Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

Samsung looks to break away from the Android pack

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:27PM EST
BGR

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

In something of a surprise to the industry, leading consumer electronics firm Samsung announced earlier this month that chief executive Choi Gee-sung would shift to a new role focused on strategy and former component business head Kwon Oh-hyun would take over as Samsung’s CEO. During a speech on Monday, Kwon stated that Samsung will make software and UI design a key focus moving forward, suggesting that the heavy Android customizations seen in the company’s new Galaxy S III smartphone are just the beginning. “A particular focus must be given to serving new customer experience and value by strengthening soft capabilities in software, user experience, design and solutions,” Kwon said according to The Wall Street Journal. Samsung Mobile’s Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Sales Tim Wagner also noted on Monday that the Galaxy S III smartphone “systematically defragments Android,” further supporting the notion that Samsung is looking to shift focus away from being “an Android vendor” and toward being “a smartphone vendor” known for its own unique solutions rather than just Google’s mobile operating system.

Read

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.