Last summer, Samsung announced the high-spec Samsung Z, which it described as “the first commercially available smartphone powered by the Tizen platform”.
However, the launch was postponed and the phone’s release apparently cancelled in favour of a focus on lower-spec devices.
Samsung has now announced a new Tizen smartphone: the Samsung Z1. This one’s being called the company’s “first Tizen powered smartphone for India”. It runs on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and has a 4-inch WVGA screen plus a 3.1 megapixel camera. There’ll be built-in anti-virus protection and a free entertainment package including music, TV and movies.
The phone is expected to be priced at 5,700 rupees (around £61.50).
Hyun Chil Hong, President and CEO of Samsung India Electronics, said “The smartphone market in India is rapidly evolving, with many consumers using their device as their screen of choice for content including videos, television programs and video games, as well as a range of apps. We have customized the Samsung Z1 to meet these unique, entertainment-focused needs of local Indian consumers for a personal and reliable mobile experience.”
At CES earlier this year, Samsung said its 2015 range of smart TVs would run on the Tizen OS. The Tizen operating system is also used by Samsung for its Gear S smartwatch.
[Samsung blog]