Samsung Newsroom

Samsung Electronics Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 08:45:49 GMT

Samsung Electronics reported today KRW 66.96 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 12.35 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues around the world, reopening of key economies led to significant increase in consumer demand. Samsung Electronics was able to respond aggressively through flexible global supply chain management (SCM), reporting its highest-ever quarterly revenue.

Quarterly operating profit rose 52 percent from the previous quarter, thanks to a boost in demand for smartphones and consumer electronics as well as efficient cost management. Third-quarter operating profit was also 59 percent higher year-on-year on stronger sales of memory chips and consumer products.

The Memory Business posted solid earnings as healthy demand for mobile and PC products led to higher-than-expected shipments, outweighing the impact of lower memory chip prices. The System LSI Business also saw profit rising over demand for mobile phone components, while the Foundry Business benefitted from increased orders for high-performance computing (HPC) chips and other applications.

The Display Panel Business reported higher profit quarter-on-quarter led by growing mobile display sales on customers’ new product launches and improved supply-demand environment for large panels.

A near 50 percent jump in sales of smartphones including new flagship products, coupled with improved cost management, lifted earnings at the Mobile Communications Business from the previous quarter. The Consumer Electronics Division also witnessed a sharp growth in sales of premium TVs and appliances, supported by flexible management of supply chain and sales channels.

Looking ahead, Samsung Electronics expects profit to decline in the fourth quarter amid weakening memory chip demand from server customers and intensifying competition in mobile phones and consumer electronics.

Soft prices in server memory due to customers’ inventory adjustments will likely weigh down the Memory Business despite stable demand for mobile and laptop memory. The System LSI Business will begin supplying 5-nm 5G system-on-chips (SoCs) in earnest and the Foundry Business expects increased demand for HPC chips and mobile SoCs. In displays, mobile panel sales are set to rise significantly from the third quarter.

The Mobile Communications Business is likely to see smartphone sales decline and marketing costs increase due to competitive market environment. In Consumer Electronics, profitability is expected to weaken on growing competition and rising costs, despite solid demand.

For 2021, the Company expects a recovery in overall global demand but uncertainties will remain over the possibility of recurring epidemic waves of COVID-19.

Samsung aims to enhance its leadership in memory chips through expansion of next-generation process node, flexible production management to meet immediate demand and timely investment to address demand over the mid- to long-term.

The System LSI Business will focus on differentiated 5G SoCs and high-resolution sensors, while the Foundry Business seeks to accelerate growth by diversifying applications to HPC and securing new major customers.

As the Display Panel Business plans to launch new Quantum-Dot (QD) Displays in 2021, it will also focus on improving earnings by enhancing leadership in mobile displays.

The Mobile Communications Business plans to expand foldable and 5G model offerings globally, while the Networks Business will strengthen its global positioning on the back of growing commercial 5G services. The Consumer Electronics Division will strengthen its online and B2B presence and expand its premium product lineup.

The Company’s capital expenditures in the third quarter stood at KRW 8.4 trillion, including KRW 6.6 trillion spent on semiconductors and KRW 1.5 trillion on displays.

Robust Mobile Demand Drives Semiconductor Earnings; Foundry Reports Record Sales

The Semiconductor businesses posted KRW 18.8 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 5.54 trillion in operating profit in the third quarter.

Overall demand in the Memory Business was better than expected as demand for mobile applications began to recover, even as demand for servers was somewhat weaker than the first half.

For DRAM, mobile demand increased due to strong seasonality and higher sales of low- and mid-end smartphones, while it was also positively impacted by the expansion of 5G and inventory buildup from Huawei. Server demand was relatively soft due to inventory adjustment by major customers, while PC demand rose on stronger sales of laptops. In addition, graphic demand also increased with the production of new gaming consoles. The Company achieved a higher bit growth for DRAM in the quarter than its previous guidance.

For NAND, mobile demand was strong as major manufacturers launched new models along with orders from Huawei. For servers, demand declined due to inventory adjustment of major customers, while for client SSD, low- and mid-end laptop demand was robust and SSDs for new gaming consoles increased significantly. Overall NAND shipments rose across all applications, helping the Company surpass the market’s bit growth in the quarter.

Looking to the fourth quarter for DRAM, mobile demand is expected to increase with new smartphone launches, while server demand is expected to remain weak as inventory adjustments continue. For PC, low- to mid-end laptop demand is likely to remain solid, while for graphic, demand will continue to see growth with the launch of new GPUs and gaming consoles.

As for NAND, mobile demand is expected to rise on the back of improving consumer sentiment and demand from Chinese manufacturers. For server SSD, demand is likely to remain weak and prices are expected to decline as customers continue to adjust their inventory and manage their capex conservatively. However, demand for client SSD is expected to be robust as low- to mid-end laptop demand will remain solid.

For the outlook next year, while geopolitical issues and the possibility of a prolonged impact from COVID-19 remain, mobile demand is expected to show solid growth until the first half as 5G continues to expand to low- and mid-end models. For servers, it is highly likely that demand will turn around in the first half as inventory levels normalize and investments by customers recover.

The Company will continue to maintain product competitiveness by accelerating the conversion to 1z-nm DRAM and 6th-generation V-NAND, as well as developing next-generation products such as EUV-based 1a-nm DRAM and 7th-generation V-NAND.

Earnings for the System LSI Business improved on the back of a recovery in mobile components, including CIS and SoCs. Display-related products especially showed significant growth as demand for tablets and laptops increased.

In the fourth quarter, Samsung will focus on expanding the mobile SoC business as it begins to supply 5G 1-Chip SoCs, our first products to feature the 5-nm process technology. In 2021, as market demand for mobile components is expected to recover, the Company will focus on expanding shipments of 5G SoCs, high-resolution sensors and DDIs.

The Foundry Business achieved record quarterly revenue on the back of a recovery in mobile demand and increased demand for HPC chips. The Company has established a position for future growth by beginning the shipment of 5-nm mobile products and 2.5D packages.

In the fourth quarter, the business aims to achieve another record quarterly revenue by expanding mobile SoC and HPC chip shipments to major customers. In 2021, the Company expects growth in the Foundry Business to exceed the industry’s growth significantly. It plans to diversify applications to HPC, consumer and network products, and secure additional major customers.

Display Earnings Improve, Expects Higher Demand in Q4

The Display Panel Business posted KRW 7.32 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 0.47 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter. Its earnings improved driven by increasing sales of smartphone, TV and monitor panels, despite the impact of COVID-19.

Mobile display earnings rose as recovering demand from major customers for smartphone screens lifted utilization rate. Losses from large displays narrowed slightly QoQ on increasing panel prices and higher sales of ultra-large TV and high-performance monitor panels.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the Company expects solid demand for mobile displays led by new smartphone launches. It will actively respond to customer demand and enhance product mix to increase sales and profit. For large displays, the Company will continue to address existing LCD customer demand and accelerate the transition to new QD Display technology.

While uncertainties will likely continue in 2021 due to COVID-19 and global trade conflicts, the Company expects a gradual recovery in the smartphone market driven by 5G services and will focus on enhancing its leadership in OLED panels.

Samsung will also accelerate innovation to deliver new form factors and expand adoptions by new applications. For large displays, the Company plans to launch QD Displays in due time and build the foundation of new premium panel business.

Strong Smartphone Sales Drive Mobile Profit; Competition to Intensify in Q4

The IT & Mobile Communications Division posted KRW 30.49 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 4.45 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter.

Overall market demand increased in the third quarter as stimulus measures helped many economies recover following lockdowns during the second quarter. The Company’s smartphone sales rose sharply from the previous quarter, with the launch of new flagship models such as the Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Z Fold2, as well as stronger sales of mass-market models in key regions including India.

Efficient cost management through component standardization and reduction in marketing expenses led to a significant improvement in profitability. Sales increase in tablets and wearables including the Galaxy Tab S7, Galaxy Watch3 and Buds Live also contributed to the profit growth in the third quarter.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the overall market demand is expected to increase QoQ due to strong year-end seasonality and continued recovery in the overall demand. However, smartphone sales are expected to decline QoQ due to subsiding effects from new flagship model launches. Higher marketing expenditure to respond to intensifying competition and year-end seasonality is also likely to weigh down profit.

In 2021, while mobile market demand is expected to increase YoY backed by continuous economic recovery and accelerating migration towards 5G networks, uncertainties persist over the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mobile Communications Business aims to expand its smartphone sales by strengthening lineup for foldable phones and mass-market 5G models.

For the Networks Business, the Company strengthened its foundation for 5G business by signing a large-scale supply contract with Verizon in the U.S. The Company will continue to expand its 5G coverage in South Korea and push to expand the business globally including North America and Japan.

Appliances, TV Earnings Improve on Increased Demand

The Consumer Electronics Division, comprised of the Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses, recorded KRW 14.09 trillion in consolidated quarterly revenue and KRW 1.56 trillion in operating profit.

Demand for TVs surged both QoQ and YoY as the “At-home” trend buoyed sales of high-resolution home cinema. The Company responded to the strong demand in time with online marketing and global SCM capabilities, increasing sales in QLED, super large screen TVs and Lifestyle TVs.

In the fourth quarter, uncertainties from COVID-19 will linger and rising costs during the year-end peak season remain a risk. The Company plans to continue to expand online sales and online-to-offline (O2O) special promotion to enhance premium lineup such as QLED and Lifestyle TVs.

