Samsung is getting down to business with an update to Knox on the Samsung Galaxy S5. Knox 2.0 involves a rethink of Samsung's business software and services designed to make Galaxy phones and tablets safe for work. Samsung now describes the new improved Knox as not one platform but a "portfolio of multiple products and services", designed to beef up the security of phones and tablets so they can be safely and securely used by businesses. The core security platform and app container has been renamed Knox Workspace, and the overall Knox ecosystem adds two new cloud-based services: Knox EMM allows your device to be controlled remotely by your IT team, and Knox Marketplace is a dedicated app store. New features include two-factor biometric authentication to make use of the S5's fingerprint scanner. Handily for your wallet, Knox also includes the option of separate bills to pay for personal and business use of the device. The separate bills for personal calls and work calls can be sent to different mobile carriers and networks, with personal use charged to you and work use charged directly to your company. Knox 2.0 is now on the S5 ready to be turned on by your company's resident IT genius, and will come to other devices with an update "in the coming months." Now that everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, manufacturers have to look outside of the consumer sphere to sell more kit. As well as expanding into emerging markets, technology companies are also looking to the world of business, which was in previous years effectively sewn up by BlackBerry. Now, in the age of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) bringing smartphones into the office, the likes of Samsung are introducing security and business features to try and convince the IT crowd in offices around the world to adopt consumer phones and tablets. Knox has taken a few knocks: it was delayed after it was first announced, failing to show up on the Samsung Galaxy S4 as originally promised. And last December researchers found a security flaw that allowed malicious software to track e-mails and record data communications.
