoperability of their technologies, helping to accelerating the development of Smart Building systems. Together they will be creating new user interfaces, which will build on the work of Samsung’s LYNK HMS (Hospitality Management Solution) and Legrand’s expertise in electrical equipment. This will allow hotel guests to manage their room’s light settings, temperature and opening of doors, all from their TV set. Going forward, the solutions devised in this collaboration will also enhance communication between guests and hotel services (concierge services, taxi reservation, audio-visual support, etc.) for an improved customer experience.

A Shared Vision of Technological Developments in Smart Building Construction

In 2015, Legrand launched the Eliot* programme, aimed at developing interoperable online solutions that offer long-lasting benefits to businesses and private individuals alike. This new technological partnership with Samsung illustrates the dynamic expansion of the programme as well as the ambitions of the Legrand in smart building construction and the Internet of Things. Both Samsung and Legrand have also been long-standing members of the Zigbee® Alliance – Zigbee® is recognised as the international leader in wireless, interconnected communications for the Internet of Objects.

With their LYNK HMS hotel solutions, Samsung offers an efficient hotel management system that optimises customer services. Samsung TV sets, specifically designed for hotel usage, are linked to wireless networks that give the user total control over the room’s conditions; the information onscreen is constantly updated to maximise the client’s comfort levels whilst reducing the room’s energy consumption by 20 – 30%. In addition to the customization options offered to the client, this online system also automatically informs hotel staff of a client’s departure and allows reception to monitor real-time room availability. Checking in and out is therefore a much swifter process, improving the customer’s experience and satisfaction.

*Eliot is a program launched in 2015 by Legrand to speed up deployment of the Internet of Things in its offering. A result of the group’s innovation strategy, the Eliot program aims to develop connected and interoperable solutions that deliver lasting benefits to private individual users and professionals
http://www.legrand.com/EN/eliot-program_13238.html

About Legrand
Legrand is a global specialist in electronic and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for commercial, industrial and residential markets make it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Drawing on a nearly 10-year CSR (Corporate Social Responsability) approach that involves all employees, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and sustainable growth driven by innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings – including Eliot* connected products that enhance value in use- and acquisitions. Legrand reported sales of €4.5 billion in 2014. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including CAC 40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, Corporate Oekom Rating and the DJSI (ISIN code: FR0010307819).
http://www.legrand.com

Samsung Electronics and AccorHotels Group, the world’s leading hotel operator, announced a partnership to roll out Samsung’s SMART Hospitality Display technology across AccorHotels’ properties spanning 92 countries.

“We are excited to partner with AccorHotels to transform the hotel experience and provide our innovative hospitality solutions to even more global consumers,” said Seog-gi Kim, Senior Vice President of the Enterprise Business Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our hospitality solutions and industry-leading expertise enable recognized global hoteliers to offer world-class in-room entertainment technology to better differentiate and strengthen their hotel brands in a highly competitive industry.”

“AccorHotels is committed to offering all of our guests–whether they stay with us for business or leisure–a hotel experience that meets their expectations and needs, particularly when it comes to technology and connectivity,” said Vivek Badrinath, Deputy CEO for AccorHotels. “Partnering with Samsung Electronics, the leader in the digital display sector, underscores this commitment and helps to differentiate our offering with exceptional technology products and services that our customers can enjoy before, during and after their stay”

As the preferred display provider for AccorHotels, Samsung’s UHD displays will be available in guest rooms and common areas, including lobbies, bars and restaurants. This technology upgrade will provide AccorHotels’ on-site staff with all-in-one tools and extended flexibility to deliver a tailored and visually-compelling guest experience.

This partnership also enables AccorHotels’ properties, including the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure and ibis global brands, among others, to have access to an array of intuitive and premium hotel solutions. Among them is Samsung’s LYNK Hospitality Management technology, which creates a more convenient and pleasurable guest experience through home automation. Through the LYNK Hospitality Management platform, guests and staff receive greater control over different aspects of hotel and in-room environments, ranging from room lighting and energy use to personal services and workflow management. Additionally, the partnership will facilitate the implementation of a cloud-based wireless printing solution as well as digital content including video-on-demand (VOD) and streaming platforms.

