At the IFA this year Lars from Allaboutsamsung approached me and asked, if I would like to meet the guys from SamMobile.com. Soon after, we sat on some stairs to do a small interview. You'll find the result of that meeting and what's going to happen in the future in our exclusive interview.

A few words as an introduction: SamMobile.com is a huge community for Samsung users and exists since November 2011. I myself regularly get leaked firmware for my Galaxy S3 through the site and I was very surprised, how nice all of the guys are. Many leaks and insider tips turn up on SamMobile, which is why the site is a bit of a thorn in Samsung's flesh. Check it out at: www.sammobile.com

The exclusive interview with Danny Dorresteijn (DD) and Martin Reinders (MR) from SamMobile.com

 

Sammobile is the biggest community for mobile Samsung devices. There are more than 650k users and you are not even one year old. Did you expect this development?

DD: So many users in one year no, but we expected around 500k members in one year because of the many Galaxy owners. And of course the Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean roms that were coming.

Who is behind sammobile.com and where are you from?

DD: I am the founder of SamMobile and I’m from Holland. I started first a website in dutch.

MR: I’m Martin and I’m from Holland, too. I started helping Danny because the site was getting to big. So Danny tweeted that he needed help and I stalked him for a place in the team he was forming. Now I’m second in command.

We also have Johan from Sweden he is for the Firmware page. Then we got Daniel he is our Site admin. Me, Faryaab and Michael write news messages and reviews. So you see a big crew and very diverse from Sweden Holland and England.

Why do you write in english instead of your mother tounge?

DD: Because people asked about English and I thought if I want to reach more people it would be the logical step.

MR: Our English is not that well, but we are working really hard on it. We even want to take English classes to learn it better.

Who is visit your site? Hacker? Housewives? Hobby-Rooter?

DD: The most people are Hobby-Rooters and the news followers.

Do all of you do this full-time or is it just a hobby?

DD: It is my full-time work since May 2012.

MR: Well, I want it to be my full-time job but it can’t be yet…. I just became a Father and I need a solid and stable base for my family.

You once had a website named “samsung-firmware.com“. Why did you change the name?

DD:  Because of the trademark of Samsung. Samsung asked us by mail to change our Domain name. If we did not do it we would get a really big fine.

Let’s be serious: How do you get your hands on all of thes insider tips? Did you secretly install webcams at Samsung?

DD: Haha great question, We got all information trough insiders people who work for Samsung or close with Samsung L(Like retailers). The bigger we get the more inside information we get which is of course very nice.

MR: Yes you would be amazed what we get in our Tip Email and from all over the world too. For Example through that mail adress we got the first sketches of the Galaxy S3 two weeks before the launch of course anonymous. About those webcams: SSSSSSTTTTTTT do not tell man!

How does Samsung get along with you guys?

DD: Samsung hates and likes us. They hate the big leaks like firmwares or news specials. But they love to see how we get users more active to use Samsung KIES.

MR: It’s like the can’t say we do not excist anymore now with the members we have. So we will do everything to keep the relationship on a good level with Samsung.

And right after that: Samsung or Apple?

DD: I will never buy any Apple product. The prize is to high. And the innovation isn’t that good of Apple. So for me always Samsung. Innovation is a must for me.

MR: You really ask us this? I will say this: I had respect for the company Apple was, but all those court battles blow that into pieces. An apple product I will never buy cause an iPhone is nothing more than an app launcher which is the same since their release back in 2007. Same icons, same design of the OS, same of everything!

What kind of smartphones do you have?

DD: I have all high-end Android Galaxy smartphones by Samsung and all Windows phone devices.

MR: I own my precious and beloved Note (one hell of a phone, yes i see it as a phone LOL) My girlfriend has my old S2. I own a Galaxy ACE and a Galaxy S.

Would you recommend users of Samsung Smartphones to root their device and flash modified Custom ROMs?

DD: I will never tell users to root their smartphones. We even give no support on the way how to root your device.

MR:  I feel the same way. However I never run a stock rom on my device. It is like this I’m around from the Galaxy S and flashed many roms. Bricked my devices almost a numorous of times. But now I know what I’m doing. A lot of guys flash the first rom they see on their 600 euro devices. Not good ! So thats why WE don’t recommend it.

What can we expect from sammobile.com in the next couple of months?

DD: We try to bring our new website u and a new Android application.

MR: Yeah SamMobile innovates to you know.

You offer a free app and a payed version without advertisement. What else is happening in that area?

DD: The payed application will alert you when there is a new update available but for sure the updated version of our Android application will be a lot better. I can’t leak much info about it, but the update is big.

MR: Well, I can tell you this If you are into Samsung our app is the only thing you need.

How do you like our GIGA-App?

DD: The application looks realy nice and simple. This is a must for every android application especially for blogs.

MR: Wow dude, nice App. Good Lay-out, nice functionality.

Samsung supports the Tizen project and will probably present the first dummies/devices in the next year. What do you expect from this alternative OS?

DD: The focus of TIZEN will more be the LOW / MID end market. I have to say it will be very hard for Samsung to bring this OS to the market.
Samsung just started to give the gallery of TIZEN to Android devices which is a bit strange.

MR: Yes i didn’t get that too, but I see a bright future for a OS that is based on HTML5. Cause everything is pointing that direction. On the internet we see more and more HTML5.

Thanks for your time, i had a lot of fun with you and I hope, that you’ll reach the one million users  as soon as possible. Good luck with SamMobile.com!

DD and MR:  Jens, it was a pleasure to meet you at IFA