Galaxy Note 5 likely to feature enhanced mobile security

The chief of a French mobile security solutions firm offered a glimpse into some security software to be featured in tech giant Samsung Electronics’ upcoming Galaxy Note 5 phablet.

“Our security elements will be directly linked to the (handset’s) application processor, which was not the case before, and that will enable faster communication between the embedded security elements and the processor,” Oberthur Technologies chief executive Didier Lamouche told The Korea Herald in Seoul on Thursday. 

The company's new security software expected to be installed in Samsung Electronics’ flagship handset, the Galaxy Note 5, will be more efficient and faster than those in the preceding models.

The mobile solutions of the French firm will also likely beef up the security of the phablet’s fingerprint scanner. 

Samsung will reportedly unveil its new phablet model on Aug. 13 in New York.

The French firm is Samsung’s first European partner that will provide security solutions for Samsung Pay to help users access the mobile payment service in the region.

In order for mobile payment services to be widely used in Europe, close partnerships between security solutions providers, device makers and commercial banks based in the region are significant, according to the CEO.

“We are in the final talks with three to four major European banks including those in Spain and Poland in order to implement that system (which connects users, devices and solutions) very soon in the market,” said the Oberthur CEO, vowing to give all-out support to Samsung’s mobile payment system to gain growth momentum across the European market.

Touching on the issues of the battle between Samsung and California-based Apple to capture the lion’s share of the world’s mobile payment industry, he commented that openness is key.

“At the end of the day, the one who is going to win is the one who is going to have open standards,” he said. 

The French digital security solutions developer also announced Thursday the opening of its research and development center dedicated to security technologies for smartphones and mobile devices in Gangnam, Seoul.

The Paris-based mobile security solutions developer said it would capitalize on its expertise in the fields of secure connectivity and transactions and try to keep close collaboration with partners including Samsung and LG in Korea.

Its mobile security software have been embedded in the Galaxy smartphone lineup, including the Galaxy S4, S5 and S6 and the S6 Edge.

By Kim Young-won  (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)