Here comes Tizen! Yes it is another new mobile operating system based on Linux. Yes it is another mobile OS which will be made available on a small number of devices, and yes it is unlikely to trouble the top 10 handsets of 2013, but Tizen has a crucial role for Samsung’s mobile business.
Samsung is looking at the release of a Tizen phone at some time this year, with an announcement of the handsets expected in the near future.
The Tizen mobile OS is part of the Linux Foundation, with strong backing from Samsung and Intel. There has been a long development period, but version 2.0 of Tizen should be released during January, with an appearance on a mobile phone in the first quarter of 2013.
That mobile phone, naturally, is going to be from Samsung, and it is going to be almost impossible to not mention Tizen without thinking of Android. Samsung’s recent successful run has been driven by the Galaxy range of consumer electronics all running the Android operating system. Tizen is not going to replace Android on these devices, but what Tizen will immediately do is give Samsung a choice running on low and mid range devices. A choice that they completely control.
Ecosystems have lock-in for end users, but they also have lock-ins for manufacturers. At the moment Samsung is dependent on Android for continued success, and while there are no signs that they will drop the OS (or that Google will restrict access or start doing silly anti-competitive things with their own platform partners). But if Samsung’s management is listing ‘threats’, then ‘problems with Android’ has to come near the top.
That’s what analysts find interesting about Tizen. It’s going to be released in mobile phones, in small numbers (probably DoCoMo in Japan) and not threaten the Galaxy brand, but Samsung is going to get a lot of knowledge from the public release of the OS… a system which is still open source, but is not controlled by Google (who compete directly with Samsung through the Motorola division).
Would Samsung make a drastic change? Not likely. But they should be heartened by some research from Market Strategies released this week that casts some doubt into the automatic assumption that consumers remain within a single platform:
“Differentiation by ecosystem is not presently a primary driver in the selection of mobile devices for the modern, savvy consumer, but there are key differentiators which each OS can enjoy and exploit. The evolving impact of these factors in a fast-moving world will continue to be interesting to watch (and research).”
That’s where Tizen OS will be able to build if it is called up for front line duty. The strong Samsung name remains; consumers are happy to make a ‘one time’ effort to move content; and all their applications from their Galaxy devices? The Android applications should move over as well thanks to the Application Compatibility Layer in Tizen with minimal work. Which developer is going to ignore a market the size of Samsung?
Samsung is unlikely to pull the trigger and make a wholesale change to Tizen from Android. But very soon the option will be there, which puts them in a very strong negotiating position if it is needed, and a viable option if they walk away from Android and Google.
The Tizen mobile OS is part of the Linux Foundation, with strong backing from Samsung and Intel. There has been a long development period, but version 2.0 of Tizen should be released during January, with an appearance on a mobile phone in the first quarter of 2013.
That mobile phone, naturally, is going to be from Samsung, and it is going to be almost impossible to not mention Tizen without thinking of Android. Samsung’s recent successful run has been driven by the Galaxy range of consumer electronics all running the Android operating system. Tizen is not going to replace Android on these devices, but what Tizen will immediately do is give Samsung a choice running on low and mid range devices. A choice that they completely control.
Ecosystems have lock-in for end users, but they also have lock-ins for manufacturers. At the moment Samsung is dependent on Android for continued success, and while there are no signs that they will drop the OS (or that Google will restrict access or start doing silly anti-competitive things with their own platform partners). But if Samsung’s management is listing ‘threats’, then ‘problems with Android’ has to come near the top.
That’s what analysts find interesting about Tizen. It’s going to be released in mobile phones, in small numbers (probably DoCoMo in Japan) and not threaten the Galaxy brand, but Samsung is going to get a lot of knowledge from the public release of the OS… a system which is still open source, but is not controlled by Google (who compete directly with Samsung through the Motorola division).
Would Samsung make a drastic change? Not likely. But they should be heartened by some research from Market Strategies released this week that casts some doubt into the automatic assumption that consumers remain within a single platform:
“Differentiation by ecosystem is not presently a primary driver in the selection of mobile devices for the modern, savvy consumer, but there are key differentiators which each OS can enjoy and exploit. The evolving impact of these factors in a fast-moving world will continue to be interesting to watch (and research).”
That’s where Tizen OS will be able to build if it is called up for front line duty. The strong Samsung name remains; consumers are happy to make a ‘one time’ effort to move content; and all their applications from their Galaxy devices? The Android applications should move over as well thanks to the Application Compatibility Layer in Tizen with minimal work. Which developer is going to ignore a market the size of Samsung?
Samsung is unlikely to pull the trigger and make a wholesale change to Tizen from Android. But very soon the option will be there, which puts them in a very strong negotiating position if it is needed, and a viable option if they walk away from Android and Google.
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