There are few bigger names in technology than Samsung. Their influence reaches every facet of the technological landscape, but most of us probably know them for their presence in the mobile industry. They’re leaders, innovators and the kind of company people look to, to catch a glimpse of what we can expect in the future.
So, today, when Samsung Electronics president and head of mobile communications business TM Roh made his first public statement via a blog post, it’s worth taking a look at to see how the biggest smartphone maker in the world plans to move forward during these uncertain times. The answer? Meaningful innovation.
He views this new era that we’re entering into the “Next Normal”, and he believes that mobile technology has a critical role in it, and for good reason. Even before the pandemic, the smartphone has become more and more integral in our daily lives that some might even find it impossible to go about their daily routines without it.
To that effect, TM Roh outlined three strategic priorities he will be focusing on moving forward.
Making life better and easier
While technology has always been developed for this purpose, the way it’s being accomplished has to change with the future we’re wading into. The pandemic didn’t just change the way we ate, and moved, and interacted with other people. It has also changed the way we work, and when it comes to that, connectivity has become more important than ever.
TM Roh claims that there will be a period of even bolder innovation and that they will strive to make technology more “personal, intelligent, useful and secure”. How they plan to do that, of course, will be with 5G. After all, this next step in mobile connectivity is designed for the modern connected world in a way that we’ve never seen before. Low latency, high speeds, this technology is the future and Samsung says that they have a “tremendous amount in the pipeline”.
Then, of course, there are the foldable devices. Smartphones people thought weren’t possible a few years ago have become reality in the form of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Fold. And with the upcoming Unpacked event, we’re excited to see where Samsung takes this technology next.
Open Collaboration
Nobody can thrive on their own. And Samsung says that they will be collaborating with their vast partner network to create new experiences for their customers. These include Google, Microsoft, Netflix, and Spotify. How does this translate into real-world experiences?
Well, for starters, a closer partnership with Microsoft could allow for better solutions for Galaxy smartphones and Windows PCs through software like DeX. On top of that, gaming can also be expanded with Microsoft’s Xbox platform considering the popularity of cloud gaming services which is always exciting.
What’s more, Samsung also plans to continue their C-Lab start-up incubation program and Samsung NEXT to help entrepreneurs grow, and give everyone a chance to achieve their dreams.
Operational Agility
Technology is ever-changing. And, in a world where tomorrow is uncertain, the ability to adapt and change as the people’s needs change. Samsung believes that it is their ability to be agile that allows them to come up with powerful devices and connected experiences that they will be introducing at Galaxy Unpacked.
TM Roh says that they’ve seen what the people wanted, what they needed and have designed devices optimised for work, play and multitasking for a “diverse range of lifestyles”.
That sounds interesting, especially considering how close the launch of Samsung Unpacked is. We’re expecting a whole host of new mobile devices including the next Note and Fold, so it’ll be interesting to see how that translates into actual devices.
What is the “Next Normal” going to look like?
It will absolutely be interesting to see what Samsung has in store for use in the next couple of years as we adjust to this “Next Normal”. Experiences will definitely change, habits will certainly evolve, and it’s good to see companies like Samsung acknowledge this and take this into consideration for the development of their new products moving forward.
Technology has always been about making our lives easier, and to a certain degree, Samsung has been doing that. After all, we all remember how the Galaxy Note changed our perception of what a smartphone could be when it launched. So now the question is, what can we expect next?
What exactly does the practical manifestation of “meaningful innovation” look like? Could it be security and privacy? Samsung Knox has always been a great platform for mobile security, but it will be interesting to see if this will be expanded to protect the end user’s privacy as well as the digital wellbeing of children.
What about sustainability? The world saw the positive effects that the lockdown had on the environment which means that humans can make a difference. What will Samsung do to move the needle forward as the world’s largest smartphone maker?
These are hard questions to answer, but it’s one that technology leaders like Samsung have to answer. Because they’ve made claims to be bold, and it is the bold who will make change.
