Samsung to release a high-end Tizen-based smartphone this summer

Shawn Knight

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Samsung is expected to release a smartphone based on the open-source platform Tizen as early as August according to Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business. The phone will fit into the high-end category alongside the company’s new Galaxy S4 and a revised version of the Galaxy Note.

As of writing, there are no Tizen devices on the market but that’s expected to change later this year. Samsung is one of 12 large companies including Intel and Sprint developing the platform as an alternative to Google’s Android.

According to Chase Perrin, a spokesperson with the Tizen Association, early adopters will have access to thousands of applications when the platform launches. He said that Android and other mobile operating systems are tightly controlled. With Tizen being an open-source platform, it will be much easier to develop for a wide range of devices.

A whopping 96 percent of Samsung smartphones shipped in the third quarter ran Android software, something the South Korea-based company would like to change. As the old adage goes, it’s never really a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket. Samsung has said they aren’t looking to cut ties with Android but depending on one company for practically all of your phones is risky.

Tizen is just one of several new mobile operating systems in the works designed to compete with Android and iOS. Windows Phone and the recently launched BlackBerry 10 are solid alternatives and we can’t forget other open source alternatives in the works like Firefox.

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So, when acer is looking for another "android-flavored aliyun", google twists acer's arm.
I wonder what happens next that the Samsung giant is climbing another beanstalk?
 
I don't think Google have much leverage when it comes to Samsung. That is why Google has been trying to broaden its reach by having LG made this round of Nexus phones, and don't forget the 'X' brand in which Google is having to have a big say.

On Samsung's side, why should they continue to support Google's services for no financial benefit? Beside, the days of selling phones with top end hardware are nearly over, and software will be having a more central focus. This also means, the field may open up for others, whoever can innovate and bring compelling new ideas to the table, can win big. Probably that is one of the reasons why S4 isn't being touted as big a deal (lots of redundant features added for no real reason, unless Samsung is planning a big time departure from Android) as S3 was, and frankly, I don't see any compelling reason for an S3 owner to ditch it, and buy an S4, as the mostly noticeable difference will be the screen ......
 
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