The preferred supplier agreement further extends AccorHotels and Samsung’s partnership to introduce modern and technologically-connected hotel concepts across the world. The two companies announced plans to design and build an experimental hotel in Seoul, South Korea, featuring state-of-the-art technology and multi-point connectivity for a more interactive guest experience.

To learn more about Samsung Electronics’ SMART Hospitality display portfolio, please visit www.samsung.com.

About AccorHotels

AccorHotels is a Group united by a shared passion for hospitality and driven by a shared promise to make everyone Feel Welcome. Over 180,000 women and men in almost 3,800 AccorHotels establishments look after thousands of guests every day in 92 countries. AccorHotels is the world’s leading hotel operator and offers its customers, partners and employees:

– Its dual expertise as a hotel operator and franchisor (HotelServices) and a hotel owner and investor (HotelInvest);

– A large portfolio of internationally renowned brands covering the full spectrum, with luxury (Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, The Sebel), midscale (Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter, Adagio) economy (ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget, adagio access and hotelF1) establishments;

– A powerful marketplace and loyalty program Le Club AccorHotels

– Almost half a century of commitment to corporate citizenship and solidarity with the PLANET 21 program.

Accor SA shares are listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and traded in the USA on the OTC marketplace (Code: ACRFY)

Follow news on AccorHotels:

http://www.twitter.com/accorhotelsgroup

http://www.accorhotels-group.com

At the IFA 2015 Samsung Electronics Press Conference, SmartThings launched its new line of products, available across the U.S. and coming next week to the U.K., including an upgraded Hub, sensors, and intuitive mobile app for a more powerful and easier to use solution that helps solve specific problems. The company also introduced a new set of developer tools and partnership programs to enable deeper integrations and collaboration across its open platform and the industry at large.

“People are beginning to understand the real value and utility smart home technology can provide in their everyday lives. With this next major iteration of our products, we focused first and foremost on security and home monitoring to help answer the question, ‘is everything okay at home?’” said Alex Hawkinson, CEO and founder of SmartThings. “This marks our first product launch as part of the Samsung family, and together we’re continuing our commitment to deliver the easiest smart home solutions with a truly open ‘Internet of Things’ platform that maximizes collaboration and innovation across the industry.”

The new Samsung SmartThings Hub is equipped with a more powerful processor that enables video monitoring and a battery backup that lasts up to 10 hours in case of a power outage. The Hub is also able to process some automations locally, meaning it can operate without an internet connection. The collection of Samsung SmartThings sensors are now smaller and have been redesigned with a sleeker, more contemporary look.

The Hub’s video monitoring capability, launching in beta, is unique in that it allows people to improve peace of mind while maintaining their privacy. A livestream can be accessed at any time, but video is only recorded when an unexpected event, such as motion by the front door, is detected. With this new feature, SmartThings is introducing a solution called Smart Home Monitor, which provides unified access and control against intrusion, smoke and fire, leaks and floods, and other common household issues by delivering real-time notifications and video clips from multiple cameras via the SmartThings app. Intelligent buffering enables video clip recording to start prior to the event so users can see what caused the incident.

The SmartThings app has also been redesigned for iOS and Android to include easier navigation and a more intuitive experience. Users can now directly organize and control devices by room, and customize actions to occur automatically based on preset routines. With the additions of Smart Home Monitor and new features that enable SmartThings to perform certain functions without power or Internet, the offering has evolved into a solution for real life problems – a testament to the promise of the smart home and the IoT.

