Samsung, Microsoft to discuss B2B
Published: 22 Sep. 2014, 23:21
The moves comes at a time when Samsung’s smartphone market has reached a point at which profitability and market share is shrinking.
The Korean tech company’s vice chairman, Jay Y. Lee, is expected to meet with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella today at the company’s headquarters in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.
It has been reported that the two tech companies will likely sign an agreement on B2B businesses early next year.
This is Nadella’s first visit to Seoul since he was made head of Microsoft earlier this year. He is here to make a speech tomorrow at the Microsoft Tech Days forum held at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. He will then go on to visit China, Japan and India.
The two executives are expected to patch up the lawsuit that Microsoft filed against Samsung last month. The U.S. tech company sued the Korean smartphone maker in New York over unpaid interest on a patent license royalty.
The Korean tech company is looking to B2B businesses as the business-to-consumer (B2C) businesses of selling smartphones, TVs and electronic goods slow.
Merging Samsung SDS and Samsung SNS is believed to be a part of Samsung’s grand plan to step up its B2B business.
During the recent IFA trade show held in Berlin, Samsung emphasized the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) and presented 50 or so solutions targeted toward B2B customers across six different sectors. In order to achieve its goal, Samsung needs the cloud service and data center run by Microsoft to analyze big data.
It has been reported in the business press that Samsung’s Lee held a separate meeting on Sept. 3 with Hasso Plattner, chairman of the global software company SAP, to discuss cooperation in big data.
BY LEE SO-AH [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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