The South Korean giant, Samsung Electronics (SSNLF, Financial), reportedly plans to release a smartphone that would be running on its own operating system by Diwali this year in India. This is in response to the cheap Android sets launched by Google (GOOG, Financial) just sometime back in India. Earlier, Samsung had announced that it would be launching the Samsung Z in India but news sources have suggested that the launch is not expected this year. So what is Samsung’s ultimate strategy to handle the competition of Google in the technology sector? Let’s check it out.
The first Tizen smartphone in India
Samsung’s Director of Media Solutions Center, South West Asia, Tarun Malik has recently confirmed that the company would be launching a device based on Tizen operating system in India but did not give much detail. In an interview with Economic Times he said, “We started late, but we are very focused. We are not shooting in the wild. This is a game that has to be led by the device manufacturer and not the pipe [telecom operators].”
Malik also stated that Tizen-based smartphones would co-exist with the Android devices. Samsung is more likely to launch the budget Samsung SM-Z130E and SM-130H Tizen-based handsets but not much is disclosed on the pricing and features of these smartphones. Both these entry-level smartphones have been spotted heading to India for testing purposes.
The new Samsung watch
The Gear S of Samsung competes with the Android watches of Google as it runs on Samsung’s own Tizen instead of Android Wear. It sports a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display. One will find support for 3G as well as WiFi connectivity with this smartwatch which is Bluetooth enabled and comes with improved multi-sensors and built-in GPS.
Samsung claims that the curved design fits comfortably around the contours of the wrist and the user will find customizable screen options and changeable straps. The wearable also offers turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation offered by the mapping service, advanced technology from Spritz and comes with social media integration. It will also support the Gear apps along with Samsung features like S Voice, Find My Device and Power Saving Mode.
When paired with the smartphone the watch can be used to make calls, listen to music and make voice commands using the Bluetooth connection. So, with the Tizen mobile, this smartwatch could work in tandem – using the operating system owned by Samsung.
An open war with Google
Samsung has already signalled its intention to get away from the clutches of Google. It appears to be moving towards developing Tizen into an operating system to tackle the stiff competition being offered by the Android OS of Google. Even longer term, Samsung and other Tizen partners are eager to turn Tizen into a platform widely adopted as Android of Google.
As Tizen is built on Linux, the same platform shared by Android, Samsung would be able to import the apps from Android to Tizen with very little effort. This would encourage app developers, and Samsung can even develop native Tizen apps through this process. It might also use Tizen to offer emulation to run the Android apps. In the modern world, such virtualisation is possible because of the smartphones featuring enormously fast processors.
Though Google stays unshaken on its path with Android, if Samsung wants to dominate the technology market it has enough resources to throw at making its own platform strong and competent to Google Android in all respects.
Final word
Samsung has been dominating the smartphone domain in India for a long time. Now as the cheap Android phones are luring many customers, Samsung also has made a strategy at the right point in time to tackle the firm Google’s move in the sector. Also, the wearable sector has seen a new launch from Samsung’s workshop and the company wants to tie the Gear S purchase with a Tizen mobile purchase to make the ultimate offer more lucrative, and to keep Samsung users happy and interested in the brand. Let’s wait and see till the Tizen mobiles are flooded in the Indian market, because only then, the difference created by Samsung will be felt enlarge.