For the outlook next year, the Company expects further changes to the TV market environment from the pandemic. It will continue to introduce premium models such as QLED, Micro LED for home, in order to lead the super large-screen TV segment.

The Digital Appliances Business saw growth in the third quarter from recovering sales of premium lineup including Bespoke refrigerator and Grande AI washer/dryer. Increased sales of dryers and Air Dressers (garment refreshers) also helped, as COVID-19 raised consumers’ interest in better hygiene.

As a recovery in developed markets is expected to lead demand in the fourth quarter, Samsung will focus on flexible seasonal promotions and strengthen logistics and online marketing to improve profitability.

In 2021, gradual recovery is expected in the digital appliance market. The Company will strengthen premium lineup such as Bespoke for sustainable growth, as well as expanding online and B2B business.

Samsung Electronics’ Third Quarter 2020 Capital Expenditures

In the third quarter, Samsung Electronics’ capital expenditure reached KRW 8.4 trillion, including KRW 6.6 trillion spent on semiconductors and KRW 1.5 trillion on displays. The cumulative total for the January-September period is KRW 25.5 trillion, with KRW 21.3 trillion allocated to semiconductors and KRW 3.1 trillion to displays.

The full-year capital expenditure is expected at approximately KRW 35.2 trillion, including KRW 28.9 trillion allocated to semiconductors and KRW 4.3 trillion to displays.

This year’s capital expenditures on the Memory Business will exceed last year’s total due to migrations to advanced process nodes and capacity expansion to address future demand. Annual investment in the Foundry Business is also expected to increase as the Company expands production capacity, including the 5-nm EUV facility. Capital expenditures by the Display Panel Business is also set to rise on investment in new Quantum-Dot (QD) Displays and improved processes for mobile panels.

Capturing Different Hues of Monsoon #withGalaxy

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 17:00:34 GMT

Petrichor, the earthy smell that arises when water droplets crash against the soil marks the beginning of the rains. Providing the much-needed relief from the sweltering heat of the summers, it’s also a time when nature rejuvenates to look its best with trees turning lush green to different hues of the sky.

This season also provides the shutterbug the perfect picturesque frame to capture on their smartphones.

With the right theme, skill, and technique, you can get outstanding shots, especially with your Samsung Galaxy’s innovative technologies that offer superior camera capabilities. We asked some of our Samsung Members to share the Monsoon photographs that they were busy clicking with their Galaxy. They came out brilliant!

Samsung Member for the past one year, Rohit Gadher is a photography enthusiast and a Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro user. He loves shooting with the Pro mode on his Galaxy smartphone. “The colors and the details that I get to capture using Galaxy smartphone is unbelievable,” Rohit said.

Another Samsung Member and Galaxy Note8 user, Aditya Mane also shared some amazing shots. “A camera which is capable of capturing a high dynamic range is very important while shooting photos during monsoon and my Galaxy Note8 helps me a lot during such shooting conditions,” he said.

The morning dew captured by Aditya Mane #withGalaxy

Mumbai Rains captured by Aditya Mane #withGalaxy

Jumping into the rain shot by Aditya Mane #withGalaxy

The mirror image captured by Aditya Mane #withGalaxy

A sky above and a sky below captured by Aditya Mane #withGalaxy

The morning dew on a flower captured by Aditya Mane #withGalaxy

The swing of the bat amid rain captured by Aditya Mane #withGalaxy

Kolkata city lights captured by Rohit Gadher #withGalaxy

Source: India Newsroom

Hands-on With The Premiere: Transform Your Home Into a Cinema

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 11:00:28 GMT

As the home environment has evolved and grown in significance for consumers, so, too, has the demand for a more varied range of content consumption options – and formats – continued to rise. The Premiere is Samsung’s latest solution for those seeking the ultimate in in-home cinema experiences, as it is a lifestyle projector that offers whatever viewers might want in terms of size, screen quality and mobility.

Not only does The Premiere bring a maximum screen size of 130 inches to life wherever you may want it, it is simple and easy to install so that you can create a small cinema of your own anywhere in your home. Samsung Newsroom tried out The Premiere to experience how the projector brings the home cinema experience to life.

Design: An Aesthetically Pleasing Shape and Finish for a Modern Touch

As The Premiere is entirely white, it is able to fit in smoothly with any interior design aesthetic. Furthermore, its rounded edge is accentuated with a Kvadrat fabric finish to evoke cozy and modern simplicity.

How to Use: Easy Placement Against Any Wall

When you think of installing projectors, the first thing that might come to your mind is a myriad of cables, fixtures and other components. However, The Premiere’s installation is as simple as plugging in its power cable and connecting it to a wireless network, meaning that even the least tech-savvy of users can set up the projector with ease and start using it quickly and seamlessly.

What makes this easy installation possible is the way in which The Premiere has been designed to project. Compared to conventional projectors which require up to 3 or 4m of distance from the wall in order to provide big-screen projections, The Premiere is an ultra-short throw projector capable of creating a screen size of 100 inches when placed between 11.3cm and 30.3cm away from the wall.¹ To put it simply, there is no need to rearrange your interior design in order to install your new projector – The Premiere necessitates just some simple organization to accommodate its easy installation. Furthermore, The Premiere possesses a compact size that means users can easily install and rearrange the projector on their own.

Picture Quality: Vibrant 4K Resolution, Regardless of Disruptions

The Premiere is available in two models – a Triple Laser-enabled model (LSP9T) and a Single Laser-enabled model (LSP7T). Samsung Newsroom tried out the Triple Laser model that features an RGB of red, green and blue colors as its laser source.

The Premiere elevates the color display of its projection to 147% of the DCI-P3² color gamut – capable of bringing a sunset shot, for example, to life. Users can enjoy truly authentic renderings of the unique colors and vibrant tones of all their favorite iconic scenic shots.

In order to allow users to enjoy the screen during daytime conditions, The Premiere features high brightness and contrast ratio levels. The projector tops out at 2,800 ANSI lumens³ of brightness, the equivalent brightness of 2,800 candles. On top of that, as The Premiere’s 2,000,000:1 contrast range delivers all the most subtle contrast differences, users can enjoy a cinema-like experience wherever they want.

So what about The Premiere’s screen size, one of its unique features? The Triple Laser-enabled model allows you to enjoy a screen of up to 130 inches in size when the projector is placed 23.8cm away from the wall. Regardless of where a user is seated, the 4K screen is capable of showcasing content in all its glory at any angle, meaning that friends and family alike can benefit from the experience.

Sound: Immersive Audio with No Extra Speakers Required

As virtual concerts become more and more accessible these days, users have many ways to connect with their favorite artists while at home. The Premiere is capable of bringing an immersive concert experience right to you in your living room as it is equipped with 40W of premium speakers and woofers built directly into the projector and enhanced with Acoustic Beam technology to maximize sound from all angles. As the sound is emitted from 44 sound holes on both sides of the projector, there is no need to install extra speakers as the sound permeates the entire room to provide you with a captivating audio experience.

Smart TV Features: Seamless Support for Voice Recognition, Mobile Connectivity and Gaming

The Premiere provides users with a full smart TV experience through access to all kinds of content when connected to the Internet. Once you’ve connected to a wireless network and entered the Menu, a range of content from providers such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video are available – and you can even search for the content you want to watch using voice recognition.

The Premiere also supports Tap View to allow you to share what you are viewing on your smartphone⁴ onto its bigger screen. By gently touching the side of The Premiere with your smartphone, the content playing will be mirrored automatically onto The Premiere’s screen. If you’re looking to quickly showcase pictures or videos you’ve taken to family and friends on a bigger screen, this feature can come in particularly useful.

The experiences recounted above are just the beginning of all the different ways you can enjoy The Premiere. Users can enjoy the ultimate in gaming experiences thanks to its high-quality screen and exceptional sound. The Premiere comes with three HDMI ports and one USB port to enable seamless connection to a gaming console.

As an easy-to-install projector with a maximum 130 inch-screen size and vibrant color, The Premiere breaks down any stereotypes about projectors. If you’re looking for a television that offers space-saving efficiency and the ultimate in immersive viewing experiences provided by ultra-high definition screen quality, large screen size and exceptional sound, The Premiere is the right choice for you.

* The images shown in this article are simulated.

¹ In order to create a projection screen size of 100 inches, The Premiere LSP9T model needs to be 11.3cm away from the wall and The Premiere LSP7T needs to be 30.3cm away.

² Digital cinema color standards for projecting digital film

³ The level of brightness based on American National Standards Institute (ANSI)’s standard for expressing the brightness of how a projector projects.

⁴ Available for Galaxy smartphones with Android 8.1 or above. Feature is operational when both the mobile device and The Premiere are switched on.

Explore the Story Behind Samsung’s Calming Sound Palette

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 17:00:38 GMT

When we think about the smartphone user experience, visual designs and layouts are usually the first things that come to mind. But focusing only on what we can see and touch leaves out one key component that can greatly affect how people experience their mobile devices – sound.

Since the early days of mobile phones, people have been expressing themselves through ringtones. It’s a trend that has continued to this day, even as mobile technology continues to advance at breakneck speed. According to Samsung’s internal data, over 50 percent of Galaxy users use a personalized ringtone.

One UI is designed to make everyday life simpler and bring joy to the everyday experience. Along with visual refinements, Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Z Flip 5G and Galaxy S20 FE devices now offer an expansive sound palette.¹ The updated sound experience includes 10 brand new ringtones performed exclusively for Galaxy by professional classical and jazz musicians from around the world to create a relaxing vibe while giving users more options for personalization and self-expression.

