This is something I certainly did not expect to see. According to The Korea Times, they received information from a Samsung official who says that Samsung wants to launch its own social network, to directly compete with Facebook. Because of Samsung’s wide variety of products and market segments, they want to make this available on all their internet-enabled devices, such as cameras, televisions, Blu-ray players and of course their mobile products. The sources cite the internal name of the project as “Samsung Facebook”.

This new network is expected to launch early in 2013. The Korea Times goes on to say that the network will be built on Amazon’s cloud computing platform, which I find interesting. Not building it on their own infrastructure is certainly risky, especially if they plan to make it a global success. However, I have a suspicion that this network is going to marketed primarily to the Korean tech-savvy youth. South Korea has among the highest internet penetration in the world, particularly in the younger demographic.

I would first like to see them implement a system where, for example, your Samsung fridge knows how much stock is left inside, and notifies you via your Samsung smartphone what you need to purchase if and when you walk into a grocery store. This has been rumoured for some time, and that might have more appeal than yet another social network, where even Google+ is struggling to convert Facebook clients.

We will just have to wait and see whether the network materializes, whether it will be available globally, and of course whether it garners any kind of following.

Update: Since media coverage of Samsung’s plans to start its own social network has circulated, Samsung has since posted a comment on its official global blog stating that the rumours regarding the project are “groundless”. The blog continues:

There have been inquiries and a few articles claiming that Samsung Electronics is going to offer a Facebook-like service, being developed under a code-name called ‘Samsung Facebook.’ However this is not true and the rumor is groundless.

‘Family Story’ has been available since February 2012 on Samsung Smart TVs, Smartphones, Tablets and the web*. This service, like its name, is a family-oriented convergence service that focuses on sharing and storing families’ special moments.

It is true that we currently are working on upgrading ‘Family Story’ as we always thrive to provide consumers with enhanced experiences, but this is far from a “Samsung Faceboook” as some are claiming it to be.

Source: The Verge