Samsung Electronics is currently pushing for the expansion of a software ecosystem for it’s debuting foldable smartphone, “Galaxy F (tentative name)” in first half of next year.
Learning from its failures in the past, Samsung is encouraging outside developers to build their own related applications. Older tech, like Samsung’s 2013 curved phone and 3D TVs were seen as gimmicky and not innovative. There was no differentiating features that required consumer adoption.
To combat another flop, Samsung wants “killer contents” exclusively for its hardware. Samsung Electronics and Google recently distributed an App Design Guide for the “Galaxy F” to outside developers.
“Because foldable phones are different in form from current Smartphones, there are many things to consider when developing apps… If Galaxy F is released but there are not enough apps to support it, users will not be able to fully benefit from the new phone.”
Electronics industry Rep.
It is anticipated that “Galaxy F” will see the South Korean and US smartphone market with a minimum shipment of 1 million devices. The market research company WitsView is estimating that foldable smartphones will be 1.5% (20 million) of the global smartphone market.
