Today, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, a market leader in consumer electronics and Worldwide Olympic Partner in the wireless communications equipment category, announced the launch of "˜The Best of Britain´ mobile application in partnership with VisitBritain, the national tourism agency.
Samsung and VisitBritain´s "Best of Britain" App (Photo: Business Wire)
The app launch realises an agreement announced in 2010 between the two organisations to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by providing visitors with a wide scope of social, cultural, fun and enriching experiences during their stay in the UK. The Best of Britain app focuses on making fresh content supplied by VisitBritain accessible to users of the Samsung Galaxy smartphone and Galaxy Tab ranges.
With 30.7 million visitors predicted to visit Britain during 2012, the Best of Britain app presents visitors with the ultimate tool for planning their trip with instant access to the best things-to-do, combined with functionality that´s simple, interactive and enriched with the best of British culture.
Smartphone usage is expected to increase further into 2012, so a mobile app provides a simple solution for showcasing the diverse range of museums, attractions, restaurants, bars, arts, entertainment and nightlife the UK has to offer. Samsung and VisitBritain plan to supplement The Best of Britain app with content about the Olympic Torch Relay and Olympic venue destinations next year. It is expected that through delivering rich, compelling content directly to the handset, an opportunity is created for visitors to maximize their experience in the UK, all at the touch of an app. The initiative is yet further evidence of VisitBritain´s continued focus on attracting more visitors to the UK before, during and after London 2012.
Sunny Hwang, Vice President & Head of Worldwide Sports Marketing, Samsung Electronics commented, "This is a perfect example of an Olympic Worldwide Partner and the host country tourism board working together to create a more fulfilling Games experience for the millions of people who will be touched by the London 2012 Olympic Games this year.
"Samsung and VisitBritain are enabling visitors to feel closer to the Olympic and Paralympic Games embracing a shared ambition to create a lasting legacy. Samsung will continue to develop its relationships with other Olympic partners to progress its goal for London 2012 to be "˜Everyone´s Olympic Games´ where everyone can enjoy, take part in and share the Olympic Games experience, using smart technologies."
Laurence Bresh, Director of Marketing at VisitBritain commented: "The launch of the Best of Britain app brings a unique insight into Britain in 2012 to Samsung device owners across the world. We expect that the events of London 2012, from the Olympic & Paralympic Games to the Queen´s Diamond Jubilee, will inspire many to come to Britain, and we know that those already planning their visits will find the Best of Britain App to be invaluable both before they travel and when they arrive."
The Best of Britain App Key Features include;
- Near Me "´ Never again will you miss an experience that´s right in front of you or not far away
- Eating & Drinking "´ Hungry, thirsty, vegetarian, pescatarian, search the best in British cuisine and use the map to direct you straight there
- Search "´ Whether it´s the finest British tea or the best place to hire a surfboard, everything is available at the slide of a screen
- Destination Guide - An in-depth guide to the hundreds of must-see villages, towns and cities around the UK
- Top 10 "´ Rely on dozens of Top 10 lists to discover the best shops, restaurants, bars, and explore the very best of your favourite activities
To showcase the full experience available through the Best of Britain app, Samsung and VisitBritain have created a demonstration video to illustrate the features of the app in a fun and informative way to encourage visitors to create an enriching British experience. View the video at www.visitbritain.tv.
With worldwide access to the Best of Britain app via Samsung´s App store, visitors are encouraged to download the app for free before arriving in the UK to ensure every precious moment is spent enjoying their unique Olympic experience. Download The Best of Britain app at www.samsungapps.com and from Android Market, exclusively for Samsung.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world´s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com
About Samsung´s Involvement in the Olympic Games
Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications program, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile phones. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time information and communications services. Samsung is also a Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and hosts the Samsung Mobile Explorers to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its smart mobile technology. Samsung´s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016.
About VisitBritain
VisitBritain is Britain´s national tourism agency, responsible for marketing Britain worldwide and developing Britain´s visitor economy. A non-departmental public body, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, we work in partnership with thousands of organisations in the UK and overseas "• the Government, the industry and our strategic partners in London, England, Scotland and Wales "• and seek to ensure that Britain is marketed appropriately around the world.
Our priority is to deliver a four-year match funded global marketing programme, working with the private sector, which takes advantage of the unique opportunity of the Royal Wedding, the Queen´s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Games to showcase Britain and attract new visitors from the tourism growth markets of Asia and Latin America and to reinvigorate our appeal in core markets such as the USA, France and Germany. This campaign aims to attract four million extra visitors to Britain, who will spend an additional £2 billion over the four years.
We also provide analysis and advice on the issues facing potential visitors, on Britain´s competitive position and the barriers to inbound tourism growth. This is in addition to providing research; market intelligence and analysis to inform the British tourism industry.
Our Priority Markets
- Americas- Brazil, Canada, USA
- Europe- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
- Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa- Australia, China, India, Japan, UAE
- Follow us on twitter @VisitBritainBiz or our consumer Twitter @VisitBritain and www.facebook.com/loveUK
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