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• China orders Apple to remove WhatsApp, Threads from app store
  in Technology Regulation
  By Sam Varghese

  China has ordered Apple to remove WhatsApp and Threads, both owned by Meta, from its app store in the country, the New York Times reports.

  The newspaper claimed this was a potential escalation of the tech war between the US and China.

  Apple told the NYT it had complied with the orders from Beijing as it had no choice but to do so, even if it disagreed.

  Also removed from the app store on Friday were Dubai-based Telegram and US-based Signal, with these claims attributed by the NYT to Appfigures, a market research company.

  {loadposition sam08}The newspaper cited an unidentified source as saying the government has discovered content on Threads and WhatsApp that were critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping and in violation of the country's cyber-security laws.

  The US and China have been involved in a tit-for-tat trade war ever since Donald Trump initiated it back in 2018. The most recent action taken by the US was a decision to raise tariffs on imports of Chinese steel and aluminium.

  The US has also been blocking sales of advanced semiconductors to China and blocked Huawei Technology, China's biggest telecommunications outfit, from participating in 5G rollouts after lobbying many of its allies to do likewise.

  The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a bill to force Chinese firm ByteDance to choose between selling its TikTok app or else have it banned in the US.

  The NYT said WhatsApp had been downloaded 15 million times in China while Threads, which was started by Facebook when Twitter, now known as X, hit some hurdles after it was bought by Elon Musk, had been downloaded 470,000 times.
• MTN and Huawei launch innovation lab
  in Strategy
  By Kenn Anthony Mendoza

  MTN Group and tech giant Huawei have opened an innovation lab at MTN Group’s headquarters.

  Announced at MWC 2024, the lab aims to further deepen collaboration, accelerating digital transformation and sustainable development across Africa.

  The lab will focus on R&D including 5G and 5G-A technologies, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing, FTTH, automation, and digital financial services. It will serve as a hub for experimentation, demonstration, and skill-building.

  It is open to MTNers, partners, and other stakeholders.

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  “The lab will catalyse the growth of the digital economy, fostering innovation and generating long-lasting opportunities to empower communities and advance the continent’s development," said MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita.

  “By working closely, we can leverage each other’s strengths and the collective brilliance of Africa’s innovators to create solutions that will transform lives. This collaborative spirit is what will unlock the true potential of this lab,” said MTN Group chief technology and information officer Mazen Mroué.

  “We believe that the establishment of the innovation lab will accelerate the development of Africa’s digital economy and build a more prosperous and sustainable African continent,” said Huawei president wireless solutions Cao Ming.
• GenAI smartphones expected to make up 11% of shipments this year
  in Mobility
  By Sam Varghese

  About 11% of the smartphones sold during calendar year 2024 will be capable of using GenAI, the technology analyst firm Counterpoint Research says. adding that this estimate was higher than an earlier one made in December 2023. The figure was predicted to rise to 43% by 2027.

  The update was needed, the firm said, because of the anticipated entry of Apple into this segment later in 2024.

  Counterpoint defined a GenAI smartphone as "a mobile device that leverages large-scale, pre-trained generative AI models to create original content or perform contextually-aware tasks".

  It added: "We expect such devices to have multimodal capabilities, allowing them to process text, image, voice and other inputs to generate a variety of output and enable a user experience that is fluid and seamless.

  {loadposition sam08}"We expect the hardware specifications of such devices will likely evolve as the technology advances. But at present, a device should have hardware capabilities that are comparable to, or exceed, the performance of current flagship smartphones to effectively run generative AI models."

  Research director Tarun Pathak said more than 10 OEMs had launched more than 30 GenAI-capable smartphones so far.

  "AI in smartphones has been a key talking point since the start of this year, especially after the successful debut of the Galaxy S24 series, where Samsung has gained good mind share in marketing early AI use cases," he noted.

  "We expect Samsung to lead GenAI smartphone OEM rankings in 2024. This is the second trend in the past couple of years where Samsung enjoyed an early-mover advantage; the first being success of its foldables.

  "The AI advantage will provide Samsung momentum in the mid-to-premium smartphone segment as GenAI features get recognised more broadly in coming years.”

