Samsung Electronics recently launched Samsung Newsroom Spain, the country’s new, go-to communications channel for Samsung-related information and content.

Samsung Newsroom Spain combines Spanish-language resources with content from the English-language Global newsroom, and features press releases and company and product news, as well as information on Samsung’s corporate vision, projects and education-enriching initiatives.

In addition to covering the company’s latest updates and activities, the channel offers a wide collection of multimedia resources, including images, videos and infographics. On occasion, it will also serve as a platform to tune in to live streams of a variety of can’t-miss global events, such as press conferences and product launches.

Samsung Newsroom Spain is among the company’s many local editions of newsrooms overall, which includes newsrooms in the U.S., Korea, Vietnam, Brazil, India (English and Hindi), Germany, Russia, Mexico, the U.K., Argentina, Malaysia, Italy and South Africa. Going forward, Samsung plans to add more local-language communication channels to bring its vision to more consumers around the world.

For more information, check out Samsung Newsroom Spain here.

One of Europe’s busiest intersections now has a new tenant – one capable of displaying brilliant, captivating stories high above the area’s bustling streets.

In partnership with Super 8, founders of City Lights, Samsung Electronics completed a prominent commercial installation of its P6 display in Madrid’s Plaza Callao in June.

The vertical display is integrated seamlessly on the exterior of one of the plaza’s tallest buildings, and runs 6 meters by 37 meters in size. With its optimal placement – the plaza is considered the heart of Madrid’s shopping and entertainment district, seeing more than 51,000 cars each day and 113 million people each year – the new P6 outdoor LED signage offers prime visibility for advertisers to deliver captivating content.

Samsung’s P6 LED signage features several additional enhancements that refine picture quality. The displays incorporate the industry’s highest quality diodes to create deeper contrast and a wider viewing angle. Enhanced resolution (960 x 5760) and a rich color presentation further foster lifelike picture quality, making the Samsung LED display an ideal choice for Plaza del Callao.

The unique composition of the P6 LED signage further ensures long-term performance, and enables local businesses to reach passersby with uninterrupted and uncompromised messaging at any hour of the day. A high-resolution Surface Mount Diode (SMD) board and cabinet structure extend the signage’s lifespan and guarantee continuous performance for up to 100,000 hours. Additionally, each P6 series display includes embedded temperature control and ventilation management technologies that further reduce energy and overall ownership costs.

As Samsung and Super 8 bring their new P6 vertical display to life, Samsung is already looking ahead to future opportunities to expand its outdoor LED footprint in other global markets later this year.

“Our goal with Samsung Pay is to drive and lead innovation in mobile commerce, giving consumers a safer, smarter and better mobile wallet,” said Victor Kim, Global Director, Samsung Pay. “Samsung operates an open model of partnership and collaboration to deliver the best possible customer experience. With Samsung Pay, we’re confident that we’re providing Spanish customers with the mobile payments service that they’re looking for.”

“We are proud that Spain is the first European market to introduce Samsung Pay, an innovative new service that we believe will mark a turning point both in Spaniards’ payments behaviour and the evolution of the payments market as a whole,” commented Celestino García, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Spain. “The opportunity for Samsung Pay in Spain is significant, due to the high smartphone penetration rate and the digitalisation of the banking sector. Moreover, according to recent research[1] commissioned by Samsung, nearly six in 10 Spaniards are interested in incorporating a secure, simple and widely accepted payments service like Samsung Pay into their lives.”

Samsung Pay offers a number of benefits:

• SECURE. Samsung Pay uses three different levels to guarantee payment security: fingerprint identification; tokenization to encrypt card credentials; and Samsung KNOX, Samsung’s defense-grade mobile security platform.

• SIMPLE. To make a payment with Samsung Pay, users simply swipe their finger up the screen on a smartphone that is compatible with the service, scan their fingerprint and pay.

• ALMOST ANYWHERE. Samsung Pay enables consumers to pay in any location where purchases can be made using a contactless credit or debit card.

NFC-enabled, Samsung Pay-ready devices include the Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge, S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+, with specific availability varying by local operator. The Galaxy A5 2016 will also support Samsung Pay in the coming weeks.

