President of Samsung Electronics America announces the launch of its 5G network
Samsung joined the race for 5G at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today (26 February) unveiling the launch of a commercial 5G network of products in early 2018, with UK trials starting this summer.
It includes a 5G ‘radio base station’ and a home router that consumers can install themselves. Samsung’s chief executive, Tim Baxter, said its products would remove “the pain of expensive and time consuming fibre installations and instead network operators can provide super fast internet to homes and offices quickly and easily”.
He said that “5G will be massive” and will connect “everybody and every thing”. He added: “Think of hundreds of connected devices in the home, millions of smart sensors in cities – we are convinced that 5G is the next revolution and it all starts with the network.”
Samsung has already set up regional trials of the products in markets such as the US, Korea and Japan. It joins a number of brands that are partnering with US-based telecoms company Verizon for a 5G project.
Speaking as a special guest at the press conference, Roger Gurnani, chief information and technology officer at Verizon, said: “Thousands of customers have already reached out to participate in the trails and we will start getting these customers on board in the next 60 days [and] there will be tremendous learning in in the next few months.”
Gurnani added that 5G is not just about fixed wireless to homes, offices and shopping centres but told the audience that schools will be part of the trial to test education tools powered by virtual realty, as well as next generation entertainment venues such as virtual golf courses and amusement parks. “It’s going to be a great summer,” he said.
The next virtual reality push
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Not stopping at 5G, Samsung also launched two new tablets at the show – the Galaxy Tab S3 for entertainment and Galaxy Book for professionals. While the audience started to chat among themselves at the showcase of the tablets, it was the brand’s next VR products that got cheers and applause from the crowd.
The new Samsung Gear VR will feature a controller, powered by Oculus, that will act as a remote and touchpad tracking hand motions and opening up new ways to interact in mobile VR.
The touchpad enables selection and interaction in VR apps, including the ability to point, drag and drop, tilt, shoot, and a ‘trigger’ allows for enhanced gaming experiences. The controller will also feature a home, volume and back keys to users can have an uninterrupted VR experience.
The conference concluded with an announcement about Samsung’s next phone, the S8, but the big reveal will be at a later date. David Lowes, CMO of Samsung Electronics Europe, said: “We have illustrated tonight how we push boundaries to create better products, services and experiences and soon we will show you how we have pushed the boundaries even further to create innovation of a kind this industry hasn’t seen in a very long time.”
The brand announced “an important date” with the words Galaxy Unpacked, that invited viewers to ‘unbox your phone’ on 29 March.
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Source: Marketingweek