Samsung uses Galaxy S8 device launch event to highlight greater connectivity and IoT support.
NEW YORK – The vision of “mobile” being only a cellphone is narrow, stated Samsung Mobile Chief DJ Koh during his presentation at the company’s Unpacked 2017 event held this week in New York City. Before showing its brand new devices – the Galaxy S8 and S8 – Koh gave a brief view on how the South Korean company sees the future of mobility.
Samsung made it clear that devices should be connected not only with each other but to a larger ecosystem designed to enhance people’s experiencing.
“New era of smartphones brings new capabilities, services and devices,” Koh said, noting the company’s strategy toward building a network of smart devices.
Along with the smartphone launch, Samsung released a portfolio of products and services designed to go beyond the cellphone and focused on enhancing mobile productivity and connectivity. This included its DeX platform, which is designed to transform a smartphone into a desktop; mobile payment and mobile health applications; its Gear VR device with controller; and Bixby, Samsung’s answer to Apple’s Siri.
Samsung’s Sriram Thodla also tied the latest smartphone launch to the internet of things, noting how it can interact with all devices through a single application. As an example, Thodla showed remote access to a refrigerator to check what’s inside when going to shop for food and how to use Samsung’s Connected Home platform to manage connected devices.
Editor’s note: Travel costs to NYC were provided by Samsung.