Samsung’s Galaxy Plots Course Out of Google

Samsung badly needs a hit. Remarkably, Apple sold as many or more phones as the Korean giant in the fourth quarter, despite offering far fewer models. In China, Samsung has fallen behind Xiaomi and other local players that offer cheaper phones built around the same Android software.

Samsung has said that it’s considering a three-sided display for the Galaxy Note 4 which would allow for users to view the display at different angles. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 isn’t expected to arrive until much later this year, likely in the fall at IFA in Berlin, Germany.


A deal with BlackBerry announced Sunday shows the possible way forward. Samsung will incorporate BlackBerry’s encryption technology and some business-friendly software features into its phones, making them better for enterprise and government use. This is the kind of ecosystem development that can give a Samsung a real edge, both against Apple and the hordes of Android-powered competitors.

Investors applauded Samsung on Monday, sending its shares up 4.6%. It is still dependent on Google, but Samsung’s latest moves show the company at least has a plan to strike out on its own.