Latest news with #SamsungSouthAfrica
The Citizen
13-05-2025
- The Citizen
Introducing Samsung SOS+ subscription service
Samsung South Africa has partnered with AURA to officially launch Samsung SOS+, a free-to-use, 24/7 subscription service exclusive to the new Galaxy A56, A36 and A26 device owners. In an emergency situation and on demand, the service will immediately geolocate you and send traceable private security and medical emergency services, giving you peace of mind wherever you are in South Africa. This makes the latest Galaxy A Series the ultimate all-in-one safety solution in your pocket combining communication, smart tech, and personal security in one package. Samsung SOS+ is provided by AURA, the leading emergency response platform that stands apart through its unwavering commitment to transforming emergency response. Since 2017, AURA has been delivering real-time, life-saving assistance to those in need, ensuring immediate access to medical and security services when every second counts. Samsung isn't just offering a service, we're embedding access to safety directly into the everyday lives of our customers. Emergencies don't come with warnings. Whether it's a car accident, a health event, or an unexpected threat while walking home, time is critical. Samsung's SOS+ is designed for instinctive use, it's accessible with just one tap from the ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact list and there are multiple ways to access the service, via the app, SMS and toll free number. It's fast, intuitive, and designed to help registered Galaxy A users in stressful situations. 'Woven into people's daily lives, Samsung acts as an enabling tool and a source of empowerment. If Samsung devices are always with our customers, why can't they be the lifeline our customers reach for, should such an emergency situation happen? Now with Samsung SOS+, the Galaxy A Series offers immediate access to security and medical assistance.' said Justin Hume, Vice President for Mobile eXperience at Samsung. The reality for many South Africans is that they do not have access to quick medical and emergency services. Recent reports suggest that only 17% of South Africans have medical aid that gives them access to get private ambulances, less than 13% having access to private security, and in the poorest communities, that number falling to just 1.2%, Samsung SOS+ could be life-changing. 'Samsung SOS+ turns your phone into a personal safety tool – one call, and professional help is on the way,' added Warren Myers, CEO of AURA. 'We're not just offering peace of mind – we're delivering it with unmatched speed and nationwide. Safety is a basic human need, and our mission is to save lives by democratising access to on-demand emergency response services.' Samsung's Galaxy A Series offers smartphones built on the foundations of dependable innovation and affordability. Building on this, access to the Samsung SOS+ subscription service is available, free of charge, on any new Galaxy A26, A36, and A56 device from 05 May 2025 to 06 August 2025 as a Proof of Concept. All devices purchased on or after 1 May 2025 qualify for the promotion. Samsung SOS+ is immediately there for you – accessible via the SOS+ APP or toll-free number – with immediate help, live location tracking, giving customers peace of mind. 'At Samsung, we're committed to enriching lives not only through innovative technology and devices, but also meaningful services that matter to our consumers,' said Hume. Designed for instinctive use, Samsung SOS+ offers: Once registered through a quick process, in any medical and emergency, customers simply dial the dedicated toll-free Samsung SOS+ subscription service number, which triggers an alert and shares their live location directly with AURA's secure platform. The closest vetted responder – either medical or armed response – is immediately automatically dispatched from AURA's nationwide network of over 3,500 professionals. Simultaneously, users receive a call back from the personalised call centre to offer reassurance and confirm help is on the way. One-tap access from your contacts or the phone's ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact list Multimodal communication: via app, SMS, voice, or web Toll-free and Data-free functionality: location tracking can be activated through SMS Live responder tracking: users can see help approaching in real time – offering critical peace of mind How do I set up the service? Step 1: Purchase and activate the device. Step 2: Have all the current Samsung software updates downloaded and installed from the settings menu on the device. Step 3: Download the Samsung Members application from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play Store on the device. Step 4: Register for a Samsung Members account, then select 'Galaxy A-series Samsung SOS+ Launch Offer' promotional banner in the 'Benefits' section of the Samsung Members application and follow the prompts to complete the online registration and form. Step 5: Once the online form (referred to in step 4), has been submitted, the user will be required to complete the Samsung SOS+ service on-boarding process via the registration link and will be required to agree to and enter into the Application Terms. Buy the new Galaxy A56, A36, or A26 today and unlock 12-months free security and medical emergency peace of mind ready when you need it with the Samsung SOS+ subscription service. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Maverick
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Malatsi's smartphone tax break gets a mixed reception