Finding the Right Notes

From the subtle charging notification tones to the alarms, UX designers at Samsung carefully curated every aspect to bring a unified experience to users. Since Galaxy users come from all corners of the world, every rhythm and tone on the devices was chosen to reflect four universally recognizable themes that were first introduced with the Galaxy S20 series – Galaxy, Retro, Fun and Calm.²

Galaxy Over the Horizon | Atomic Bell

https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Over_the_Horizondefault_ringtone.mp3 https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Atomic_Bell2nd_sim_default_ringtone.mp3

Retro 80s Phone | Arcade

https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/80s_Phone.mp3 https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Arcade.mp3

Fun Baby Waltz | Lalala

https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Baby_Waltz.mp3 https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Lalala.mp3

Calm Bach Sicilano | Breezy Dream

https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Bach-Sicilano.mp3 https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Breezy-Dream.mp3

Sounds on Galaxy devices are more than mere notifications. They also serve to elevate users’ daily lives. For the Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Z Fold2, Samsung added five original Jazz tunes and another five classical pieces to the Calm theme with the hopes of bringing positivity to users’ everyday lives.

Calm – Original Jazz Cascade | Sunrise

https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Cascade.mp3 https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Sunrise.mp3

Calm – Classic Mozart sonata | Erik Satie Gymnopedie

https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Mozart-sonata.mp3 https://img.global.news.samsung.com/global/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Erik-Satie-Gymnopedie.mp3

Putting the Pieces Together

Bringing the new music to life was a process that spanned the globe. For the classical pieces, Samsung invited seasoned musicians from conservatoires in South Korea to participate in the recording. The jazz recording session, meanwhile, brought together a group of award-winning musicians and composers in the U.S.

“The synergy in this project comes from the artistry of each individual,” said composer and horn player Jesse McGinty.

From the grand piano to the flugelhorn and even the harp, the new recordings were created with a rich tapestry of instruments.

“People from all around the world are going to use these devices. That’s why we wanted to use different instruments to reflect that diversity,” explained music director Sue Jin Sung.

Fueled by their passion to share music with Galaxy users, the musicians meticulously crafted every note to deliver warmth and comfort.

“Our ultimate goal was to create an intimate sound that’s calming and relaxing,” said sound engineer Byeong Joon Hwang.

Your Everyday Soundtrack

Whenever the new songs play on Galaxy devices, McGinty hopes they can give users a break from the hassles of everyday life.

“You can take all this music with you everywhere you go,” said guitarist Matthew Yeakley. “They [can become] your own soundtrack.”

¹ The new ringtones are available on the devices that come with One UI 2.5 pre-installed.

² The four sound themes are available on the devices that come with One UI 2.1 or above pre-installed.

Samsung Surprises with Award Win in Restaurant and Bar Design Category

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 16:00:54 GMT

On October 15 (local time), it was announced that Samsung had won the Pop Up category of the prestigious Restaurant & Bar Design Awards for its exhibition at Fuorisalone 2019 in Milan, achieving an impressive feat for an electronics company.

At the exhibition, the electronics giant presented its visitors with the 24hr. Kitchen—an interactive and interpretive installation conceived in collaboration with global design consultancy 2×4 and world-renowned food designer, Laila Gohar.

As is implied by the exhibition’s name, Samsung’s display represented the central position the kitchen holds in our daily lives. The installation spanned three separate rooms that were respectively inspired by the morning, afternoon, and evening periods. A sinuous, winding kitchen counter linked the installations in the three rooms into one ongoing narrative and represented the linear nature of time while also providing a platform to showcase a range of thematic culinary artwork.

The Morning Room celebrated the start of the day with various grain-inspired food installations such as a variety of focaccia and volcanic cakes, bunches of wheat, and elaborate butter sculptures. The bright, rich atmosphere of this exhibit captured the essence of a new morning.

The Day Room incorporated a more vibrant color palette, using unique tomato-based installations. The bold red translates the lively energy inspired by the day time.

The Evening Room represented the kitchen as a comfortable and romantic place to relax. Using the soft hues of brown sugar, the exhibit featured sweet objets d’art that treated visitors to an even sweeter evening mood.

Following its award win, Samsung will continue to produce demonstrations of its lifestyle-and-design-rooted brand strategy while engaging consumers everywhere with creative and thoughtful contributions to their everyday lives.

“Our 24hr. Kitchen exhibition drew attention as an installment that utilized real ingredients to express the various aspects of the kitchen in a unique way,” said Jinny Jung, Corporate VP of Samsung Electronics’ Digital Appliances Business. “Underpinned by the recognition we have received from the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, Samsung will continue to advance as an interior appliances brand that can precisely reflect consumers’ tastes and lifestyles.”

The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards is an annual award dedicated to recognizing food and beverage-related interior design and architecture on an international scale. Since the inception of the awards in 2009, over 10,000 entries from the design, architectural and hospitality industries have been received from more than 100 countries across the globe.

[Clothing Care Reimagined] ① How Samsung’s Innovative AirDresser is Delivering ...

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 12:00:27 GMT

Fashion is always changing. It can be impulsive and random—but the best part of it is that people can define their own personal styles with it. But no matter what your style is, it is always important to present your wardrobe in the best way possible. Even the most polished outfit can lose its charm when wrinkly, stained, or ill-fitting, and in a world where dressing sharply remains as important as ever, it isn’t always easy to keep signature pieces such as jackets, suits, and dresses in pristine condition.

These special items generally can’t be washed in the washing machine, while taking them to the dry cleaner on a frequent basis can prove expensive and time-consuming. In the face of these issues, Samsung is delivering a solution that is bringing about a new era of garment care.

Released in a range of territories in 2020, the Samsung AirDresser delivers a range of clothing care solutions to ensure that your garments are kept in tip-top shape. Whether you need to make sure your suits always look pressed for work, ensure your chiffon dress is steamed and sanitized in a delicate manner or refresh your kids’ uniforms in a pinch, the AirDresser has your back.

Using powerful air and steam to remove odors, relax wrinkles, refresh and dry your clothes, the AirDresser brings truly comprehensive clothing care to the home environment, all in a sleek, appealing package. What’s more, Samsung’s AirDresser is suitable for a wide range of users, delivers proven benefits in all seasons and boasts a range of smart features to make maintaining your clothes more convenient than ever before.

Below, we outline the expansive range of features that the AirDresser is delivering to consumers as Samsung brings powerful performance to clothing care.

Comprehensive Revitalization and Drying With a Touch of Fragrance

For consumers with busy lifestyles, ensuring that their clothes are fresh and ready to take out and wear when needed is very important. Thankfully, the Samsung AirDresser has them covered. In addition to refreshing clothes with the JetSteam and JetAir features, the AirDresser offers powerful deodorization for your clothing. Able to comprehensively break down and separate odor-causing particles from clothes (including 99% of sweat and smoke odors¹), the AirDresser leaves clothes fresh and odor-free. Check out the video below to see just how the AirDresser’s innovative JetSteam feature thoroughly cleanses your clothing.

And once your clothes are refreshed, the AirDresser ensures that your garments are comprehensively dried and ready to be taken out and worn. While the AirDresser’s HeatPump Drying technology administers gentle and cost-effective drying, the solution’s Upper JetAir technology combines with the Lower HeatPump to employ air circulation that reduces damage and shrinkage to clothing. What’s more, once your clothes are fresh and dry, the AirDresser’s Fragrance Kit feature provides you with the option to add a perfume of your choosing to your clothing.²

Making Wrinkly, Contaminated Clothing a Thing of the Past

With AirDresser, untidy wrinkles in your clothing become a distant memory. In addition to treating garments with powerful steam that smoothes out wrinkles, the AirDresser employs a weight kit system that helps to relax wrinkles in your garments from top to bottom. Independent testing by Intertek has shown that the use of Samsung AirDresser leads to 100% of wrinkles being removed from woolen garments and approximately 80% being removed from rayon items.³

More pollutants cling to our clothes than we realize. Fortunately, Samsung’s AirDresser employs a number of methods to thoroughly refresh your clothing inside and out. These include the Air Hangers, which disperse air through the hangers that your garments are hung on to revitalize your clothing from the inside. Meanwhile, the JetAir feature treats your clothing with air from both the top and bottom to ensure that no patch of fabric is missed. And the AirDresser does this all quietly and discreetly, delivering comprehensive clothing rejuvenation with minimal noise and vibration. Take a look at the video below to see how JetAir and AirHanger technology combine to revitalize your garments.

Smart Control for Ease of Use

And best of all, the AirDresser’s host of powerful features are now accessible wherever you are with the Samsung SmartThings app.⁴ Features accessible through SmartThings include ‘Care Recipe’, which recommends cycles according to your clothing’s fabric type, ‘My Closet’, which allows you to manage your garment list and usage history and ‘Cycle Management’, through which you can download and add new cycles to your AirDresser’s repertoire. With SmartThings you can get cycle recommendations for a wide range of different fabric types, receive diagnoses from the AirDresser itself if the product encounters a problem and even utilize Bixby to control your AirDresser remotely with voice commands.⁵ Watch the video below to find out just how SmartThings is complementing the use of the AirDresser with intelligent usability.