Samsung Pay is the Mobile Payments Service Spaniards Have Been Waiting for

New research conducted by Ipsos[2] for Samsung Spain found that half of Spaniards aged between 35 and 65 carry more than two debit or credit cards in their wallets. According to the survey:

• 64 percent of consumers use credit or debit cards for all or most of their purchases;
• This figure rises to 71 percent among people aged between 35 and 44; and
• In order to enjoy even greater convenience and efficiency when shopping, 58 percent of Spaniards would like to use a secure, simple and widely accepted mobile payments solution.

Samsung Pay meets these requirements, offering three layers of security, ease-of-use and the option to pay at any location with a contactless point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Using the service does not incur an additional cost for users or businesses, as they simply need an NFC-compatible POS terminal. Users can also add up to 10 cards to the Samsung Pay application, without incurring additional charges from their banks.

With regards to mobile security, 90 percent of respondents surveyed were concerned about losing their device and someone accessing their card data. In order to deliver maximum security, Samsung Pay includes fingerprint identification, which guarantees that if your mobile phone is lost or stolen, no one will be able to access your payments information.

Extensive Ecosystem

Samsung Pay already has a strong alliance of partners and supports eligible credit and debit cards from more than 200 major global and regional banks. In addition, Samsung Pay is compatible with payments networks, including American Express, China UnionPay, MasterCard, Visa Inc. and China’s leading third-party payments platform, Alipay.

The service is already available for customers of CaixaBank and imaginBank, which will be the first in Spain and Europe to benefit from Samsung Pay.  After the launch of the service beginning today, users can download their CaixaBank and imaginBank debit or credit cards on their smartphones in order to make payments.

Samsung Pay will be available for Abanca and Banco Sabadell customers soon.

Samsung Pay is compatible with all stores that already have contactless terminals and the company is working closely with leading businesses from retail, food and service stations and parking services sectors to create value-added services for their customers. This includes well-known brands like Cepsa, Cervecería La Sureña, Domino’s Pizza,  El Corte Inglés, Fridays, Ginos, Grupo DIA, MediaMarkt, Mercadona, Phone House, Repsol, Rodilla, Saba, Starbucks, The Good Burger, The Wok, VIPS, VIPSmart, 100 Montaditos, with more to follow in due course.

In particular, El Corte Inglés will become the first issuer of private cards in Spain to offer its customers the opportunity to join and pay via Samsung Pay.

Samsung collaborates as a technology partner with the Museo Nacional del Prado’s Sponsorship Program and customers will also be able to use Samsung Pay at this renowned cultural institution.

Additionally, Samsung has organized an event with the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry to involve SMEs and smaller retailers in the local body’s new payment methods initiatives. On May 18, an Interact Session was held in Madrid, where Samsung illustrated the use cases and benefits of Samsung Pay, as well as the customer loyalty and retention opportunities that the platform offers.

“The Spanish market’s progressive approach to digital payments makes it a logical launch market for Samsung Pay,” added Nathalie Oestmann, Director, Samsung Pay Europe. “We believe that the comprehensive support from telecom service providers; networks and processors; and banks and merchants, will help to accelerate mobile payments adoption across Spain.”

[1] The survey on mobile payments in Spain was conducted online between 22 and 27 January 2016, among a nationally representative, gender-equal sample of 1,000 respondents aged between 18 and 65.

[2] The survey on mobile payments in Spain was conducted online between 22 and 27 January 2016, among a nationally representative, gender-equal sample of 1,000 respondents aged between 18 and 65.

With Samsung’s recent announcement of its plan to expand its Samsung Pay service to even more countries, people in all corners of the world are getting ready to pay in an entirely new way.

Spain is the one of the countries preparing for the expansion of Samsung Pay. Ahead of the Spanish launch soon, people can experience the mobile payment service at several locations throughout Barcelona, including the Samsung Experience Store in the city’s Gran Via 2 shopping complex.

“People in Spain are familiar with contactless payments, and have been for quite some time,” stated a sales representative at the store. “They’re really thrilled that they will be finally able to use this service with their own smartphones.”

The just-opened Samsung Experience Store boasts a Samsung Pay demonstration in which customers can see for themselves just how easy, flexible and convenient Samsung’s mobile payment service is. Those who have tried the in-store demonstration are especially fond of the security offered in Samsung Pay.

