Samsung Launches The Galaxy Note8, Calls On Channel To Push Enterprise Sales

Samsung launched its newest phone on Wednesday – the Galaxy Note8 – and the company is relying on its channel partners to rack up sales from its enterprise customer base.

Kevin Gilroy, executive vice president and general manager of the commercial division at Samsung, said the channel "plays a huge role" in driving enterprise sales for its Note8, a 6.3-inch smartphone model with a bigger display compared to its predecessor, enhanced security features and an improved S-Pen.

"I think the S-Pen is huge for channel partners; I think the biometric authentication is big with what is means for security," he said. "We see the channel business growing at strong double digits … with certain products in the triple digits. Our ecosystem is broad and growing quickly. Channel partners should get on board with us."

Gilroy said that while building its next-generation phone model, Samsung has looked closely at enterprise needs and requirements so that channel partners can make a good case to customers for buying the newest model.

For instance, Samsung said its phone has the biggest screen ever on a Note device, making it easier for enterprise users to take notes. In addition to a Super AMOLED Infinity display, the phone has an Always On display that goes into note-taking mode as soon as users take out their S Pen.

The phone itself features a 10nm 64-bit processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with expandable memory of up to 256GB.

[Related: Samsung Galaxy Note8 Release Coverage]

On the security front, Samsung has included biometric authentication options like iris and fingerprint scanning that helps professionals in health care or construction who need to unlock their phones without touching it, as well as built in Knox features in the software and hardware layers.

Partners applauded Samsung's specific features – like water and dust resistance and biometric authentication – because they say they will appeal to customers in vertical markets.

"Like with all new smartphones, enterprise customers are hopeful that new devices offer improved battery life, portable and wireless charging options and peripherals and accessories that extend the use of the device," said Jay Gordon, vice president of sales at Enterprise Mobile, a Plano, Texas-based Samsung partner. "Additionally, durability of devices is critical for those customers utilizing consumer-based mobile technology in field service and more rugged environments that accommodate drops and spills."

While some Samsung Galaxy Note7 models, released in August 2016, famously caught fire due to a manufacturing glitch in the phones' batteries, Samsung emphasized that its Note8's 3,300 MaH battery has been through an 8-point battery safety check process, as well as additional testing from a third-party expert, Underwriters Laboratories.

Gilroy said that Samsung had taken innovative mobile experiences into its newest phone – including Samsung DeX, the company's station accessory that helps transform the smartphone into an Android-powered desktop computer.

The Galaxy Note8 has improved camera features. On the back of the phone, the Note8 has two 12-megapixel cameras with optical image stabilization on both the wide-angle and telephoto lenses. That allows users to control the depth of the field and take both a close-up and wide-angle picture simultaneously. On the front the phone, there's an 8-megapixel camera with "smart" autofocus.

’We appreciate the relentless passion of the Note community. They’ve been a constant inspiration to us, and we designed the new Note for them,’ said DJ Koh, president of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, in a statement. ’From the Infinity Display to the new and improved S Pen, to the powerful dual camera, Note8 lets people do things they never thought were possible.’

Samsung will begin taking orders for the Galaxy Note8 on August 24.