As the world continues to change, and users increasingly demand more of their home environments, top-notch clothing care remains a priority for consumers everywhere. With the AirDresser, Samsung is delivering an aesthetic product to complement your home that allows you to ensure your garments stay fresh, presentable and fragrant from wherever you are.

¹ Based on testing by Intertek.

² Users must provide their own perfume. Strength of fragrance may vary depending on the perfume used.

³ Based on independent testing by Intertek, using a normal course according to KS K 0891 and ISO 9867. Wool fabric wrinkle recovery efficiency was 100 % and rayon fabric wrinkle recovery efficiency was 80 % after using the AirDresser.

⁴ SmartThings not compatible with some tablets and other select devices.

⁵ Bixby only supported in US English, UK English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.

Samsung and Kyocera Communication Systems Sign MoU for Private 5G Network Collaboration in Japan

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 22:00:54 GMT

Samsung Electronics and Kyocera Communication Systems (KCCS) announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly expand the private 5G network business in Japan.

As their first collaborative project, the companies will implement a dedicated private network in the manufacturing facility, based in Japan, to rebuild it as a smart factory. Through this collaboration, both companies will help fulfill the full potential of private 5G networks by creating new value for enterprises and opening up new business opportunities through the power of next-generation cellular technology.

Together, the companies will deliver an industry-leading set of private 5G network solutions and services to various enterprises. Samsung will supply its leading end-to-end 5G solutions—including its RAN for mid-band and mmWave spectrums and cloud-native core—which will be the backbone of a flexible, reliable private network. KCCS will provide mobile devices, applications, and on-the-ground technical support for enterprise deployments and operations.

“Samsung’s private 5G network portfolio is designed to fit in any deployment scenario for various business purposes and we are excited to work with KCCS as we expand our 5G capabilities in Japan,” said Satoshi Iwao, Vice President and Head of Network Division at Samsung Electronics Japan. “In collaboration with KCCS, we expect to prove how 5G can transform businesses and experiences at every level through real-world use cases.”

“As we continue to expand our presence in the Information and Communication Technology industry and exhibit our pioneering spirit, we are looking forward to a successful collaboration with Samsung,” said Kenichi Kurosaki, Director and General Manager of Telecommunications Engineering Division at Kyocera Communication Systems. “Leveraging our leadership in innovation and Samsung’s next-generation 5G technologies, we hope to successfully integrate 5G to our industrial operations and validate its full potential.”

Samsung is a pioneer in the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions ranging from chipset, radio, and core network to cloud platform. The company has been supporting 5G commercial services in leading markets, including Korea and the U.S., where the majority of the worldwide 5G subscribers are currently located, and it is supporting the expansion of 5G in Japan. In addition, the company is rapidly expanding its global footprint to new markets including Canada and New Zealand.

About Kyocera Communication Systems
Kyocera Communication Systems (KCCS) was spun off from Kyocera Corporation in 1995. It became independent and began business as an information systems company. Today, while working to expand our existing operations, KCCS is tackling new business challenges. We are currently developing businesses in the areas of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), Engineering (telecommunications / environment and energy) and Management Consulting.

The Freedom Not to Listen: The Story Behind Noise Cancelation Technology

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:00:37 GMT

In 1978, the U.S. government approached a sound company with a unique proposal. They wanted to develop a specific technology that would allow aircraft pilots and NASA astronauts to communicate clearly with ground crews and other pilots even with the ultra-loud roaring of jet and rocket engines in the background. The resulting technology would later become available for use outside of aeronautic environments; following its use in military headsets in 1986, the technology gradually made its way into mainstream and public usage.

Today, this technology is known as noise cancelation technology, and is used around the world in headphones and earbuds to help people focus on the music, podcasts and other audio that they want to hear while blocking out the sounds that they don’t.

Putting Sound Waves to Work

Simply putting on any pair of earphones will block outside noise to some extent. But unless you completely seal off your ear, it is impossible to stop outside noise filtering in and interrupting your audio experience. In order to understand the process of capturing and filtering the noise that leaks in that is key to noise cancelation technologies, it is necessary to first look at how sound waves work and how they are transmitted into your ear.

Sound waves are produced by vibrations which then travel long-distance through a surrounding medium to reach your ear. The most common example of this is the air around us. The reason why we can effortlessly carry on a conversation in a café is the same reason we cannot hear sound in space – it is dependent on the presence of air as a medium.

Noise cancelation works by harnessing the unique characteristics of these sound waves and their medium. The first method for canceling noise is called Active Noise Canceling (ANC), which works by creating its own noise-like waves that work to offset the unwanted noises entering your ears from outside. The second method is called Passive Noise Canceling (PNC), which blocks outside noise from entering your ear by limiting the mediums through which the sound is delivered.

It is said that the most effective tool to cut a diamond is with another diamond. Similarly, sound waves can be offset or even canceled by other sound waves. Just like the waves we see in the ocean, sound waves have peaks (the highest point) and troughs (the lowest point). When sound waves with the same distance from peak to trough come from different directions and collide with each other, the respective peaks and troughs clash, leaving the sound wave at a near zero value.

ANC uses this principle of destructive interference to cancel out unwanted sounds before they reach your ears. Sounds from outside are collected through an external microphone mounted inside the earphone. The earphone uses its internal circuits to analyze those sounds and then replicates them to produce sound waves that are similar to the unwanted external sound but that move in the opposite direction. Through this process, the earphone cancels out the unwanted sound waves before they can reach your ears.

Because ANC uses collected sound and responds based on analysis of this outside noise, noise cancelation takes place regularly and continuously. If the earphone picks up a sound that is similar to a noise it has analyzed previously, a reverse wavelength can be emitted at the exact right time in order to eliminate the unwanted noise. This is why this sound offsetting technology is highly effective in places where the background noise is consistent, for example on an airplane or a busy subway. On the other hand, ANC can be less effective in cases where the external noises are random and more difficult to predict, such as during a conversation between two people or when a sudden noise is emitted unexpectedly.

ANC is more effective at mitigating low pitch sounds than it is high pitch sounds. The system requires time to analyze external noises, and that potential time delay can affect how well it offsets external sound and how much external noise the user hears. In other words, unwanted external sounds might come in faster than the ANC can cancel them out. “In the case of bass sounds, which have a relatively long wavelength, the gap between the peak and trough of the waves is wide(more time gap), so a slight lag in the offset timing will not impact the quality of ANC,” noted Kim. “However, high-pitch sounds with short wavelengths have a shorter gap between the peak and trough points, meaning that even a small delay can make ANC hard to match up the waveform right and that cause ANC performance degradation.”

Passive Noise Canceling: Stopping Sound in Its Tracks

When they hear a sound they don’t like, most people cover their ears – this is because this is by far the easiest way to block out noise. Since sound waves travel the air to reach your ear, the sound cannot properly enter the ear if there are obstacles, such as hands, in the way. This is also why communication underwater is so difficult, given the amount of water in the way between a noise’s source and a person’s ears.

This is essentially how PNC works. PNC-enabled earphones are designed to physically block noise out by closing the ear off from its surroundings or using a sponge that absorbs sound. Headphones with over-ear padding covering the entire ear and in-ear earphones that completely block the entrance to the ear are some of the best examples of PNC technology.

Unlike ANC, which requires microphones and analytical circuits to offset unwanted noise, PNC earphones are fairly easy to make, making them generally cheaper than ANC earphones. Furthermore, if PNC earphones have been made to fit the shape of your ear perfectly, they can block outside noise almost entirely, making them more practically effective than ANC earphones. However, as PNC headphones fit right into the ear canal, some users can find these kinds of earphones uncomfortable to use.

Putting Safety First in Noise Cancelation

In the end, it is not just the noise cancelation technique that matters when it comes to cutting out those unwanted sounds, but also the shape of the earphones themselves. Up until now, most noise-canceling earphones were produced as canal-type earphones since this shape fits right into your ear compared to open-type earphones, which leave more space around the ear and are subsequently less effective at noise cancelation. Open-type earphones have rarely been equipped with noise cancelation technology, but when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds Live on August 5, the company expanded users’ options by applying ANC technology to an open-type wireless earphone.

While noise cancelation technology can help you fully immerse yourself in your music or better focus on an audiobook, it can also present dangers if you cannot hear exactly what is going on around you. “It is difficult to recognize a dangerous situation when wearing earphones with noise cancelation technology as they block out all surrounding sounds,” noted Professor Kim. The volume inside a pair of earphones can reach up to 70 to 80 dBspl¹ – the same as a car horn – but since the sound from a user’s earphones is much closer to a user and more immersive, it is easy for a user to become insensitive to external noises. On top of this, the activation of ANC technology further reduces external noise by around 30 dB while maintaining the sound in the earphones at 70 to 80 dBspl, making it more difficult for users to detect any auditory signs of danger.

When using their noise-canceling headphones, users need to keep their own safety top of mind and have a good understanding of the situations in which they are using their earphones. If you are looking to enjoy your favorite audio indoors, earphones that feature effective noise cancelation are a great choice. However, if you enjoy using your earphones while doing outdoor activities such as jogging, you should be sure to stay mindful of your surroundings at all times and choose earphones that offer a reasonable level of noise cancelation, allowing you stay aware of the world around you.

