A series of new lower-cost Samsung Galaxy smartphones will feature blockchain technology-powered file-sharing functions that debuted on flagship models earlier this year.
Per the Segye Ilbo, the Galaxy A52, A525G and Galaxy A72 – part of the lower-cost Galaxy A series – feature support for Quick Share, a new feature that allows users to share photos or videos with nearby Galaxy devices as well as a new function named Private Share, which uses blockchain technology to share content.
ZDNet reports that European pricing for the devices will see them made available for between around USD 415 to approximately USD 535.
Although it is not yet clear if the phones feature the Samsung Blockchain crypto wallet, a recently updated section of the Samsung website makes mention of the new Private Share function, saying that “Samsung Blockchain keeps your private key in a single, secure location and provides encryption for your data files with this private key. With additional protection [...] your virtual assets are protected and your files are shared securely with Private Share.”
The fact that the new function, which debuted on the flagship Galaxy S21 in January 2021, became something of an open secret late last year, when the website SamMobile revealed what appeared to be leaked details.
The feature, per Samsung last month, allows senders to set an expiry date for the files they shared – later deleting these from recipients handsets once the date is reached.
The files cannot be re-shared and automatically disable smartphone capture functions, but crucially it appears that only fellow Private Share users will be able to receive them.
Samsung claims that the feature makes use of “blockchain-based encryption technology,” encrypting files before delivery, adding that “the sender can control the recipients access and can see when the recipient received and opened it.”
Private Share allows users to send up to 10 files at once, for a total size of less than 20MB.