With Knox, Samsung starts its big enterprise push

Samsung's next big push will be in the enterprise space. The company is banking heavily on its mobile enterprise solution Knox to "provide powerful security for both work and play".

This is significant also because none of the other Android phone makers have ever offered a viable enterprise solution to its customers. With more and more companies adopting the bring-your-own-device policy, the popular but open source Android devices have been becoming a pain to manage. Knox could change the way IT managers view Android at the moment.

Samsung claims that Knox, first announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week, will offer "comprehensive security and protect confidentiality of enterprise data". Like BlackBerry Balance it will also keep your work and personal data separate. Samsung will bundle Knox with STEP, or Samsung Technology Enterprise Programme, to empower its partners to sell and service its enterprise solutions.

Uday Bhat, director of Samsung's IT Business in India, said the company wants to become a global leader in the enterprise market. In the South West Asia market, comprising India, the enterprise segment is expected to be around 10 per cent by the end of 2013. Till last year, enterprise used to be part of different verticals, not a separate entity. By 2020, Samsung wants to see B2B bringing in around a quarter of its global revenue.

"We don't necessarily need to replicate what the others are doing in the market. Our enterprise solution is unique in every way," Bhat said. He said the enterprise move is also prompted by a demand for the same from Samsung's customers the world over.

The company is already making inroads into the enterprise space with its computing, display and printing products. The company will also be targeting retail and health sectors.

Knox will be an integral component of the Samsung for Enterprises (SAFE) programme. As of now, SAFE certified phones like the Samsung Galaxy SIII and Galaxy Note II can run this solution. Knox is also expected to get a huge push with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy SIV, the company's next flagship phone, in mid-March.

With BlackBerry's grip on enterprise waning, Apple and Nokia are scrambling for a share of the market. Samsung's entry will only queer their pitch further.