¹ Decibel (dB) is originally a relative unit of measurement, representing the difference between the level of a base measurement and that of comparison. When used in the context of sound, 0 dB is defined as the lowest sound level a person can hear and is used as an absolute measure (dBspl = dB + sound pressure level (‘spl’)). In other words, dB is used both when representing the difference between the sound of people conversing in comparison to that of a car horn and when expressing the sound of the car horn in absolute terms, but the latter simply omits ‘spl’ from dB.

Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme Partner With Youth to Accelerate Progress ...

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 23:00:52 GMT

In celebration of the United Nations’ 75^th Anniversary, Samsung Electronics today announced Generation17, an initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to inspire action to achieve the Global Goals – a set of 17 interlinked goals that provide a blueprint to achieve a better future for all by 2030.

Generation17 merges the power of Samsung Galaxy smartphone technology with UNDP’s platform to galvanize an entire generation of young people to achieve the 17 Global Goals in less than ten years. The initiative will elevate the stories and share the impactful work of young leaders who are already making considerable strides in support of the Global Goals.

“We are excited to better connect these inspiring advocates to their peers, enable their generation to take bold action on the Goals, and make their voices heard loud and clear with the latest Galaxy technology and our shared vision,” said Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “With a purpose as grand as the Global Goals, we strongly believe a collaborative, rallying effort will be imperative in sparking meaningful change.”

The 2020 cohort of Generation17 is made up of four trailblazers who are mobilizing communities from Mali and Argentina, to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our lifetimes:

Máximo Mazzocco (Argentina): A 30-year old who founded Eco House, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable development through education, volunteering, advocacy and environmental certification
Sadya Touré (Mali): A 23-year-old author who founded Mali Musso, an organization which empowers women through education to destigmatize gender-based violence
Shomy Chowdhury (Bangladesh): A 26-year-old Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) activist seeking to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all through her global organization, Awareness 360, working across 23 countries
Tafara Makaza (Zimbabwe): A 24-year-old junior at Williams College, in Williamstown, MA, studying astrophysics who has launched diverse startups to build transportation, energy, agriculture and education solutions

The 2020 Cohort of Generation17 Young Leaders

Millennials and Gen Z wield incredible influence in catalyzing change as tech savvy global citizens in an unprecedently borderless world, with their unwavering and relentless optimism leading the charge on climate change and racial justice and influencing policymakers and businesses to chart a more sustainable course for our collective future. Generation17 is our answer to their call-to-action.

“Young people are advancing the Global Goals through their work as innovators, entrepreneurs and advocates, and we must properly engage them today for the success of our global agenda tomorrow,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. “They harness incredible power in advocating for positive, systemic change, and we must support them in their roles as torchbearers of the Global Goals. This initiative complements other initiatives across the UN system, strengthening the foundations for a UN that delivers with and for young people through the UN Youth Strategy: Youth2030.”

UNDP and Samsung will provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and Galaxy devices to help broaden the reach of each of the young leaders’ voices and strengthen their organizations and businesses. They will also use the Samsung Global Goals app, which is preinstalled on the latest Galaxy smartphones, to show users how they can make a difference across the 17 Global Goals in their daily lives. Through educational content, the app aims to increase awareness of the Goals and has so far raised $1M in donations¹ for UNDP.

¹ The Samsung Galaxy Community Raised $1M to Support the Global Goals

Unboxing the Galaxy S20 FE, A Smartphone Packed With Fan-Favorite Features

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 17:00:08 GMT

The idea of a product that contains only those features that real users value the best sounds like a product you can only obtain through a custom build, but with the release of the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE), Samsung has made this idea a reality.

Packed with fan-favorite features and color options, the Galaxy S20 FE was developed with the incorporation of user feedback collected right in the beginning of the product planning phase from the Samsung Members community all around the world. The Galaxy S20 FE brings the innovative mobile experience characteristic of the Galaxy flagship range to a wider audience. Equipped with a super-smooth display, AI-powered camera, large-capacity battery and possessing a sophisticated, premium design, the Galaxy S20 FE offers users a premium experience from the very first moment of unboxing.

Samsung Newsroom took a look inside the box to see what the Galaxy S20 FE has to offer users.

① First Impressions: Colorful Look, Luxurious Feel

These days, we use smartphones for just about everything that we do, from communication to business to entertainment. They have become an essential part of our modern lifestyles, especially for Millennials and Generation Z, for whom smartphones have long been an accessory to expressing one’s own personality.

Reborn for the fans, the Galaxy S20 FE comes in a crisp white box. The huge “S20” that cuts across the top matches the color of the phone inside – Cloud Navy for this unboxing – which is a nice detailing touch. Unboxed, you are met with a simple selection of items: just the handset itself, a charging adaptor and its cable – only the very essence of what is necessary.¹

The entire line-up of Galaxy S20 FE devices has been designed based on the color preferences of fans. Cloud Lavender and Cloud Mint are softer, pastel hues, while Cloud Navy and Cloud White are chic, minimalistic shades and Cloud Red is a warm, statement color option. The five different color hues provide a wider range of options for users who want their phones to reflect their personalities.

The rear body of the Galaxy S20 FE has been finished with a Haze technique for a matt and luxurious feel. The Haze-finished body also minimizes fingerprints and smudges and will change shade slightly depending on the angle it is held at in relation to a light source for a subtle allure.

The steel material applied to the side differs according to which shade of device is chosen. To ensure consistency, both the side of the device and the camera have the same material applied for a premium finish.

One of the biggest benefits of the Galaxy S20 FE is that it can make you stand out even if you are not wearing a single accessory. Just slide it into your pocket and the device, along with your chosen statement Cloud shade, will enhance your entire look. Samsung Newsroom recommends using a transparent case and being sure to showcase the device’s rear side when taking selfies to make the most of your chosen hue.

② The Display: High-Performing and Responsive for Non-Stop Entertainment

When it comes to enjoying immersive contents on a smartphone, a high-quality display is key. The Galaxy S20 FE has been equipped with an Infinity-O Super AMOLED flat display, which truly showcases its capabilities when used for entertainment or video chatting thanks to its expansive size.

The bezel-less design of the Galaxy S20 FE’s full screen is eye-catching, too. For more screen real estate, the diameter of the front-facing camera hole has been reduced to 3.34 mm – the smallest among all current Galaxy models. Additionally, the Galaxy S20 FE’s 120 Hz refresh rate, one of the highest in the industry, provides a seamless and fluid experience when you are surfing the web, browsing social media and streaming videos.

③ The Camera: A Powerful Front Camera and Masterful Nighttime Capabilities

The Galaxy S20 FE is targeted in particular at those Millennial and Gen Z users who enjoy taking selfies and video chatting. The powerful 32 mega-pixel (MP) front-facing camera features tetra-binning technology, which combines four pixels into one to ensure sharp and vivid selfies anytime, anywhere.

Nowadays, we live in the age of ‘personal media’, where one person can take charge of every part of the media production process, from recording through to editing. One of the great advantages of the Galaxy S20 FE is that its front-facing camera is capable of capturing videos of UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160). You can also make sure your videos are stylish by monitoring the screen while recording, which is a huge benefit for those who take part in live streaming.

Furthermore, the rear triple lens camera features a 12 MP Main camera, 12 MP Ultra Wide camera and an 8 MP Telephoto camera. The Galaxy S20 FE features the largest dual pixel image sensor of all the current Galaxy series devices, helping you take the most colorful pictures possible in low-light environments. In the same way human eyes focus in nighttime lighting conditions, the dual sensor sharpens the focus of the camera to reduce any glare or noise, helping you capture vivid memories even in the dark.

If you want to capture a distant object as if it is right in front of you on your Galaxy S20 FE, you can use the Space Zoom feature. Space Zoom lets you take photos with up to 3x optical zoom without undermining the picture quality and up to 30x super resolution zoom.

④ The Performance: A Phone Capable of Keeping Up With You

The number of things we can do on and with our smartphones these days continues to grow. Be you streaming videos or playing AAA games, the Galaxy S20 FE is able to provide you with a seamless, smooth and powerful experience, thanks in no small part to its 5G connectivity and Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor.

There is nothing worse than a low battery notification from your phone right when you need to use it the most. The Galaxy S20 FE is equipped with a robust 4,500 mAh battery that provides you with powerful device performance throughout the day.

A product reveals its true value only when it is used. Built in collaboration with the fans, the Galaxy S20 FE presents users with a variety of features that function just as they would on other Galaxy flagship models. Going forward, Samsung will continue to provide a differentiated device line-up that puts fans right at the center of every part of the development process.

¹ Smartphone Package components vary by country or market.

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

Samsung Electronics Becomes Top Five in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2020

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:01:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics announced today that it has become number five in the Best Global Brands 2020 list announced by Interbrand, a global brand consulting company, with its largest-ever brand value of USD 62.3 billion.

Despite the challenging business environment brought on global companies by COVID-19 in 2020, Samsung saw a 2% rise in brand value from USD 61.1 billion in 2019 to USD 62.3 billion this year. Samsung ascended to the global top five in three years after reaching number six in the list of Best Global Brands 2017.

The company has been recording consistent growth in terms of brand value since starting in 43^rd place in 2000 when Interbrand began publishing the Best Global Brands. Since entering the top ten with a number nine rank in 2012, Samsung has continued its steady climb, reaching 6^th place in 2017 and 5^th place in 2020. Samsung’s move upwards in Interbrand’s list of 100 most valuable brands in the world was backed by the continuous introduction of innovative products and implementation of broad marketing activities on the global stage.

