James Politeski.
Running a business that makes everything from smartphones to washing machines, James Politeski has his hands full as the president of Samsung Canada.
While it was a busy year for product launches, the big news for Samsung in Canada for 2013 was the opening of its first Canadian Research & Development Centre in Vancouver. The facility is focused on developing Samsung’s enterprise security solutions, while providing global technical support for the company’s business-to-business customers, and employs approximately 60 software engineers, designers and operations staff.
We did mention products, though. Besides the fridges and washing machines, perhaps the biggest launch for Samsung came in March when its Galaxy S4 smartphone debuted in New York City. The Android device is Samsung’s flagship smartphone and is equipped with a bevy of features, including a translator, touchless scrolling and special fitness tools.
And no Samsung smartphone will be complete without the vendor’s new Galaxy Gear smartwatch. Designed as a companion device to compatible Samsung smartphones, it will notify you of incoming messages, allow you to make hands-free calls, and take pictures from your wrist. And, of course, tell the time.
Other noteable news included the Ativ One all-in-one PC with gesture control, the unification of its PC line under that Ativ brand, a new digital signage platform that pairs large format display units with system-in-a-chip technology to remove the need for a setback box, and a push to knock HP off the top of the printing mountain with a special focus on mobile print.