SmartThings continues to offer the most open and developer friendly platform available, and has expanded to support nearly 200 compatible devices. Its platform is now integrated with GitHub, providing developers with a more efficient way to write, manage and share their creations in an open environment. The company has also expanded its “Works with SmartThings” program beyond compatibility to include deeper integrations within the SmartThings app for a simple, unified experience. Partners at launch include Samsung, Honeywell, Schlage, Yale, First Alert, D-link, Osram, Cree, Bose and many more.

SmartThings is available for purchase on Shop.SmartThings.com, Samsung.com and will be rolling out on Amazon.com and retail stores across the U.S. The new Hub retails for $99 with sensors ranging between $30 and $55 each. SmartThings will be available in the U.K. at select Currys PC World stores and online at Samsung.com and currys.co.uk beginning September 10. The Hub retails for £99 and the Starter Kit is £199. SmartThings also plans to expand across Europe in 2016. Smart Home Monitor is available for free through December 31, 2015 with some features transitioning into a premium offering later this year.

SmartThings will be exhibiting at IFA 2015 from September 4-9, 2015, in the Samsung booth based in the CityCube Berlin Hall B (Level 2) at Messe Berlin.

For more information, visit www.smartthings.com or www.smartthings.co.uk.

on Vimeo

About SmartThings
SmartThings is the easiest way to turn a home into a smart home, bringing users peace of mind, savings, and convenience. As an open platform with a thriving ecosystem, SmartThings also brings users freedom of choice in devices and limitless possibilities. Since SmartThings was acquired by Samsung in August 2014, the team has tripled in size, tripled developer activity from a community of over 10,000, and has one of the largest ecosystems of compatible devices. SmartThings is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA and operates independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.

Axel Springer SE, the leading digital publisher in Europe and Samsung Electronics, announced a new strategic partnership focused on the development of new digital media services for European consumers. An agreement was signed by JK Shin, CEO & Head of Samsung’s IT & Mobile Business and Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE.

Leveraging Axel Springer’s editorial expertise and Samsung’s mobile industry leadership and innovation, the two companies will collaborate to deliver a range of digital media offerings exclusively for Samsung customers. The content will be designed to both meet and anticipate consumers’ rapidly-evolving needs in an increasingly ‘mobile-first’ era.

“Samsung strives to work with cutting-edge partners that can help us to continuously strengthen our already diverse mobile content and services offerings,” said Young Hoon Eom, President & CEO, Samsung Electronics Europe. “With Axel Springer’s digital publishing heritage and our mobile expertise, we’re confident that together, we can deliver ground-breaking content and services that will excite and delight our respective customers.”

“Over the past few years, there have been many occasions in which Axel Springer and Samsung, one of the world’s most innovative consumer electronics companies, have exchanged views on the fantastic technological opportunities for journalism in the digital age,” said Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE. “It is a privilege to be collaborating with Samsung to bring a range of innovative new services to the market in 2016 and beyond.”

Axel Springer and Samsung also revealed an early beta version of UPDAY, a unique aggregated news content platform which, when fully launched next year, will be the first complete service to have been developed under the terms of the new partnership.

UPDAY will exclusively offer Samsung customers access to a range of news content that combines ‘Need to Know’ information selected by a local market editorial team and ‘Want to Know’ information, an algorithm-based service tailored to customers’ individual interests.

This early beta version of UPDAY will be initially available beginning on Thursday, September 3 2015, to select Samsung customers in Germany and Poland, with a full service launch expected to rollout in both countries, as well as other European markets, in early 2016.

MasterCard and Samsung Electronics announced they are extending their global partnership leveraging the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) to deliver Samsung Pay in Europe.  Samsung Pay is a mobile payment service that will enable consumers to use their Samsung flagship mobile devices to make every day in-store purchases at contactless and mag stripe terminals leveraging NFC and MST technologies. Samsung and MasterCard will together roll out Samsung Pay throughout Europe. Card issuers will be able to connect to the MDES platform and activate the Samsung Pay service upon launch. Cardholders from participating issuers can activate their credit, debit, reloadable prepaid and small business cards in the Samsung Pay service and use their mobile devices to make everyday purchases.