Response to COVID-19, CSR, innovation in lifestyle-related products and continued investment in future growth engines drive brand value

According to Interbrand, major factors that played a critical role in Samsung’s growth were:

Rapid response to COVID-19 through global activities for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and integrated global campaign
Company-wide activities dedicated to sustainable development
Continuous launch of innovative products including Galaxy Fold, The Terrace and BESPOKE refrigerator
Consistent investment to lead the development of advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G and Internet of Things (IoT)

In response to COVID-19 repercussions, Samsung Electronics has made multiple donations according to country-specific needs to help communities overcome difficulties. Samsung also successfully ran a global campaign with the message, “Get through this together” on social media channels and outdoor billboards in Times Square in New York, Piccadilly Circus in London, Duomo di Milano in Italy and the Entertainment Building of Hong Kong as part of its endeavors to engage and communicate with consumers in difficult times. Additionally, Samsung garnered positive feedback with a campaign where photos and stories submitted by consumers through social media were collected and made into video ads for outdoor display to cheer up consumers around the world. The COVID-19 campaigns were launched in tandem with ongoing campaigns for Samsung’s CSR vision, Enabling People, and various education programs for future generations, such as Solve for Tomorrow, Smart School and Innovation Campus.

Samsung’s devotion to sustainability in all aspects of business management also contributed to a boost in brand value, as demonstrated by the eco-friendly packaging for Samsung TVs and smartphone cases utilizing recycled materials.

Above all, unwavering efforts to achieve innovation despite challenges posed by COVID-19 were among the main contributors that drove the company’s growth into the top 5.

Samsung’s Mobile Communications business has solidified its leadership in the 5G smartphone market and resonated with Generation Z with the Galaxy A series and marketing activities such as the Awesome campaign. The company also demonstrated continued innovation by creating a new product category with the introduction of the Galaxy Z Flip. In the network business, Samsung has established its position as a leader in 5G, by pioneering new markets and expanding partnerships with businesses in key markets such as the US and Japan.

In the Visual Display business, Samsung has been leading the TV industry by launching of cutting-edge products that reflect new consumer lifestyles such as The Sero and The Terrace. Samsung has also continued efforts for sustainability in this sector, introducing products that improve accessibility for the disabled and users with color vision deficiency, and launching the eco-friendly packaging project.

In digital appliances, Samsung continued product innovation to suit changing customers lifestyles with the BESPOKE refrigerator and Grande AI washer and dryer. Its campaigns for customer-relevant topics such as cooking, sports, interior design and pet care contributed to closer communication with customers.

In the Memory business in particular, Samsung announced Vision 2030 as a solid number one in the market. Samsung became the first company in the world to produce the EUV-based DRAM and has been continuously making investments in HBM2E Flashbolt applied with AI, automotive parts, IoT, AI and 5G for years. The expansion of work-at-home measures resulting in growing demand for server and cloud services is expected to increase sales of DRAM and NAND flash chips. In system LSI, the company continued technological innovation and investment for Exynos and ISOCELL, and reinforced cooperation with major partners such as Audi.

“We started at number 43 with a brand value of USD 5.2 billion in 2000. This year, we stand among the top five with a brand value of USD 62.3 billion, which is a great accomplishment,” said YH Lee, CMO of Samsung Electronics. “We couldn’t have made the achievement without the support of our customers around the world. To further enhance our global status, we will continue to engage and communicate with consumers.”

Interbrand evaluates the brand value of businesses based on a comprehensive analysis of multiple factors including financial performance, brand influence on purchase and brand competitiveness.

※ Samsung Electronics’ growth in brand value

Year

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Brand

Value

(USD)

19.5 B

23.4 B

(20%↑)

32.9 B

(40%↑)

39.6 B

(20%↑)

45.5 B

(15%↑)

45.3 B

(-)

51.8 B

(14%↑)

56.2 B

(9%↑)

59.9 B

(6.5%↑)

61.1 B

(2%↑)

62.3 B

(2%↑)

Brand

Rank

Samsung Electronics Develops Industry-leading Blue QLED Technology

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 11:00:02 GMT

Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), Samsung’s R&D hub dedicated to cutting-edge future technologies has secured industry-leading cadmium-free blue Quantum Dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) performance.

Since blue is known to be the most difficult color to implement out of the three primary QLED colors (red, blue and green), this achievement – coming in the wake of Samsung’s development of red QLED technology last November – once again proves Samsung’s excellence in the quantum dot technology sphere.

Blue Proves the Most Difficult of the Three Primary QLED Colors

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor particles that measure a few nanometers in diameter (tens of thousands of times narrower than a single human hair). When illuminated, they re-emit light of a certain color depending on their size.

The blue QD, which has the largest band gap¹ among the three primary colors, rapidly oxidizes upon exposure to external light, resulting in a short lifespan and low luminous efficiency.² For this reason, up to now the industry had failed to develop even the technology required for blue quantum dot light-emitting diodes.

Overcoming Another Challenge by Developing Blue QLED Technology

But now, SAIT has successfully developed blue QLED technology, achieving industry-leading results such as 20.2% improved luminous efficiency, 88,900 nits of maximum luminance and 16,000 hours of QLED lifetime (measured at half-brightness for 100-nit luminance). These results were recorded in a study titled “Efficient and stable blue quantum dot light-emitting diode”, which was published by the journal Nature on October 14, 2020.

Eunjoo Jang, Samsung Fellow

“Samsung’s distinctive quantum dot technology has once again overcome the limitations of existing technology in the industry,” noted Dr. Eunjoo Jang, Samsung Fellow and corresponding author for the study. “I hope that this study goes on to help accelerate the commercialization of Quantum Dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs).”

Quantum dots are made up of a basic structure of a core, a shell, and multiple ligands.³ In order to better stabilize the QD materials and secure durable photoresponse functionality, the researchers applied a structure with quantum dot double emitting layers and shorter ligands on the surface of the blue-light-emitting QDs while also improving current injection rates.

Taehyung Kim, Principal Researcher

Dr. Taehyung Kim, Principal Researcher and the first author of the study, said, “This research is meaningful in that we have not only established Quantum Dot light-emitting diode performance, but have also proven that the technology can deliver top-notch performance at the element level.”

(From left) Kwang-Hee Kim, Taehyung Kim, Eunjoo Jang, Sungwoo Kim, Seon-Myeong Choi from SAIT

¹ The difference of energy between the valence band of electrons and the conduction band.

² The ratio of the emitting luminous flux to the total input flux of source.

³ The core absorbs and re-emits light, while the shell layer surrounding the QD core improves lifespan and photoluminescence efficiency by preventing temperature/humidity-related damage. The branch-shaped ligands are located on the surface of the QD’s shell and help maintain inter-particle distance.

Spreading Happiness Around the World: The Samsung Smile Stories Campaign

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 11:00:51 GMT

As part of the company’s #GetThroughThisTogether initiative commenced to help people stay hopeful amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Samsung Smile Stories campaign has been introduced to inspire and to inform Samsung users all around the world about the power of a simple smile.

The Samsung Smile Stories campaign aims to bring a smile to people’s faces by providing scientifically grounded facts on the physical and mental benefits that smiling can bring. The campaign also seeks to bring comfort to users by encouraging them to appreciate the small things found all around them in daily life that are capable of bringing a smile to their faces.

Samsung is asking the Galaxy community around the world to join this positive movement by sharing their photos or videos and their stories of what has kept them smiling these past few months using the #SamsungSmileStories and #withGalaxy hashtags on Instagram to inspire others to celebrate the small things.

The inspiring posts shared to social media so far have been compiled into a video and have been displayed on Samsung’s landmark digital signage in London’s Piccadilly Circus and Milan’s Duomo since October 13 and New York’s Times Square since October 14 to deliver a message of positivity and hope to people around the world currently trying their hardest despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic. The video will also be posted on Samsung.com and across Samsung’s social channels.

From October 13, passers-by to these large-scale landmarks will be able to enjoy the smiles and stories of others from around the world who have contributed to the campaign, and will be able to take away with them a reminder of why it is important to stay healthy and positive during this challenging time, and hopefully, will leave them with a smile on their faces, too.

Samsung Introduces Intelligent Assist Solutions at Virtual ISUOG World Congress 2020

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 15:00:22 GMT

Samsung Medison, a global medical equipment company and an affiliate of Samsung Electronics, is introducing its new Intelligent Assist solutions, expanding its capabilities in diagnostic solutions. The company has announced the introduction of Intelligent Assist solutions at the virtual ISUOG (International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology) World Congress 2020.

Examinations for women with high risk pregnancy, early diagnosis of fetal abnormalities, and automatic measurement solutions in ultrasound for delivery—quality healthcare solutions enabled by Samsung Medison—have been acknowledged and noted in the medical profession.

The devices will be showcased on an online platform prepared for the virtual event, which will feature webinars, virtual exhibitions and chat tools. Samsung Medison will display its new HERA series of ultrasound devices (HERA W10, HERA I10, HERA W9) featuring its new advanced technologies and solutions. The various Intelligent Assist solutions, elaborating on the details will be presented in a video format.

The solutions which expand across the full spectrum of diagnostic functions and capabilities include the following:

BiometryAssist – Measures the fetal growth index quickly and confidently with the view that has been acquired semi-automatically.
HeartAssist¹– Helps to measure and provide a suitable guideline view for an early finding of congenital heart abnormalities for the fetus before it is born, utilizing deep learning.
LaborAssist – Allows easy discovery of changes over the measured time, and provides demo video and animation images for clear explanation and communication of the delivery process to the mothers.

