Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has launched the first smartphone powered by its Tizen operating system, a major development in the tech giant's aim to build a software ecosystem to rival Google’s Android.
The Z1 device went on sale in India in on Wednesday for Rs 5,700, targeting first-time smartphone buyers, the company said in a statement. The no-nonsense handset sports a 4-inch display, a plastic body and a simplified user interface.
The launch is a key step in the company's strategy to break free from the Android platform, which powers Samsung's flagship Galaxy devices and most other smartphones on the market.
A Samsung spokeswoman said the firm had not decided whether to launch the Z1 in any other countries.
Samsung said more than 1,000 apps will be available for download in the Tizen Store - a tiny fraction of the number of offerings on Google Play. The Z1 comes with pre-installed apps and web links to services like Amazon, Flipkart, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Yahoo and YouTube.
The Z1 device went on sale in India in on Wednesday for Rs 5,700, targeting first-time smartphone buyers, the company said in a statement. The no-nonsense handset sports a 4-inch display, a plastic body and a simplified user interface.
The launch is a key step in the company's strategy to break free from the Android platform, which powers Samsung's flagship Galaxy devices and most other smartphones on the market.
A Samsung spokeswoman said the firm had not decided whether to launch the Z1 in any other countries.
Samsung said more than 1,000 apps will be available for download in the Tizen Store - a tiny fraction of the number of offerings on Google Play. The Z1 comes with pre-installed apps and web links to services like Amazon, Flipkart, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Yahoo and YouTube.
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