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South Korean vendor plans to launch its third device powered by the Tizen OS and the first using the platform for 4G.
Samsung is expanding its range of smartphones based on the open-source Tizen operating system (OS) with the launch of the Z2 device in India next week.
The smartphone is Samsung’s third device based on the Tizen OS and its first using the platform to offer LTE connectivity. In a statement announcing the launch, the vendor said it is targeting the device at feature phone users in India that are looking to upgrade to a smartphone
It further noted that subscribers choosing the unit will gain access to a range of preloaded applications and tariffs provided under Reliance Jio’s new 4G-based service as part of the Jio preview offer.
Manu Sharma, VP of the mobile business at Samsung India Electronics, said the Z2 smartphone “makes 4G accessible and relevant to the unique needs of feature phone users and first time smartphone buyers.” The device also offers consumers “a fast and affordable mobile internet experience that will democratise 4G usage in the country,” he said.
As part of the partnership with Reliance Jio, Samsung has tailored the device for Indian consumers with a range of country-specific applications and features including an ultra-data saving mode, a motorcycle mode, and a money transfer feature.
The 4,590-rupee (€60.39/$68.44) device features a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM and an internal memory of 8 GB. The internal memory can be expanded to 128 GB using a microSD card, and the Z2 also sports dual-SIM slots. Other features include a 4-inch WVGA display, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera.
Samsung has become the world’s largest smartphone vendor thanks to its range of devices based on Google’s Android OS. However, the company has continued to sell devices based on Tizen in markets including India and Bangladesh as part of a bid to cut its reliance on the Google platform, Reuters reported.
The Tizen platform is a phoenix from the flames of Nokia and Intel’s work on the open-source MeeGo operating system. Development of the platform is handled by a technical steering group within the Linux Foundation.
