‘Galaxy S6 is a declaration of independence from Google and Qualcomm’

‘Galaxy S6 is a declaration of independence from Google and Qualcomm’. March. 05, 2015 07:21. drake007@donga.com.

"The Samsung Galaxy S6 is a declaration of independence from Google and Qualcomm."

This was the reaction of the mobile industry to Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge unveiled in Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Samsung has used its own application processor chips in the phones, replacing those from Qualcomm, and introduced a new feature Samsung Pay, a direct competitor to Google Wallet. Analysts anticipate that Samsung will further reduce its dependence on Qualcomm and Google starting with Galaxy S6.

Samsung Pay will be available for consumers this summer in conjunction with nine domestic credit card firms, the company said on Tuesday. The mobile payment company will include six members of the app card association, which are Samsung Card, Shinhan Card, KB Kookmin Card, Hyundai Card, Lotte Card and NH Nonghyup Card, as well as BC Card, Hana Card and Woori Card.

Of its mobile payment service overseas including the U.S. backed by technologies and sales network of LoopPay it recently acquired. During his recent trip to the U.S., Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong met CEOs of credit card firms there to discuss ways to collaborate for Samsung Pay.

Google partnered with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile last month, and announced that Google Wallet, its own mobile payment app, will be pre-installed on new Android smartphones. Google Wallet and Samsung Pay will compete head-on in Samsung phones.

Samsung Electronics CEO Shin Jong-kyun said, "We have yet to make detailed talks with U.S. telecom service providers and Google," but added, "We believe consumers will ultimately choose Samsung Pay."

Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are the first Android phones to be packed with Microsoft`s four applications OneNote, OneDrive, Skype and Office 365. This implies that Samsung has booked a new honeymoon with Microsoft after the two recently withdrew a patent war, while distancing from Google. Samsung has also decided to expand technology partnership with BlackBerry. The Wall Street Journal said Samsung has prepared a stand-alone plan though it still depends on Google.

Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge used Samsung`s own chip Exynos 7 instead of Qualcomm`s Snapdragon810. Though Samsung hasn`t said officially, the new smartphones rolling out in major markets including the U.S. will likely mostly adopt Exynos 7. In lowering its revenue forecast for this year, Qualcomm said that its Snapdragon 810 processor was dropped from the upcoming design cycle of a large customer’s flagship device.

Mirae Asset Securities analyst Do Hyun-woo said, "In terms of components, Samsung Electronics has obtained a competitive edge unmatched by rivals by vertically integrating displays and application processors."