According to numerous reports, the South Korean tech firm Samsung is all set to launch the Z1, the first Smartphone powered by Tizen. The event will happen in India on January 18, 2015.
In terms of product launches, Samsung and its own Tizen platform are not considered best. Although they have managed to incorporate this operating system for its present crop of wearables, launching a Tizen-powered Smartphone may be pretty challenging.
But when Samsung officially introduces the Samsung Z1 Tizen phone by next year, changes may begin to take place.
An anonymous official of Samsung gives the Korea Economic Daily a statement that they are "targeting to release the Z1 in the Indian Market for less than 100,000 Won or 100 USD." The same price is reported to be offered in China this coming February and in Korea within the first half of next year.
The reported specs of Samsung Z1 failed to impress some experts. This 4-inch display with 480 x 800 pixel resolution will have a dual-core Spreadtrum processor which will run at 1.2GHz, 512MB of RAM. It will also have 3.2-rear camera plus front camera.
This new Samsung phone might play as the company's most significant weapon in fighting Xiaomi and some domestic brands in "emerging markets" such as India. In countries like this, Samsung's market share in terms of low-end devices is gradually being battered.
The development of Tizen is Samsung's way to provide a Google Android alternative.
At present, most of the company's phones are using the Android platform, but Samsung has been working with "chipmaker" Intel to develop Tizen as a substitute operating system. This is seen as an approach to make this company less dependent on Google.
The vice president of consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, Andrew Milroy, told BBC that, "It enables Samsung to hedge its bets much better compared to some of its rivals." "However, it is unlikely to make a significant dent on the Android market share", Milroy added.