A report by the New York Times indicates Samsung's new security software, which is similar to BlackBerry's Balance feature that separates business data from personal data, has been delayed to at least the middle of 2013.
The launch of Samsung's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, was supposed to showcase the release of the Knox business balancing security software.
Two people who work with Samsung and on the Knox suite told the newspaper the company had decided to delay the release as "it needed more time to test the software internally and with carriers".
According to the report, Samsung had informed one of these people that Knox would be out around July.
Samsung's Knox security software was revealed at the Mobile World Congress earlier this year, with the company initially planning it to be released with the Galaxy S4. Samsung representatives confirmed to the newspaper that Knox would only be released at a later stage.
Defining Knox
On its Web site, Samsung describes Knox as software that "addresses the mobile security needs of enterprise IT, without invading the privacy of its employees".
Knox is a Samsung enterprise solution and is aligned with the Samsung For Enterprise (SAFE) programme. SAFE and Knox take aim at enterprise smartphone markets, dominated historically by BlackBerry, but more recently by Apple.
"As we expand our position in the enterprise market, our customers are demanding enterprise-level security solutions," says Dr Injong Rhee, senior VP of the Technology Strategy Group, at Samsung Electronics.
Knox incorporates Security Enhanced Android developed by the National Security Agency, and integrity management services implemented in both hardware and the Android framework.
At the application layer, Knox offers a solution that separates business and personal use of a smartphone. It is accessible through an icon on the home screen, and offers enterprise applications in a secure environment, including e-mail, browser, contacts, calendars, file-sharing, collaboration, CRM and business intelligence applications.
Simon Stanford, VP of IM division at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, says Knox is the solution for businesses to get the right balance between enterprise control and employee satisfaction
"The growing trend for BYOD has, naturally, introduced a variety of security issues to the enterprise, but the fact remains that businesses embracing this strategy are enjoying significant advantages over competitors, as well as the benefits that come with a happy workforce."
Samsung's Galaxy S4 will be launched in Johannesburg tonight, and local mobile network providers will start selling the smartphone from 27 April.
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