A sales representative of the Samsung Experience Store demonstrates Samsung Pay.

“They really like the fingerprint verification feature, as it makes the transaction feel more secure,” the representative said.

Barcelonians can also get hands-on with Samsung Pay at El Corte Inglés, the biggest department store group in Europe.

Launched last year in Korea and the U.S., Samsung Pay experienced a strong adoption rate, with five million registered users and over 500 million dollars processed in its first six months.

Compatible with both card and NFC readers, the most widely accepted mobile payment system in the world will soon reach even more consumers, beginning with China in March. It will continue its expansion in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom in the later part of this year.

*Availability may vary by country and region.

Samsung Electronics announced a Set-Top Free TV partnership with Telefónica, one of the largest telecommunication companies in Europe, to  promote their IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) service that does not require a set-top box. The announcement came at the start of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) held in Amsterdam on September 11-15, IBC is a global annual conference for professionals creating, managing and delivering entertainment and news content.

During IBC 2015, Samsung will showcase the Set-Top Free TV partnership alongside products and services that go well beyond UHD technology. Samsung recently announced that all of its UHD TV’s, including the SUHD TV’s will allow consumers to connect and play external High Dynamic Range (HDR) resources, utilizing the new HDMI 2.0a specifications. Consumers, particularly those owning an  SUHD TV, can now  enjoy the most vibrant picture quality through HDR UHD content.

Telefónica is providing the service, Movistar+, on select 2014 and 2015 Samsung Smart TVs and will expand the service to future Samsung Smart TV models. Movistar+ is paid monthly subscription service that features 119 video channels, 30 audio channels and more. Consumers can enjoy Telefónica’s IPTV service on their Samsung Smart TV by downloading the Movistar+ app. Upon installation, the home screen of Movistar+ will appear on the television screen, and current subscribers will be able to instantly access to their complete offer of premium channels and videos available on demand.

There are many benefits to not having to have a separate set-top box. Users will have more space and fewer wires in their entertainment cabinet. They also need just the Samsung TV remote to control multiple applications and services, thanks to the Samsung Smart Hub and the Movistar+ app; another benefit is the energy saving by not having to run a set-top box to access the IPTV service.

“Through this partnership, we are able to provide more convenient and accessible viewing options for consumers,” said MS Kim, Executive Vice President of Visual Display business at Samsung Electronics. “The set-top box free option on our TVs is an exciting step.”

Samsung Electronics, unveiled that Samsung Pay, a secure and easy-to-use mobile payment service that can be used to make purchases nearly everywhere cards are accepted, will launch in Korea on August 20 and in the U.S. on September 28. Samsung plans to roll out the service in the U.K., Spain and China, as well.

Speaking at a Samsung event in New York where it unveiled its newest flagship devices – the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5, JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics said, “With the launches of these exciting new smartphones, we will open a new era of mobile payment. This is Samsung’s brave step forward to enhance our mobile experience. It is easy, safe, and most importantly, available virtually anywhere you can swipe a card, in most cases without new costs for merchants, from day one.”

Samsung Pay will be preloaded on select Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 devices and a free software upgrade will be rolled out beginning mid-August, to enable Samsung Pay on Galaxy S6 and S6 edge devices in the U.S. and Korea. Select U.S. users of Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ and Note5 will be able to participate in a beta trial from August 25 ahead of the September 28 launch.

• 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 reduce the security risks inherent to plastic cards.
• VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE: With Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) and Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies, Samsung Pay works with most existing point-of-sale (POS) terminals. That means it’s the only mobile payment service that works virtually anywhere you can swipe your credit card or debit card.

“The future of mobile payments has arrived,” said InJong Rhee, EVP of Samsung Electronics, Global Head of Samsung Pay. “We are partnering with card networks, issuers and acquirers, and Samsung Pay will also be the first to support contactless payment for store-branded credit cards. The list of partners will only grow.”

