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Cape Town - Samsung has a strategy for South Africa and Africa that should see the South Korean company make deep inroads with its mobile devices while its major competitors sleep at the wheel.
With the launch of the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Edge and Gear S, Samsung is positioned to take advantage of the "post-PC" generation in Africa and limit potential market penetration for Apple.
Apple has announced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus for African markets, but the company is late to the party for large format smartphones known as phablets.
Samsung, on the other hand, moved quickly to bring its latest technology to Africa, but also showed off what is to come at the local launch of the Note 4.
In addition to the Note Edge - a phablet with a second, bevelled edge display that works in concert with the main display, Samsung showcased a virtual reality headset to attending media.
Immersive environments
The headset promises a new way to interact with content on the Note device and a casual examination of the technology illustrated that it has come a long way from the clumsy 3D rendering devices of the past.
Users of the VR headset displayed significant reactions to the content and though its only limited to the latest Samsung devices, the potential for the technology is clearly evident.
The Galaxy Gear S will cost around R6 000. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
Rival manufacturers will no doubt seize on VR technology if consumers show interest, and developers and content creators could potentially build immersive environments for consumers.
Imagine, for example a movie where the action is determined by where you look and how you engage with the action. Or being at the centre of the action in an unfolding news story.
The key question though is price, and on that matter Samsung isn't saying much for now. The VR headset is expected to be available in SA by early 2015.
The Galaxy Note Edge will hit SA in early 2015. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
The Note Edge which will become available early in 2015 should retail for slightly more than the Note and the Gear S smart watch also has a nose-bleeding price.
"The Gear S sits at about R6 000 as recommended retail price. It's a bit early to quote for the Galaxy Note Edge... but will come in at a slight premium to Note 4," Craige Fleischer, director of Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics SA, told Fin24.
Mobile technology
Samsung may not have it all its own way as cheaper manufacturers race to grab market share in SA, and the competition will likely be centred on both price and ecosystem.
It is unclear whether rival Apple has any strategy to service the African market in the same way that Samsung has with its technology.
Africa has around one billion people and the continent is expected to make the jump to post-PC mobile technologies in the internet age.
Companies that place themselves in the minds of African consumers have the best opportunity to maximise sales and market share.
Check out this video of South Africans reacting to the VR headset:
- Follow Duncan on Twitter
