NTT DoComo recently announced that they had cancelled their immediate plans for a Tizen smartphone, and now Samsung has confirmed to the Korean media that their Tizen device is delayed.
We were expecting Samsung to launch their first Tizen smartphone at Mobile World Congress next month, although this may not happen now as it looks like the handset will not launch until later in the year.
“It is true that the release has been delayed,” said one official at Samsung Electronics’ Media Solution Center (MSC) today in Korea. “Previously we did had planned to release in the first half of this year in several countries, including Korea and Russia.”
Impact of the Delay on Tizen’s Market Entry
The delay in the release of Samsung’s Tizen smartphone is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it affects Samsung’s strategy to diversify its operating system portfolio. Samsung has been heavily reliant on Google’s Android OS for its smartphones, and Tizen was seen as a potential alternative that could reduce this dependency. The delay means that Samsung will continue to rely on Android for a longer period, which could have strategic implications for the company.
Moreover, the delay is a setback for the Tizen ecosystem as a whole. Tizen is not just an operating system for smartphones; it is designed to be a versatile OS that can be used in a variety of devices, including smart TVs, wearables, and even home appliances. A successful smartphone launch was expected to be a catalyst for broader adoption of Tizen across different device categories. With the delay, the momentum for Tizen’s adoption could be significantly hampered.
Other Tizen Devices at MWC 2014
We are expecting to see a new Tizen powered ZTE Geek at MWC 2014 next month. This indicates that while Samsung’s Tizen smartphone is delayed, other manufacturers are still moving forward with their Tizen plans. ZTE’s commitment to Tizen could provide a much-needed boost to the platform, showing that there is still interest and investment in Tizen from other major players in the industry.
Samsung may still show a Tizen handset off at MWC, although it will probably be a prototype if the device has been delayed. This could serve as a way to keep the interest alive and demonstrate the potential of Tizen to developers and consumers alike. Prototypes can offer a glimpse into what the final product might look like and can help in gathering valuable feedback that can be used to refine the device before its official launch.
Samsung are rumored to be looking to use Tizen to replace their reliance on Google’s Android OS, obviously this delay will be another blow to Tizen getting off the ground. However, it’s worth noting that developing a new operating system and building an ecosystem around it is a complex and time-consuming process. Delays, while unfortunate, are not uncommon in the tech industry, especially when it comes to something as ambitious as launching a new OS.
In conclusion, while the delay of Samsung’s Tizen smartphone is a setback, it does not spell the end for Tizen. The presence of other Tizen devices at MWC 2014 and Samsung’s continued commitment to the platform suggest that Tizen still has a future. It will be interesting to see how Samsung and other manufacturers navigate these challenges and what the future holds for Tizen.
Source Tizen Experts
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