Extensive Partnership Ecosystem

Samsung Pay continues to strategically expand its partnership ecosystem to provide greater flexibility, access, and choice for customers. Samsung anticipates working with payment networks such as, American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa, major banks including Bank of America, Chase, U.S. Bank and key financial partners including First Data, Synchrony Financial and TSYS to extend Samsung Pay to the U.S. Samsung anticipates working with all major Korean card companies including Samsung Card, Shinhan Card, KB Kookmin Card, Hyundai Card, Lotte Card, NH Nonghyup Card, BC Card, Hana Card, Woori Card and Citi Card.

“We leverage our unique technology and capabilities to provide our customers with seamless, differentiated experiences, giving them more flexibility and choice for how to pay,” said Tony Prentice, vice president of mobile payments at American Express. “As part of that strategy, we are excited to work with Samsung to offer Card Members a new, innovative way to pay in-store with an American Express Card on their Samsung devices.”

“Emerging technologies are impacting the way our nearly 18 million active mobile customers pay for everyday items, and we’re focused on delivering new solutions to help simplify their financial lives,” said Michelle Moore, head of digital banking at Bank of America. “Samsung Pay is a great example of this commitment, allowing customers to do more with their mobile devices and manage their finances when, where and how they want.”

“Samsung Pay will give our customers another convenient way to pay with their Chase cards,” said Gavin Michael, head of Digital for Chase.

“Discover’s focus on simplicity and versatility aligns with Samsung Pay’s innovative use of technology,” said Diane Offereins, Discover’s president of payment services. “Offering this new payment service continues to enhance the convenience and mobile experience we’re providing to our customers.”

“First Data is proud to collaborate with Samsung on the launch of Samsung Pay and we look forward to working together to bring a powerful solution to the marketplace,” said Barry McCarthy, Executive Vice President, Network and Security Solutions, First Data. “We have a history of driving innovation in payment technology through close collaboration with all parts of the payments ecosystem. Our work with Samsung, as well as our other partners in mobile payments, enables more powerful connections between merchants, issuers and consumers.”

“As consumers increasingly rely on their mobile devices in their everyday lives, MasterCard is pleased to partner with Samsung to bring Samsung Pay to our cardholders around the world. Using advanced tokenization technology from the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service, we’re delivering a digital payment experience that is both simple and secure, and includes all the benefits and guarantees of a MasterCard transaction,” said Cheryl Guerin, Group Executive, MasterCard.

Margaret Keane, president and CEO of Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF), the largest provider of private label credit cards in the U.S.[1], noted, “This is great news for our customers who will enjoy the benefits our cards offer when they choose to make easy and secure mobile payments with Samsung Pay. It is also important for many of our retail partners who can use their existing point of sale devices to deliver secure mobile payments and a seamless customer experience at more than 300,000 locations.” [1] Based on purchase volume and receivables according to issue number 1,062 of “The Nilson Report,” dated April 2015 (based on 2014 data).

“We expect the adoption of mobile payments to change the payments landscape,” said Gaylon Jowers, Jr., senior executive vice president, TSYS. “We are excited to be on the leading edge in collaboration with industry stalwarts like Samsung through technologies like Samsung Pay.”

“Being one of the first to offer our consumer and business customers Samsung Pay is a great example of our focus on Innovation at U.S. Bank and Elavon,” said Dominic Venturo, chief innovation officer at U.S. Bank. “U.S. Bank customers with qualifying credit or debit cards will be able to pay with their Samsung device using Samsung Pay; and our U.S. Bank and Elavon merchant customers will be able to accept the point of sale transactions right away. This is an important step in the continuous evolution of payments and consistent with providing our customers the ability to do business with us how, when and where they want.”

“Instantly on day one, because of MST technology, Samsung Pay will be accepted almost anywhere consumers can pay today,” said Jim McCarthy, Executive Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Visa. “We see this as a huge step forward for consumer choice and payment security.”

About Samsung Pay.

Samsung Pay is a simple, safe and available virtually anywhere you can swipe your card mobile payment service from Samsung Electronics.  Combining NFC with Samsung’s proprietary MST technologies, Samsung Pay provides consumers a way to pay nearly anywhere you can swipe a card at millions of merchant locations worldwide. Samsung continues to strategically expand its partnership ecosystem for Samsung Pay to provide greater flexibility, access, and choice for customers while enabling an easy and safe payment experience..