Samsung buys Canadian next-generation network platform

By Park Sae-jin Posted : November 16, 2016, 10:48 Updated : November 16, 2016, 10:48

[Namkung Jinwoong timeid@]


Samsung Electronics ventured into a next-generation messaging service called RCS Wednesday by acquiring a Canadia-based communications service company, as part of efforts to diversify its business portfolio which has focused on smartphones and displays.
 
Canada's NewNet Communications Technologies will operate independently as Samsung's wholly-owned subsidiary, the world's largest smartphone maker said Wednesday, declining to disclose the price and other terms.

The deal with NewNet followed Samsung's surprise acquisition of Harman International Industries, a US-based global leader in connected car technology, for about eight billion US dollars.

"This acquisition will accelerate the deployment of RCS (rich communication service)-enabled networks, providing consumers with a ubiquitous standards-based messaging and communications platform," Samsung said in a statement.

RCS is a standard for an integrated messenger platform providing users with an ability to send multimedia including high-definition images, location information and large files. Current short text messaging services (SMS) only support limited file sharing.

"Unlike other messaging apps in the market, users will be able to communicate on any network, with an RCS-enabled device as well as SMS-only devices," Samsung said. 

In order to create the RCS ecology, Samsung plans to offer server solutions to mobile carriers and provide handsets embedded with the technology.

"Consumers will benefit from an advanced messaging experience with features such as enhanced calling, group chat, and the ability to easily share and transfer large files including multimedia and high-resolution photos," the company said.

Unlike other messaging apps, users will be able to communicate on any network with RCS-enabled or SMS-only devices, it said.

The acquisition of Harman marked Samsung's biggest investment outside South Korea under the leadership of vice chairman J. Y. Lee,  who has sought to realign the country's largest family-run conglomerate.

Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기