Samsung South Africa is responding to application market trends and demands, by implementing a new team structure that addresses the growing need for Android/BADA users.

 

According to Paulo Ferreira, head of product and software solutions at Samsung, the company has recruited new talent to discover new ways to apply innovative technology and form a new content and apps team.

 

This team will aggressively create and provide localised African content and apps for smartphones as well as tablet PCs users and in turn contribute to the local software ecosystem.

 

Samsung demonstrated its commitment to apps development on the continent early this year when it teamed up with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Strathmore University in Kenya, to foster an innovative atmosphere for mobile content development in Africa and move the most promising applications from prototype to commercially viable opportunities.

 

“We have recognised the opportunity in the market, as highlighted by Gartner and others, to provide engaging and relevant content as smartphones are becoming more accessible to all Africans. In fact, in collaboration with Google’s Android OS, we have made the smartphone available to most Africans by creating an affordable range of Android Devices to suit just about anyone, young or old,” stated Ferreira.

 

This new structure will cater to the requirements of users via a range of innovative applications/content that suits user’s lifestyle needs and provides stronger mobile content for both the business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets respectively.

 

According to market research firm Gartner, application store downloads are forecast to reach 17.7 billion downloads during 2011, which is a 117% increase from the estimated 8.2 billion downloads of 2010.

 

In fact, by the end of 2014, Gartner forecast over 185 billion applications will have been downloaded from mobile app stores, since the launch of Apple’s App Store in July 2008.

 

 

According to Samsung, just as important as delivering the cost effective smartphone options to the market, is educating the market to understand that smartphones and tablets are more than just cool and convenient devices. They also hold the potential to transform many industries.

 

Brett Loubser, B2C Apps development lead, adds: “Through this education and understanding Samsung aim to bridge the gap between the unique challenges and opportunities around innovative mobile applications, in Africa.”

 

“Samsung’s commitment to Africa extends far beyond market leadership towards being a contributing member to the African society and a supporter of regional development. Our Built in Africa, for Africa, by Africa strategy aims to create sustainable opportunities that empower people to live their dreams, and the creation of this ‘dream team’ is just another step in realising this goal,” concluded Loubser.