BiometryAssist and LaborAssist are expected to simplify the user’s workflow by not only reducing simple repetitive manual tasks, but also increasing measurement accuracy and providing consistent measurements.

These two features have been developed by incorporating the Intel Distribution of the OpenVINO toolkit into Samsung’s diagnostic algorithm. By using the OpenVINO toolkit, powered by Intel processors, data processing moves at a speed 4.7 times faster than equipment without the OpenVINO enhancements.²

“Our Intelligent Assist solutions enhance patient comfort and clinician’s convenience, reduce scan time, improve diagnosis accuracy, and increase system throughput. Samsung will continue to develop the next-generation ultrasound solutions in collaboration with Intel for the ongoing development of Intelligent Assist solutions,” announced Won-Chul Bang, Vice President of Health & Medical Equipment Business, Samsung Electronics and Samsung Medison.

The event also includes three rounds of webinars, during which world prominent OB/GYN specialists will share the clinical results of various diagnostic tools, including MV-Flow, LumiFlow and CrystalVue, which are available in the HERA series.

For more information on Samsung’s healthcare division, its subsidiaries and products please visit https://www.samsunghealthcare.com.

Intel, the Intel logo, and OpenVINO are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.

The screen that automatically recognizes and annotates the heart on the ‘Fetal Cardiac Ultrasound’ screen when HeartAssist is executed.

The screen that automatically recognizes the heart and displays measured values on the ‘Fetal Cardiac Ultrasound’ screen when HeartAssist is executed.

¹ 510(k) pending at FDA

² Source: Internal Samsung testing.
System configuration: Intel Core i3-4100Q CPU @ 2.4 GHz, 8 GB memory; OS: 64-bit Windows 10.
Inference time without OpenVINO enhancements was 480 milliseconds. Inference time with OpenVINO enhancements was 85 milliseconds.

New Update Brings the Latest Galaxy Z Fold2 Features to the Galaxy Fold

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:00:57 GMT

Designed to deliver revolutionary features and user experiences, the Galaxy Z Fold2 marks a key milestone in Samsung’s foldable journey. To give more users access to the latest foldable innovations, Samsung is now bringing many of the features on the Galaxy Z Fold2 and more to the device that started it all – the Galaxy Fold.

From improved productivity capabilities to unique camera experiences, the latest update¹ promises to take the Galaxy Fold to the next level. Here’s everything you need to know about the update.

Power Up Your Productivity

Whether you are multitasking or working on the go, the latest update helps you get things done faster with the Galaxy Fold.

Instead of spending time finding the apps you need, App Pair lets you launch up to three of your favorite apps together in your preferred split screen layout.

This feature can be accessed via the Edge Panel, which combines the Multi-Window Tray with Edge Panel for improved convenience. All you need to do is swipe the side of the screen² to see up to 22 of your favorite apps. The arrangement of the Multi-Active Window layout can now also be done horizontally, giving you more flexibility for multitasking.

If you need more screen space to work with, the updated Samsung DeX lets you easily connect the Galaxy Fold to a Smart TV wirelessly.³ All you need to do is tap on the Samsung DeX icon in the quick panel.

Once the two devices are connected, you can customize the second screen to suit your needs with screen zoom and various font size options. You can even use the Galaxy Fold as a touch pad to control the second display with multi-finger gestures.

Maximum Flexibility for Your Shoots

The Galaxy Fold’s unique form factor is designed to help you capture photos and videos exactly the way you want. The latest update brings even more flexibility to this innovative camera experience.

Shooting with Auto framing is like having a dedicated cameraman always by your side. Depending on how many people are in front of the camera, the feature automatically zooms in or out to ensure the Galaxy Fold captures everything. It can even track motion to keep the subject centrally framed.

Capture View Mode gives you the option to check your shots as you shoot. It shows you up to five of the latest photos or videos on the left side of the Main Screen, while giving you a preview of your next shot on the other half.

Dual Preview enhances collaboration between the subject and the photographer by showing a preview of the image on both the Cover and Main Screen of the Galaxy Fold. This feature also works with video and can be activated in Pro Video mode.

The latest update lets you maximize the power of the Galaxy Fold’s rear camera, even when you are taking selfies. Simply open the Camera app on the Cover Screen and activate Rear Cam Selfie. This feature allows you to use the high-resolution rear camera and its wide range of advanced functions for selfies.

Pro Video Mode on the Galaxy Fold now comes with more shooting (21:9 ratio and 24fps video) and assistant functions (histogram, focus peaking), while Single Take lets you capture up to 15 seconds of content to deliver a selection of best moments in photos and video.

Stay Seamlessly Connected

Forget about repeating long, complicated Wi-Fi passwords to your friends and family. With the Galaxy Fold, you can now directly share the password of the Wi-Fi you are connected to trusted Galaxy devices that are near you.

The updated Wi-Fi feature can also show you the speed of nearby connections (Very Fast, Fast, Normal Slow) to help you easily find one that’s suitable.

¹ Specific launch date and available features may vary by market and region.

² The Edge Panel is placed on the right side of the screen by default but can be changed to the opposite side in Settings.

³ Samsung DeX wireless connection is available on smart TVs that support Phone Screen mirroring only. (For the optimal experience, use on Samsung Smart TVs launched 2019 or later.)

Samsung Introduces PRO Plus and EVO Plus SD Cards for Content Creators and Photo Enthusiasts

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:00:54 GMT

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today unveiled the PRO Plus and EVO Plus, its two new lines of SD cards featuring exceptional speeds and improved durability. With the PRO Plus and EVO Plus, content creators and general consumers can seamlessly work across a wide range of devices including DSLR, mirrorless and compact cameras as well as camcorders and PCs.

“For years, consumers around the world have trusted Samsung to deliver high-performance memory cards in a variety of capacities that meet their unique needs,” said Dr. Mike Mang, vice president of the Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung has gone beyond that with the PRO Plus and EVO Plus SD cards, providing additional layers of protective measures to withstand intensive usage and the most rugged conditions.”

The PRO Plus offers sequential read and write speeds of up to 100MB/s and 90MB/s, respectively. For professional photographers, cinematographers and YouTubers, the PRO Plus SD card’s outstanding sequential write performance enables flawless 4K UHD video recording and burst shots. The EVO Plus also ensures smooth playback when editing 4K as well as Full HD videos with transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s.¹ Available in four storage capacities from 32GB to 256GB, consumers can easily add extra storage to enjoy more rich content on their devices.

Samsung made the PRO Plus and EVO Plus knowing that personal and professional photos and videos are valuable and often travel with us from one adventure to the next. Designed with maximum durability in mind, the PRO Plus and EVO Plus help capture more moments in extreme conditions with their comprehensive seven-proof protection.² In addition to protection from water, temperature, x-rays, magnets and shocks, the new SD cards are now drop-proof and wearout-proof, withstanding up to five-meter drop as well as up to 10,000 swipes. Both lineups come with a 10-year limited warranty.³

The PRO Plus and EVO Plus will be available in October. For more information on Samsung’s SD card offerings, please visit samsung.com/memorycard.

Samsung PRO Plus and EVO Plus Product Specifications

Category	Samsung PRO Plus					Samsung EVO Plus
Density⁴	256GB	128GB	64GB		32GB	256GB	128GB		64GB	32GB
Interface	UHS-I (Compatible with HS interface)
Form Factor	SDXC			SDHC		SDXC				SDHC
Speed⁵	Sequential read speeds of up to 100MB/s					Transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s
	Sequential write speeds of up to 90MB/s			Up to 60MB/s
Speed Class	U3, Class 10					U3, Class 10		U1, Class 10
Reliability³	Waterproof / Temperature-proof / X-ray proof / Magnet-proof / Shockproof / Drop-proof / Wearout-proof
Warranty	Ten-Year Limited Warranty

¹ The foregoing read & write speeds are based on internal tests conducted under controlled conditions. Actual speeds may vary depending upon card capacity.

² Includes protection from: 1) Water: saltwater and depths of up to 1m for up to 72hrs; 2) Temperatures: operating temperatures ranging from -25℃ to 85℃, and non-operating temperatures ranging from -40℃ to 85℃; 3) X-rays: up to 100mGy (equivalent to most airport X-ray machines); 4) Magnets: up to 15,000 gauss; 5) Shocks: up to 1,500Gs (a G is a unit of gravitational acceleration); 6) Drops: capable of withstanding drops of up to 5 meters (16.4 feet); 7) Wearout: capable of withstanding up to 10,000 swipes.

³ Samsung is not liable for any i) damages and/or loss of data, or ii) expenses incurred from memory card data recovery.

⁴ 1GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual usable capacity may vary.

⁵ The foregoing read & write speeds have been verified by internal tests conducted under controlled conditions. Actual speeds may vary depending on usage and other conditions. For products incompatible with the UHS-I interface, speeds may vary depending on interface conditions.

[Infographic] Enjoy Next-Generation Connectivity and Mobile Experiences with the Galaxy A42 5G

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 11:00:56 GMT

The Galaxy A42 5G is the latest device in the innovative Galaxy A series set to bring new mobile experiences to users thanks to the inclusion of next-generation 5G technologies. Available in a sleek array of eye-catching colors, the Galaxy A42 5G features a Super AMOLED Display, Quad Camera, and other leading Galaxy A innovations so that users can do more in the new era of mobile connectivity.

