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Samsung Galaxy S4 to drive BYOD: Telsyte

Samsung Galaxy S4 to drive BYOD: Telsyte

Launch puts BlackBerry on notice to maintain aggressive release cycle, says analyst Rodney Gedda

The release of a new Samsung Galaxy S smartphone is likely to drive more consumer devices into the workplace, according to Telsyte analyst Rodney Gedda.

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 earlier today in New York City. The device is faster and has a bigger screen than its predecessor, and also adds hand gestures to the interface.

BYOD means Samsung Galaxy S4 is coming to the enterprise. Credit: Samsung
BYOD means Samsung Galaxy S4 is coming to the enterprise. Credit: Samsung

Historically, launches of flagship Android and Apple phones have spurred bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives in the enterprise, Gedda told Computerworld Australia.

“You’re always going to have that segment of the market that wants to get its hands on the latest and greatest” device, said Gedda. “Once they do, they’re not going to want to put it down just because they have to go in the office on Monday morning.”

“BYOD started this way with the desire to bring preferred devices into the workplace, and with the S4 we can expect this to continue.”

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With more Galaxy S phones likely to show up with employees, IT managers should be aware of security risks, Gedda said. Some have criticised security on the Android compared to other mobile operating systems, he said. However, there are security apps available to plug any holes, he said.

One business feature included in the Galaxy S4 is Knox. Anounced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Knox separates business and personal use of the mobile device in similar fashion to BlackBerry Balance.

“Security and privacy are understandably held up as barriers to businesses embracing BYOD demands," Samsung mobile division president JK Shin said in a statement last month. "Meanwhile, users are seeing the latest smartphones and tablets and knocking at the door of IT demanding to be able to use their own devices.”

Gedda advised IT managers to take note of the device’s use of hand gestures to interact with the phone. Over time, it’s possible this could become a standard interface in mobile devices, he said.

“How we interact with our devices is likely going to be the biggest change going forward,” Gedda said. "Businesses should “at least be aware of the next wave of computing that’s coming.”

BlackBerry, which with new touch-screen devices like the Z10 is trying to recapture share of the business market while making a splash with consumers, should take the Samsung launch as a warning not to become complacent, Gedda said.

BlackBerry “knew that the Android and Apple vendors are on a pretty aggressive release cycle,” launching a new handset every 12 months, he said.

Now BlackBerry “must maintain the pulse of releases,” he said. “What it can’t do is have a gap in between smartphones ... It needs to improve on the Z10 with a flagship every 12 months.”

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Tags consumerisation of ITBlackberryenterpriseBring Your Own Device (BYOD)Samsung Galaxy S4

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