![\"Mike](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Mike-van-Lier.jpg\" "\\"Mike")
<\/a>Mike van Lier<\/p><\/div>\n
Breaking into enterprise<\/h3>\n
But that’s not to say breaking the big numbers will be easy. Samsung faces a lot of competition in the notebook market, with brands such as Dell, HP and Lenovo all operating in the same space.<\/p>\n
Even Microsoft has hardware running its own ecosystem – so what will differentiate Samsung from the rest?<\/p>\n
According to Van Lier, for Samsung, it’s all about the product.<\/p>\n
Highlighting Samsung’s hybrid tablet\/notebook Smart PCs (such as the ATIV Pro, which runs Windows 8 Pro), Van Lier said that 30% of all notebook devices sold into Samsung’s distribution channel (which includes companies such as Tarsus, Pinnacle, Mustek and Rectron), are Smart PCs.<\/p>\n
“How do you get devices into these channels? It’s all about the product,’ Van Lier said.<\/p>\n
“Samsung is gaining in innovation,” he said, noting that Samsung has approximately 60,500 people working on research and development – an area where Van Lier opines other brands are lacking.<\/p>\n
With Microsoft’s move into hardware with the Surface tablet (which is currently not available in South Africa), Van Lier believes that it served a common goal for the companies in creating hype around the ecosystem – which Samsung supports.<\/p>\n
“Microsoft focuses on software – and Samsung’s focus is on hardware,” Van Lier said, “IT managers want Microsoft devices – those are the products that they want.”<\/p>\n
<\/a>Integrated ecosystem<\/p><\/div>\n
Partnering in South Africa<\/h3>\n
Locally, Samsung has also engaged in a number of other partnerships for both the consumer and enterprise sectors to further differentiate itself in the market.<\/p>\n
A deal with AlwaysOn will see all Samsung device users get access to 1GB of free WiFi for 12 months.<\/p>\n
On a more business-specific deal, Samsung has partnered with Vodacom Business, which will see the companies working together to get both their products and services into the business market with a dedicated support structure on-hand.<\/p>\n
The deal is non-exclusive, and according to Samsung SA head of mobile product and software solutions, Paulo Ferreira, the company is open to exploring similar deals with other operators.<\/p>\n
With a bolder move to bring both Microsoft and Android devices closer together in the business environment, Van Lier said that ecosystem integration is “paramount” to Samsung.<\/p>\n
“There are going to be big things happening in terms of ecosystem integration – watch this space,” he said.<\/p>\n
Quinton was a guest of Samsung at the 2013 Forum Africa conference held in Cape Town.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n New Apple vs Samsung patent case to go ahead<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Apple\u2019s Samsung ban revival rejected<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Samsung dominates in global mobile phone sales<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Samsung SA shows off holiday wares<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Samsung Galaxy smartphones propel quarterly profit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on Samsung<\/h3>\n