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi's flagship initiative to waive the 9% ad valorem excise duty on smartphones costing less than R2,500 has industry players divided on whether it's a good idea. 'Affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to digital access, especially for low-income households,' the minister of communications and digital technologies, Solly Malatsi, declared at the 45th Southern Africa Telecommunications Association annual conference. He also proclaimed, once again, that 'the South African government has removed the 9% ad valorem excise duty on smartphones priced below R2,500'. The policy targets entry-level smartphones that predominantly offer 4G connectivity — a critical step in South Africa's transition away from 2G and 3G networks. With 87% 4G coverage in the country, the government has identified affordability, not infrastructure, as the primary obstacle to universal connectivity. The digital economy's contribution has reached 10% to 15% of South Africa's GDP, resulting in Malatsi framing smartphone access as 'a gateway to economic opportunity' that could expand participation in education, e-commerce and government services. Enthusiasm, meet scepticism The initiative has exposed a stark divide among industry stakeholders. Samsung, the biggest smartphone vendor in SA by value (and mostly volume, depending on how the market is sliced), can see the vision, but doesn't agree with the method. Justin Hume, Samsung South Africa vice-president of mobile, sees particular potential in mid-tier devices such as the Galaxy A16, which the company will now reduce from about R4,000 to R3,499. 'We're forecasting a nearly 200% increase in sales on that product when we move it to that price point because suddenly it moves into the realm of affordability,' Hume said during an interview at the recent Samsung Galaxy A56 launch event in Johannesburg. 'You're getting a great camera, great memory and processing capability that customers have never experienced before — and it's now affordable.' Although Hume strongly disagreed with her representation, Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO of the Association of Communications and Technology (ACT), presented a more nuanced view of the industry's response to the tax exemption. Batyi said Samsung was 'really, really, really excited' about the tax exemption, but she noted that other stakeholders were significantly less enthusiastic. 'Cellular providers and manufacturers based in South Africa don't see the impact yet,' she said. 'No one really knows the impact except the likes of Samsung.' The affordability conundrum At the heart of South Africa's digital divide is the prohibitive cost of modern smartphones. Batyi herself illustrated this through personal experience: 'I have a 4G handset that I've had for the past seven years because I refuse to pay R30,000 for a new handset. It just doesn't make sense, but everyone aspires [to] the better handset, isn't it?' This aspirational gap represents a key challenge for Malatsi's policy. Simply removing a 9% tax on entry-level devices may not address the fundamental pricing structures that keep premium features out of reach for most South Africans. Batyi pointed out that even for low-end manufacturer Mobicel, which produces 4G and 5G handsets that would benefit from this exemption, the devices would primarily be distributed through bulk government contracts rather than retail channels. 'There is no person who walks into a store and says, 'I want the Mobicel 5 handset,'' she said, highlighting the disconnect between local production and consumer buying patterns. Is Malatsi's move enough? The ACT's position on the tax waiver was diplomatically cautious. 'For the tax relaxation for all devices, we approached National Treasury. We are happy that he [Malatsi] took that on, and we're like, okay, it's something,' Batyi acknowledged. But she immediately followed with a more ambitious proposal: 'If South Africa is serious about the digital economy and serious that [it wants] to transform, the luxury tax can be relaxed for a period of two years [on all 4G and 5G components] and just test the market…' This suggestion, that a more comprehensive, if temporary, tax holiday might yield more significant results, represents a widespread industry concern that Malatsi's initiative, although welcome, may be insufficient to create transformative change. Where do the numbers make sense? Understanding why the tax cut affects different price points differently requires unpacking smartphone economics in South Africa. Hume explained that the 9% ad valorem duty — essentially a luxury tax — applied to the import price of devices, not the retail price consumers see. For ultra-budget smartphones retailing at R1,000 to R1,200, a 9% reduction translates to barely R90 to R100 off — hardly enough to sway purchasing decisions. The real sweet spot, according to Samsung, appears to be in the R3,000 to R4,500 range, where the tax waiver creates enough of a price reduction to bring formerly premium features within reach of aspirational buyers. Hume also pointed to device financing as the 'critical multiplier that could amplify the impact of the tax cut'. When smartphones fall below certain psychological price barriers, they become eligible for more attractive instalment plans, effectively expanding the market of potential buyers. 'As you bring products into the realm of device financing opportunities, that's where the real growth will come from,' said Hume. 'Not simply because of the retail price reduction, but because more consumers qualify for financing at those lower price points.' The grey area problem Another dimension often overlooked in discussions about smartphone affordability is the significant grey market for imported devices. Parallel imports — phones brought into the country through unofficial channels — undermine legitimate businesses and government revenue. Industry representatives argue that making legal imports more affordable through tax cuts like Malatsi's could help combat this problem by narrowing the price gap between official and unofficial channels. Closing the digital gap Despite these limitations, Malatsi's initiative represents a concrete step towards addressing what he called 'one of the biggest barriers to digital access'. As the policy takes effect in the coming months, its true impact on SA's digital landscape will become clearer. Whether this represents a transformative moment in digital inclusion or merely a symbolic gesture will ultimately depend on how consumers respond — and whether price reductions actually translate to increased adoption of 4G technology among previously disconnected South Africans. The luxury tax waiver may be just the opening move in what needs to be a much longer game of digital empowerment. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