  Pathak said once Apple entered the segment, "we expect AI to immediately become a must-have feature in all mid-to-premium smartphone launches starting 2025. However, the real differentiation will lie in use cases, as consumers are still evaluating the potential impact of AI in their future devices.”

  Counterpoint associate director Mohit Agrawal said smartphones of the future would be more personalised to cater to individual needs and preferences, and AI would play a central role in driving these personalised experiences.

  "As OEMs differentiate themselves on AI positioning, the key here will be the evolution of AI use cases," he explained. "Currently, these use cases include enhanced imaging capabilities, translation features, improved app experiences, content recommendations, creating more personalised content, and more.

  "These use cases will evolve as large language models will continue to grow in both size and efficiency. Counterpoint believes that the integration of edge (mobile devices) and cloud will be the mainstream model for generative AI in smartphones, and OEMs with an equally strong play in software capabilities, along with strategic industry partnerships, are likely to stay ahead of the competition.”

  The analyst firm said it expected GenAI smartphones to hit an inflection point in 2025 as they appeared in broader price segments, especially the US$400-US$599 (A$621-A$930) price tier.

  The phones costing more than US$600 and also those in the US$400-US$599 price bands were predicted to account for nine out of every 10 GenAI smartphones sold in 2024.

  "Leading chipset companies such as MediaTek and Qualcomm have already taken the lead in embracing generative AI smartphones. They have launched several mobile computing platforms that support multimodal large AI models on devices," the firm said.

  "We expect Qualcomm to lead in the AI SoC space in 2024, capturing almost half of all GenAI smartphone shipments, followed by MediaTek with a 13% share."
• Samsung takes the lead as global smartphone shipments rise in 1Q24
  in Mobility
  By Sam Varghese

  Global smartphone shipments have risen by 7.8% year-on-year in the first three months of 2024 to 289.4 million units, the technology analyst firm IDC says.

  Samsung rose to the top among vendors, IDC noted, adding that with this being the third consecutive quarter of growth, it indicated that a recovery in the market was underway.

  "As expected, smartphone recovery continues to move forward with market optimism slowly building among the top brands," said Ryan Reith, group vice-president with IDC's Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.

  "While Apple managed to capture the top spot at the end of 2023, Samsung successfully reasserted itself as the leading smartphone provider in the first quarter.

  {loadposition sam08}"While IDC expects these two companies to maintain their hold on the high end of the market, the resurgence of Huawei in China, as well as notable gains by Xiaomi, Transsion, Oppo/OnePlus, and vivo will likely have both OEMs looking for areas to expand and diversify.

  "As the recovery progresses, we're likely to see the top companies gain share as the smaller brands struggle for positioning."

  

  Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team, added: "The smartphone market is emerging from the turbulence of the last two years both stronger and changed.

  "Firstly, we continue to see growth in value and average selling prices as consumers opt for more expensive devices, knowing they will hold onto their devices longer.

  "Secondly, there is a shift in power among the top five companies, which will likely continue as market players adjust their strategies in a post-recovery world.

  "Xiaomi is coming back strong from the large declines experienced over the past two years and Transsion is becoming a stable presence in the top five with aggressive growth in international markets.

  "In contrast, while the top two players both saw negative growth in the first quarter, it seems Samsung is in a stronger position overall than they were in recent quarters."
• Samsung releases new Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5 to blend continuity and productivity
  in Mobility
  By David M Williams

  Samsung has announced its new Galaxy Cover7 enterprise-ready smartphone and Galaxy Tab Active5 enterprise-ready tablet. Both devices are geared to handle field and frontline work that demands versatility, optimisation, and security, even in tough environments. Both bring advanced 5G connectivity, with mobile processor performance.

  Both devices will deliver enhanced mobility with upgraded mobile processor performance and increased memory. Additionally, the XCover7 comes with a new powerful rear camera, and expanded display size and resolution, while the Tab Active5 includes a replaceable battery and No Battery Mode, providing users the flexibility to work in a variety of settings.

  Rugged devices offer a smart solution; combining hardiness with performance contributing to increased adoption throughout the Asia Pacific, from 48% in 2020 to 81% in 2022, growth in the ruggedised device market is unlikely to slow down.

  “Samsung understands that businesses today face unprecedented challenges and opportunities, and they need devices that can keep up with their dynamic needs,” said Jerry Park, EVP and Head of Global Mobile B2B Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. 

