Wednesday 22 January 2014

Samsung's First Tizen Smartphone Delayed


Samsung has delayed its first Tizen-based smartphone.

The blog Tizen Indonesia quoted an unnamed official from Samsung Electronics' Media Solution Center who confirmed the delay. The official said Samsung was previously planning on releasing handsets in Korea and Russia during the first half of 2014.

The official did not give a reason for the delay or say exactly how long the release was being pushed back.

The news is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Linux-based OS. Earlier this month, Japan's NTT DoCoMo network canceled a launch planned for March, citing low demand for a third OS in Japanese markets. Tizen is a project within the Linux Foundation but is largely led by employees at Intel and Samsung.

Samsung's Tizen devices were first expected to hit shelves in the first half of 2013, but repeated delays have hindered releases.

Although Tizen enthusiasts may still be able to see a demo of the OS at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, it probably won't be on a Samsung device.

Image: LEE JIN-MAN/ASSOCIATED PRESS