Check out the infographic below to learn more.

[Video] Explore the Samsung Innovation Museum’s "The Era of Inventors” Exhibition in ...

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 18:00:09 GMT

Since September 15, Samsung Electronics has been providing people with the opportunity to virtually explore the Samsung Innovation Museum (S/I/M)’s permanent exhibition, “The Era of Inventors”, through a series of online tour videos over four weeks.

“The Era of Inventors” tour series is comprised of four videos that cover the different topics, all relating to how innovation in the electronics industry has reshaped human history, that are showcased in the exhibition. The first video, “Discovery of Electricity”, takes us back in time to the origins of the electronics industry, and the second, “Uses of Electricity”, outlines the ways in which electricity evolved to be used practically to enrich people’s lives.

The third video, “History of Telecommunication”, covers how telecommunication innovations have allowed us to communicate without boundaries, and the fourth video, “History of Home Appliances” captures the development of those domestic appliances that now allow us to keep our homes clean and healthy.

Given S/I/M’s temporary on-site closure due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, viewers have been expressing their gratitude for the online videos as they look to learn more about the electronics and telecommunications industries. “I was able to strengthen my knowledge on the origins of electricity thanks to the detailed explanations and well-organized video clips provided in the virtual tour,” noted one viewer. “I can now say I understand more fully the electricity industry’s role in and contributions to modern society.”

S/I/M will continue to release more online tour videos for interested viewers – a virtual tour of another of S/I/M’s permanent exhibitions, “The Era of Corporate Innovation”, will be released before the end of the year.

All four virtual tour videos of “The Era of Inventors” are still available to watch on the Samsung Innovation Museum website and the Samsung Newsroom YouTube channel.

Samsung Expects UWB To Be One of the Next Big Wireless Technologies

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 16:00:32 GMT

At Samsung, we constantly push boundaries to bring consumers groundbreaking new mobile experiences that address their needs and enrich their lives. Our long history of pioneering mobile technologies to transform the way people live, work and play is one of the main reasons why I love what I do — and 2020 has only amplified our drive to spearhead meaningful innovation that anticipates people’s needs and provides seamless solutions.

UWB Technology is the Next Big Thing in Wireless Tech

Technology is always evolving, but every now and then, a new capability emerges, and we instantly know it’s something special — like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Samsung believes Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is one such game-changing wireless communication tech, which is why we are working tirelessly to advance and deploy it as quickly as possible. Together with industry leaders, we are striving to accelerate UWB’s broad adoption and implementation across ecosystems.

What Is UWB?

Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is a short-range, wireless communication protocol that operates through radio waves at very high frequencies. This enables enhanced, highly accurate spatial awareness and directional capabilities that allow mobile devices to better understand their surroundings. With UWB, it’s possible to have seamless, intelligent connections across devices that can assist with a wide range of needs, from making secure remote payments to locating a missing remote control. UWB also makes it possible to navigate large spaces with incredible accuracy, which means you’ll be able to use your smartphone to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s somewhere to eat at the airport or the location of your car in a parking garage.

Samsung is Driving UWB Forward

Samsung has been making significant investments in UWB technology because we recognize its vast potential to revolutionize the way we use our smart devices to manage our lives. In 2018, we established a full-time task force dedicated to integrating UWB into our products, and soon after, we teamed up with NXP and HID Global to initiate the creation of the FiRa Consortium, an industry organization that promotes the adoption of UWB technology for use cases such as access control, location-based services and device-to-device services.

In the last year, FiRa has grown by leaps and bounds. Its members now hail from over 45 organizations across a vast range of industries, from consumer and enterprise technology to universities and automobile manufacturers. We are developing use cases, defining industry standards and establishing certification programs for interoperability because Samsung is staunchly committed to open collaboration, as it allows us to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technology and bring it to everyone, not just a select few.

Samsung’s UWB Innovation and the Road Ahead

In August, Samsung made history when we released the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the first Android smartphone to feature UWB technology. And our newly released foldable device, the Galaxy Z Fold2, is equipped with UWB as well. Thanks to UWB, owners of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Z Fold2 can enjoy incredible precision and accuracy when using Nearby Share, which allows users to connect to over two billion Android devices and instantly transmit photos and files to family, friends and colleagues. UWB has also enhanced our SmartThings Find feature by enabling the Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Z Fold2 to generate an augmented reality (AR) visual display that shows you the exact direction, distance and location of your other Galaxy devices.

And soon, UWB technology will negate the need for physical keys. With Samsung’s, forthcoming Digital Key solution, you’ll be able to use your Galaxy smartphone to unlock your front door as you approach it — so, you’ll never have to spend time digging through your pockets and bags in search of your house, office or car key again.

One of the greatest things about technology is that it offers limitless opportunities for innovation. We have only just begun to tap UWB’s potential, and that’s incredibly exciting. Samsung is on a mission to forge ahead and discover revolutionary uses and capabilities that — until now — have only lived in our imaginations. So, stay tuned… the best is yet to come.

I will be discussing UWB technology with NXP President and CEO, Kurt Sievers, and NXP CTO, Lars Reger, at the upcoming NXP Connects 2020 flagship virtual developer conference on Oct. 20. Tune in to see demonstrations of some of the use cases mentioned above and to learn more about Samsung’s vision for pioneering UWB to develop breakthrough innovations that enable a safer and smarter world. Click here to register for the conference.

How Samsung SMART Signage Is Delivering Savings, Versatility and Revitalized Consumer Experiences

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:00:38 GMT

The retail environment is highly competitive, with retailers constantly looking for better and more efficient ways to catch the eyes of potential customers. Amid this climate, the benefits of digital displays are well-established, with their impact seen across retail providers from shopping malls to quick service restaurants (QSRs). In the restaurant sphere in particular, digital displays have been found to deliver improved visibility and an elevated overall brand experience compared to analog displays.

But digital signage is good for more than just the consumer. The technology has also been shown to reduce costs for businesses. Below, we explore the wide-reaching benefits of going digital.

Putting the Benefits Into Numbers

When we compare using analog and digital menu boards in restaurants, it becomes clear that utilizing Samsung SMART Signage provides a significant advantage over the use of static lightbox menus. While installing digital signage causes businesses to initially incur slightly higher upfront costs, it has been shown that those businesses receive a higher return on investment within two years of installation. Five years on from the installation of digital signage businesses stand to save around USD10,000 per store according to Samsung’s ‘Improving ROI with digital menu boards’ white paper.

In Samsung’s whitepaper, it is shown that if a QSR brand with 250 stores nationwide were to utilize static signage, it would require a total of six lightbox-style analog menu boards at each location, in addition to six printed menu boards. These boards typically need to be replaced every two months, while the fluorescent lamps for lightboxes and electrical ballasts must be replaced every 18 months. In addition to the annual maintenance fee this all adds up to a considerable cumulative cost. However, the use of digital menu boards immediately eliminates maintenance costs as well as the expenses related to creating new printouts for static menu boards.

Digital Signage for Versatility

But the savings are only the beginning, with Samsung SMART Signage able to deliver a variety of content from images to dynamic videos, all in vivid, vibrant colors. SMART Signage is also engineered to operate 24/7, providing night and day visibility that is unmatched by analog displays and ensuring that customers are deeply engaged with content. These stellar displays are supported by Samsung’s powerful MagicINFO content management solution, which enables users to conveniently manage all of their visual signage from one centralized location. This increased flexibility allows businesses to quickly and conveniently update promotions, offerings and messages to reflect consumer trends and important events, alleviating the slowdowns and missed sales opportunities brought about by businesses having to have their static assets made and delivered.

As outlined above, while the initial installation cost for digital signage is slightly higher, it has been shown that businesses that upgrade from analog to digital signage save around USD 10,000 per store after five years. For a business that operates 250 stores, this equates to an estimated USD 2.5 million in savings from using digital menu boards. And that is before the benefits from potential increases in sales and improved customer experiences are taken into account.

Beyond the Money

But the benefits of digital signage go far beyond just savings and better-looking menus. Digital displays equip a business to evolve and create opportunities that just aren’t possible with analog alternatives. Consumers are constantly looking for the most up-to-date information and best promotions, and the ability of digital menu boards to be updated in real-time to reflect demand, trends and unexpected events allows businesses to act quickly and efficiently.

What’s more, the time required to update menus and other forms of content is drastically reduced with SMART Signage. The time between starting design planning for content and actually seeing it displayed to customers can realistically be as short as two weeks with digital signage, while simpler modifications such as updating product information or complying with new calorie count posting requirements can be made in as little as two hours. Best of all, once these changes are finalized they can be distributed across the entire signage network instantaneously.

This dynamic, in-the-moment approach provides more engaging experiences for customers and drives both satisfaction and sales. In QSRs in particular, purchasing decisions are often made on the spot. Thus, customers in this environment must be equipped with the most up-to-date and accurate information to ensure that they make purchasing decisions that they are happy with. Digital signage allows them to do just this.

Samsung SMART Signage installed at McDonald’s stores in Korea

The benefits of digital displays go far beyond better looking signage. SMART Signage is the most efficient and effective solution when it comes to saving on costs, introducing versatility into the signage and fostering genuine and mutually beneficial consumer relationships. As the age of information continues to progress, Samsung SMART Signage is providing the platform to ensure that the retail sphere is equipped to be a leader when it comes to consumer communications.