Earlier this year, MasterCard announced it would provide the tokenization services to Samsung Pay for its secure transactions, enabling a quick scaling connection to bank partners in the U.S. Samsung Pay is a global mobile payment solution that is the first mobile wallet to give consumers a way to shop and spend virtually anywhere – using contactless and magstripe card readers.

“Samsung Pay is pleased to join forces with MasterCard to offer a simple and safe mobile payment experience enabled for wider merchant acceptance to MasterCard cardholders and issuers in Europe,” said Injong Rhee, EVP of Samsung Electronics, Global Head of Samsung Pay. “Both organizations are committed to ground breaking fin-tech innovations that will deliver on the promise of a true mobile wallet.”

“With the continued global growth and reliance on connected mobile devices, we are delighted to expand our relationship with Samsung by extending the reach of Samsung Pay and MDES to cardholders in Europe.  Europeans have been leading the way in the adoption of new ways to shop, buy and make a payment. Through our strong partnership with Samsung we look forward to continuing to drive innovation in mobile commerce by creating simple and secure digital payment experiences for consumers,”  said Javier Perez, President of MasterCard Europe.

Samsung Pay is scheduled to launch in the U.S. and South Korea later this summer and Samsung is currently working with banks and partners to bring the payment service to Europe.

Since the announcement of MDES in 2013, millions of MasterCard accounts have been tokenized for use in popular digital wallet services. MDES currently provides tokenization services for credit, debit, co-brand, prepaid and small business cards. Private label tokenization, announced last month, will begin in the third quarter of this year. Tokenization services for app, eCommerce, and recurring billing card-on-file programs will be available to U.S. and Canadian merchants later this year and expand globally across all MDES-enabled markets. 

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

Natural History Museum, Atlantic Productions and Samsung collaborate for a world-first virtual reality storytelling experience 

Virtual reality will showcase some of the Earth’s earliest inhabitants at the Natural History Museum in London from the 19 June. David Attenborough’s First Life is a new fully immersive experience bringing natural history to life with cinematic virtual reality technology by Samsung.

Created in partnership with Atlantic Productions and its virtual reality studio Alchemy VR, David Attenborough’s First Life reveals the dawn of life on Earth from 540 million years ago.

Based on the latest Museum research, long-extinct animals such as the whimsically-built Opabinia, the fearsome-looking Anomalocaris and the spiny, worm-like Hallucigenia will be brought vividly alive in a fully immersive encounter.

Image ⓒ Atlantic_Alchemy VR

During the 15-minute experience, visitors dive through ancient seas with narration by Sir David Attenborough. The experience uses Samsung’s latest wearable technology, the Gear VR Innovator Edition virtual reality headsets powered by the Galaxy S6 smartphone.

Image ⓒ Atlantic_Alchemy VR

Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum, says: “We’re always looking for new ways to challenge the way people think about the natural world – its past, present and future. We know virtual reality technology can transport us to impossible places. This is a compelling example of how technology can revolutionise how we experience museums.”

Anthony Geffen, CEO of Atlantic Productions, said: “David Attenborough’s First Life VR experience is a landmark moment for virtual reality storytelling, where the world’s most celebrated naturalist is able to guide audiences through an ancient ocean. We are delighted to be pioneering this technology in partnership with Samsung and the Natural History Museum.”

Andy Griffiths, President of Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, said:”This exciting new experience is a great example of how the Natural History Museum is at the forefront of innovation and we are proud to support this with our latest product innovations, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Gear VR.  At Samsung we believe technology is essential in enhancing digital learning, which is why we’re delighted to be working with the Natural History Museum on this project, helping people to discover the natural world like never before.”

For more information at www.nhm.ac.uk/first-life.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and the World Surf League (WSL), formerly known as the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), are extending their partnership for a multi-year term. As part of the renewed partnership, Samsung will sponsor both the men’s and women’s Samsung Galaxy WSL World Championship Tours taking place around the globe.