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  Incredible performance

  Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5 enable workers to use their smartphones and tablets without worry. Both devices – along with the Tab Active5’s bundled S Pen – are IP68-rated for water and dust resistance. Tested against the MIL-STD-810H military standard, the Galaxy XCover7 can withstand accidental drops and bumps of up to 1.5m on a steel surface while the Galaxy Tab Active5 can withstand a 1.8m accidental drop and bump on a plywood surface when using the bundled protective case.

  The Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5 feature Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus+ and Corning Gorilla Glass 5, respectively. The device displays also allow for adjustments to touch sensitivity, making them easy to use for workers wearing gloves. With these specifications, Samsung Galaxy’s ruggedised devices can help withstand outdoor conditions, making them ideal for a wide variety of frontline workers.

   

  Designed to Keep Work Moving in the Office, Field or Frontline

  In today’s increasingly digital world, staying connected has been key as businesses, their operations and workforce evolve and become more technologically integrated. Galaxy XCover7 has been upgraded to provide fast and reliable 5G, along with Wi-Fi 5, while the Galaxy Tab Active5 offers 5G and Wi-Fi 6. This connectivity allows workers to collaborate more efficiently and effectively.

  In addition to smooth connectivity, Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5’s premium displays make for easy, convenient use. The XCover7’s 6.6-inch display provides more surface area alongside increased resolution compared to previous generations. The Tab Active5’s bright, 8.0-inch display offers great visibility in outdoor conditions and a smoother viewing experience with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Both devices are engineered to offer powerful enterprise support while maintaining a slim, lightweight frame for work in all kinds of conditions. 

  Samsung Galaxy’s ruggedised devices can help ensure work continuity, providing workers with the support and connectivity they need, even in new, challenging work environments. For long days in the field or on the factory floor, workers using both the Galaxy XCover7 and Tab Active5 can leverage fast charging to mitigate wasted time between charges and enable enhanced productivity. Both devices also come equipped with replaceable batteries, minimising downtime in and out of the workplace.

  The Galaxy Tab Active5 can run without a battery in No Battery Mode. This lets workers use the device non-stop at kiosks or in vehicles. The Galaxy XCover7 and Tab Active5 also have POGO charging interfaces, which can help simplify the charging process by enabling workplaces with POGO docks to charge multiple devices at once.

   

  Engineered to Maximise Productivity and Security

  Samsung’s ruggedised devices are also designed to maximise productivity and efficiency, and streamline fieldwork. Increased speaker volume ensures clear auditory volume, programmable keys enable shortcuts for improved productivity, and quick barcode scanning via Knox Capture streamlines operations for warehouse work or mobile points of sale (mPOS).

  Workers can unleash the full power of their smartphone or tablet with enhanced PC connectivity, too. The devices effortlessly handle quick content sharing, simultaneous displays and overall continuity of work between mobile and PC through Link to Windows, or emulate a desktop interface for jobs that take workers out of the field and into the office. 

  As businesses continue to operate in a fast-paced environment favouring efficiency, Samsung Galaxy’s ruggedised lineup can help workers get more done in less time, helping to meet growing consumer demands through increasing productivity and workplace operations. Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5 are also compatible with a range of third-party accessories, from various functional cases to charging cradles, USB-Type C PTTs and more – enabling full integration into virtually any workplace operation.

  In a first for Samsung’s ruggedised devices, Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5 come with support for Samsung Knox Vault. As part of Samsung Galaxy’s commitment to expanding security protections beyond flagship devices, enterprise customers now have even greater choice in the devices that can safely support their business needs. Knox Vault can help protect data on these devices, including lock screen information like PIN codes, passwords and patterns.

  It constructs a secure execution environment that is physically isolated from the system’s main processor and memory and is effective from the moment a user registers their lock screen – thus users can enjoy the security they need without hassle. Knox Vault can help protect users’ security keys which encrypt their data stored in the device, ensuring safety – even if the device is lost or stolen. A hardware-based, Samsung Knox Vault can help safeguard a user’s data against external threats.

   

  Availability

  The new Galaxy XCover7 and Galaxy Tab Active5 will be available starting 22^nd February 2024.

  For more information, about Samsung’s latest Galaxy devices please visit https://news.samsung.com/au/galaxy or https://www.samsung.com/au/mobile/