Samsung
said it is delaying sales of its first Tizen-powered smartphone in the
latest setback to the company’s ambition to create a mobile platform to
rival Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS.
The
South Korean company had planned to start selling the phone, the
Samsung Z, in Russia this quarter. But Samsung indicated that more time
is needed to expand Tizen’s following of app developers and apps.
In
a brief statement, Samsung said the postponement is to further enhance
the Tizen “ecosystem,” which encompasses developers, consumers and
devices using the mobile OS.
The
delay is a blow to Samsung’s push to reduce reliance on Google’s
Android operating system, which powers Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and
tablets.
It did not announce a new release date.
About
one third of smartphones are made by Samsung, but this ubiquity has not
resulted in popularity for Samsung’s app store which draws far fewer
developers and users than those of Apple or Google.
The
earlier sales plan for the Samsung Z was announced in June at a
developers conference in San Francisco. Then, Samsung showed off
prototypes of the Samsung Z, featuring a 4.8-inch high definition
display, a fingerprint sensor for security and a slim, angular design.
The prototype device received positive reviews for its fast speed for
surfing the Internet and loading apps.
Tizen,
Samsung’s second attempt at building its own mobile software, has
suffered years of delays. In January, Japan’s largest mobile carrier NTT
DoCoMo reportedly put off its plan to sell Tizen handsets.
Though
smartphones based on Tizen are yet to hit shelves, Samsung has launched
other products using the software in the last few months, including a
smartwatch and a camera. It also had said Tizen will be used in TVs as
well as in home appliances such as refrigerators.
However,
a mobile device based on Tizen is a key product for attracting a
substantial number of users and developers who would create apps that
earn revenue for the developers and Samsung.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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