LIVE FROM IFA 2016, BERLIN: Samsung is on a mission to become a major player in Europe’s Internet of Things (IoT) space and plans to use its strong brand presence in the market to drive growth.

The vendor today claimed that seven out of 10 households in Europe own a Samsung mobile phone, and this is one of the reasons it is committed to investing further in the region, where it employs 14,000 people.

For starters, its Family Hub, a refrigerator with 21.5-inch Full HD touchscreen which “caused a sensation when launched in the US, creating a whole new category of appliances,” will soon come to Europe.

Its three innerview cameras take photos of the fridge’s contents that users can access via their mobile devices.

The touchscreen serves as a white board for notes, photos and calendar, all of which can be uploaded directly via the fridge or remotely by phone or tablet. Consumers can also use the touchscreen and online shopping app to order groceries and will have access to the Club des Chefs App offering professional cooking tips.

Meanwhile Samsung announced that, as part of the European Commission’s Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs, it is on track to deliver its pledge to support 400,000 young people by the end of 2016 – three years earlier than expected.

Smart Hub
The firm also introduced a content platform called Smart Hub, and announced the formation of a new premium HDR content partnership that will “help realise the full potential” of its new Quantum Dot SUHD TV.

As part of this, it is strengthening its collaborative relationships with companies like Netflix, which is expanding its range of HDR content for European customers.

Samsung also showcased the capabilities of the Samsung Smart Remote, which allows users to navigate their connected devices with a single remote control. It can auto-detect any external devices connected to the TV.

Samsung’s European efforts follow plans announced in June to spend $1.2 billion over four years on US-based IoT R&D and investments.

Earlier in the week at IFA, Samsung unveiled the Gear S3, with features including water resistance, mobile payments, LTE connectivity and built-in GPS.