Samsung delays launch of secure Android software

Samsung is to delay the release of its secured edition of Android, which was originally scheduled to launch with the Galaxy S4 handset.

The mobile software known as Knox was unveiled in February, and was expected to be released in April.

Samsung insiders told The New York Times the software will not be launched with the S4 because the company needs to carry out more testing. In a statement, the firm claimed that S4 devices will ship with the Knox software, but will need to have it activated at a later date.

"All the Knox framework components come standard on the device, with full-feature activation by solution providers and distribution channels to become available at a later date," the firm noted.

Sources suggest this later date could be July.

The delay of Knox is a blow to Samsung as it tries to battle Apple and BlackBerry for a foothold within the enterprise.

Knox has been designed in conjunction with the NSA to make the Android platform more secure and appealing to enterprise users. The OS will enable IT admins to separate enterprise and personal information. Samsung says it will ease the management of devices as businesses can use a variety of MDM software.

Knox will support enterprise features such as FIPS compliant VPN, on-device encryption, Enterprise Single Sign On (SSO), Active Directory and Smart Card-based multi-factor authentication. This aims to make it easier for app developers as they will not have to build these functions into individual apps.