The software allows users to transfer music, videos, podcasts, pictures, contacts and text messages from an iPhone to a Samsung device, like its new flagship Galaxy S III. The application was announced on Friday by Samsung Mobile U.K.
"We're really proud to announce the launch of this new application and can't wait to hear what our new and existing customers think of it," said Simon Stanford, vice president of Telecommunications and Networks at Samsung U.K. "We know that traditionally iPhone users have been reluctant to switch to an Android device because they couldn't use iTunes to manage their content. Easy Phone Sync means people can now enjoy their iTunes content on a Samsung Galaxy phone. What's more is that it's really easy for them to do, and literally takes five minutes to set up."
Samsung's use of a third-party application to transfer data is different from the approach that was taken by now-defunct Palm, which in 2009 made its webOS operating system trick iTunes into thinking a Palm smartphone was actually an iPod. That sparked a back-and-forth battle in which Apple kept blocking webOS from tricking iTunes, and Palm kept issuing webOS updates to re-enable iTunes sync.
However, Samsung's free "Easy Phone Sync" application does allow users to continue using iTunes software on their PC to manage music, videos and podcasts. That means while iTunes won't handle the syncing, the Samsung application will stay up-to-date with iTunes content.
The new application is another sign of the escalating rivalry between Apple and Samsung. The two companies are involved in a bitter patent dispute that now spans across the world with lawsuits in 10 countries.
The Easy Phone Sync application for Android is available on Google Play and is developed by Media Mushroom. Accompanying applications that work with the Android app are available for both Mac OS X and Windows PCs.
115 Comments
Samsung is under the impression they can actually lure iPhone users, in a market situation where Apple's iPhone retention rates are sky-high.
The only people Samsung is luring are other Android users, and the ones taking the big hit are the other Android OEMs.
HAHA! Like that's gonna be popular. It's a one way street to the Mac/IOS platform I'm afraid Samsung. The only new traffic you get are people too stupid to know any different (fresh from some crappy symbian phone).
Can I take my saved game info from iOS to Android? No? No thanks. Not as if I was going to leave iOS anyways, but Android does have some really nice phones.
1. Only applies to the DRM parts 2. Is related to iCloud synch 3. Get a good media service versus gobbling together their new service, goggle service and amazon and Spotify mess 4. Samsung would be better focused on retention and current user satisfaction than iPhone users
Really Samsung and i do mean really ...the only reason iPhone users have been reluctant to switch to android and your hardware is because u guy both make crap Now I hope u got and app for that