Building on the award winning “Everyday is Day One” campaign launched in 2014, Samsung and the WSL will once again work closely to develop compelling content for surf fans around the globe. These initiatives will include both long form and short form content showcasing the best of the WSL and Samsung Mobile technology.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with WSL as part of our mission to inspire athletes to spread their passion and dedication through our technology,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “Together, we plan to develop meaningful programs that integrate our mobile technology – including the world’s most advanced smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S6 – to honor the athleticism, adventure and unique culture of this passionate sport.”

A major partner of the world’s best surfers since 2014, Samsung Electronics’ renewed partnership will focus on technology application in the most dangerous and dynamic frontiers on the planet. The water-resistant Gear S and WSL mobile app will play a role in enhancing competition for WSL athletes and both Samsung and the WSL will also work together to further develop technology in the space for future application.

“The WSL aims to celebrate and grow the history, elite athletes and diverse fans that embody professional surfing today, and our strategic partnership with Samsung has enabled us to elevate the sport to a broader audience than ever before,” said Paul Speaker, CEO of WSL. “Samsung, as our committed partner for the next several years, will be instrumental in delivering the best surfing experience for our professional athletes and enabling our fans to extend their passion for the sport to others.”

Additionally, Samsung will complement its partnership with the WSL by engaging several WSL athletes in global, regional and local initiatives including: World Champion Gabriel Medina, Sally Fitzgibbons, and Malia Manuel. Samsung also recently featured WSL’s own “Superhero” John John Florence alongside Lionel Messi and other global superstars in support of its Avengers promotional campaign.

The 2015 Samsung Galaxy WSL World Championship Tour is currently in Brazil for the Oi Rio Pro where Samsung is hosting on-site activations at the Samsung Galaxy Studio. Within the studio, a product experience zone has been installed on the beach where fans can have a unique virtual surfing experience, thanks to a combination of the Gear VR and a moving surfboard. Attendees also have a chance to get their hands on Samsung’s latest mobile products, such as the Galaxy S6, Gear S, and wireless battery charger.

The Oi Rio Pro is being webcast LIVE via WorldSurfLeague.com

For more information on Samsung’s partnership with the WSL, please visit samsungmobilepress.com.

Microsoft is committed to reinventing productivity in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Expanding its cloud-based services to customers in new ways and across platforms and devices is a big part of executing this strategy.

For consumers, pre-installed services * include the following:

• As disclosed at Mobile World Congress, Samsung will pre-install OneNote, OneDrive, and Skype on the new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge.
• In the first half of 2015, Samsung is planning to pre-install Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, and Skype on select Samsung Android tablets

Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will also come with 100GB of additional free cloud storage for two years through Microsoft OneDrive, allowing extra storage space.

Businesses that purchase devices through Samsung’s business-to-business sales channels will have access to three versions of Office 365 – Business, Business Premium, and Enterprise – coupled with Samsung’s KNOX security solution. The bundle also includes a setup service from Samsung to help businesses get up and running with products and provides ongoing support.

Microsoft Office 365, powered by the cloud, provides businesses with access to familiar Office applications, including email, calendar, video conferencing and up-to-date documents, all optimized for a seamless experience across any internet-connected device – from PCs to smartphones to tablets. Samsung KNOX provides a way for customers to easily switch between personal and business profiles on their devices, while helping keep them secure.

“Great things happen when you converge services and devices,” said Peggy Johnson, executive vice president of business development, Microsoft. “Our partnership with Samsung is emblematic of our efforts to bring the best of Microsoft’s productivity services to everyone, on every device – so people can be productive wherever, however and whenever they want.”

“Our goal is to meet the ever-evolving needs of both consumers and business customers and give them more power to discover new mobile experiences.” said SangChul Lee, executive vice president of the Strategic Marketing Office, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “We believe our suite of premium mobile products coupled with Microsoft’s productivity services will offer users the mobility they need in both their personal and business life.”