Post date: Feb 25, 2014 12:15:39 PM
Samsung unveils the latest addition to its Galaxy smartphone line-up.
BARCELONA, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 24, 2014) (REUTERS) - Samsung unveiled the latest addition to its Galaxy smartphone line-up on Monday (Febraury 24).
Complete with fingerprint scanner for mobile payments, the Galaxy S5 was the focus of a glitzy launch event on the sidelines to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.The new model is waterproof, dustproof and features an improved camera.
It is also the first smartphone on the market to have a built-in heart sensor, as Samsung continues its push towards connected devices, and an increasingly fitness-conscious consumer-base.
"The Galaxy S5, the Gear two, and the gear fit. These devices are Samsung's commitment and vision to create experiences that matter the most to us all. On April
3. we will release these incredible devices in nearly 150 countries," Vice president of European Telecommunications Operations Jean-Daniel Ayme said at the presentation.
Lighter and less bulky than last year's Galaxy Gear, the Galaxy Gear 2 and Galaxy Fit appear to address the criticisms that have plagued their predecessor.
The watches are the first devices operating on the company's new Tizen system, as the company tries to distance itself from Google's Android platform and show that it is not just a fast follower of innovation, but a trailblazer too.
The growing importance of wearable devices is one of the main themes of this year's Mobile World Congress.
"I think we have only just begun to see the new use cases. Tonight we talked about the new health monitoring the heart rate monitoring inside of the phone and other wearable devices. We are going to see great new innovations, people who take health and fitness to whole new levels. And this is only the start of what we are going to do . We have a whole new range of technology and protective systems inside of the smartphones that happen to be more durable and water resistant," Marketing Director of Samsung Europe, Rory O'Neill, told Reuters.
The annual convention is the biggest event on the mobile industry calendar, with 70,000 delegates expected to attend.