Samsung Electronics Africa announced that it will be providing Pan African customers with a 24-month Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) warranty to cover screen and liquid damages to the GALAXY S4 at no extra charge.
The company, Vice President and COO for Africa, George Ferreira announced this welcoming innovative offer at the Africa grand launch of Galaxy S4 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“This is world first from a device manufacturer level,” Ferreira said, adding “this warranty is yet another way Samsung is showing its commitment to customer service by introducing it as standard on the GALAXY S4 and will be extended to other Samsung devices in the months to come.”
The ADH on Galaxy S4 is welcoming news, particularly for those who had issues with the screen of Galaxy S3, and users cannot wait for it to be extended to S3 and other Samsung handsets, as Ferreira promised.
Ferreira noted that the ADH will be incorporated into the existing 24-month standard factory warranty on the GALAXY S4, which means, after purchasing the device, customers will need to register it through the Samsung e-Warranty service at www.samsung.com before they can quality for ADH.
“In the event of damage, the customer can take the device to an authorized Samsung Service Centre and the centre will replace the screen or board free of charge with no questions asked,” he told Ghanaian journalists at the event.
He said the ADH warranty will cover only screen and liquid damages, adding that customers will be limited to two incidents per 24-month period, and that can be two screen damages, two liquid damages, or one incident of each.
Ferreira said Samsung is excited about the ADH warranty because it provides customers across Africa with access to the very best service level agreements.
“Samsung understands the unique needs of its customers and this is another value-added service the company is introducing to provide them with comprehensive service assistance in the event of accidental handling damage to their devices,” he said.
Countries where Samsung ADH is currently available include Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, Mauritius, Uganda, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana, Angola and Cote d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, in Ghana, Head of Handheld Devices for Samsung West Africa, Jaspreet Singh told journalists the Samsung Galaxy S4 handset will cost GHC1,600 and company has devised a one year payment plan for salaried workers who cannot afford upfront purchase.
He said Samsung has made arrangement with Standard Chartered Bank and other banks to advance interest-free loans to such persons to buy the phone and the repayment installments would be deducted directly from source without any extra cost to the buyer.
Singh said prior to the former launch of Galaxy S4 in Ghana, some 2,000 copies have already been pre-ordered in Ghana, adding that it was a sign that the handset would make waves on the Ghanaian market like it predecessor, S3 did.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 was launched with impressive pump and pageantry and a heavy dose of wow moments as the various features of the phone was revealed to the thousands of audiences at the launch.
The GALAXY S4 has the world’s first Full HD 5-inch Super AMOLED display screen with top class 441 pixels per inch for stunning viewing quality. It is also equipped with a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, which can both be used simultaneously under the Dual Shot feature.
The GALAXY S4 currently supports 3G networks (HSPA+42 Mbps), but the 4G (LTE) version, which would be launch in six weeks, will support up to Hexa-band, which allows it to function in all LTE coverage areas as well as enabling global LTE roaming.
Some of its other specs include options of 1.9GHz Qaud-Core Processor and 1.6GHz Octa-Octa-Core, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system, 2,600mAh longer battery life, 2GB operating memory, options of 16/32/64GB internal memory, WiFi, a wide range of Google Mobile services and its touch screen is glove friendly, unlike its predecessors.
But the special features which left the audience often applauding at the launch include the integrated Samsung Hub, Samsung ChatOn, Samsung KNOX, Dual Camera, Group Play, Sound and Shot, Drama Shot, S Travel, S Translator, Story Album, Smart Pause, Smart Scroll, Air View, Air Gesture, S Voice Drive, Optical Reader, S Health, Adapt Display, and Adapt Sound among others.
The Dual Camera function allows both rear and front cameras to take simultaneous photos and videos. Drama Shot’, allows users to see all the action in one continuous time-lapse, and ‘Sound & Shot’, uniquely stores sound and voice together as a still picture is taken.
These meaningful moments captured in pictures and video can also now automatically be stored in a photo album, with the new ‘Story Album’ function. Content such as SNS posts, memos, location and weather information, as well as photos and videos, is automatically gathered on the phone to create a photo album which is personalised around your timeline of special occasions and events.
With the ‘Group Play’ function, users can enjoy music, photos and games with others around without even requiring a Wi-Fi AP or cellular signal, and ‘Share Music’ option allows users to have the same song playing on multiple phones in sync to create the best party atmosphere.
The GALAXY S4 brings all people closer together by breaking down language barriers. Its ‘S Translator’ provides instant translation for 10 international languages, whether voice or text in email, text message and ChatON. It also translates from speech to text and text to speech.
Samsung Smart Pause enables one to control the screen by where one looks. “When you are watching a video, the video pauses when you look away then it starts right up again when you are back.” ‘Samsung Smart Scroll’ allows one to scroll the browser or emails up and down without touching the screen. It detects your eyes and recognises movement of your wrist and then scroll the pages up or down accordingly.
‘Air View’ allows users to hover with their fingers to preview the content of an email, S Planner, image gallery or video without having to open it. The user can even see a magnified view on the Internet browser, or a phone number saved in the speed dial on the keypad. Meanwhile, ‘Air Gesture’, also make it possible to change the music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with a wave of your hand.
With ‘S Voice Drive’ one can activate commands via voice control for optimisation when driving. Once connected with a car Bluetooth, the phone automatically turns into driving mode converting text to speech so one can easily and safely check messages with no need to- look at the screen.
‘Optical Reader’ makes life yet more effortless, by automatically recognising text, a business card or QR code information, and providing useful functions such as translation, call, text message and search.
The GALAXY S4 empowers your life by keeping you up-to-date with health and wellbeing information using the new ‘S Health’ software.
There is also the Samsung KNOX, which allows one to separate business content from personal content and lock each away from intruders; plus Samsung ChatON which allow sharing of text, voice, pictures and videos during a chat over Wifi.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology. The company has through relentless innovation and discovery, been transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. It currently employs 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion.