Smartphone users in Australia will have to wait for Bixby, the feature of the new Samsung Galaxy S8 that could decide the handset and its maker's fate.
The AI assistant will be rolled out to US customers on the phone's release on April 21, however international users, including Australians, have been left assistant-less and without a release date for the service on the horizon.
More Digital Life Videos
Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy S8
Peter Wells takes a first look at Samsung's latest mobile device at its New York launch.
Bixby, along with Dex, is an essential key to the success of the phone release, which happened to much fanfare at a launch event titled Samsung Unpacked in New York on Wednesday.
The phone sports a dedicated Bixby button to activate the assistant, hinting at Samsung's confidence in the feature.
The company could readily expand its application if it was made available to third party developers and will be able to upgrade it easily via software updates.
Samsung broke with protocol to release details about Bixby via a blog post on the company's website a week before the release of the handset.
Reviewers have so far been tentative to state the fate of the Galaxy S8 and whether it can return Samsung to the front of the market again.
Many are awaiting to try the key features for themselves outside the perfect testing conditions on offer at the launch event.
Consumers have also tended towards the middle ground before getting their hands on the device.
I wanted to share a tidbit, I really hope I can disable Bixby button...I kept hitting it when I was trying to reach FP sensor #GalaxyS8
— Erica Griffin (@iAm_erica) March 30, 2017
#Bixby or #Siri.. Decisions Decisions!!
— IG: Mckhado24 (@I_am_Mckhado) March 30, 2017
I'm so glad Samsung's new #Bixby technology is about more than just Voice. Who actually uses voice commands outside the home anyway?!
— Alistair Wheate (@alwheate) March 30, 2017
So #galaxyS8 has #Bixby and #GoogleAssistant .. hmm
— Girish Keshav (@girishkeshav) March 30, 2017