Samsung Electronics unveils second Tizen-powered smartphone

Samsung Electronics unveils second Tizen-powered smartphone. October. 15, 2015 07:40. jhk85@donga.com.

Samsung Electronics released its second Tizen-powered smartphone “Samsung Z3” in Gurgaon, India on Wednesday. It had launched its first Tizen phone Samsung Z1 in the country nine months ago in January. Tizen is Samsung’s operating system backed up by Intel, and was planned to wean itself off Google’s Android OS.

Z3 has been on the spotlight after being touted that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was personally testing the device. As was with Z1, Z3 will first launch in India, on October 21, and will cost 8,490 rupees (130.54 U.S. dollars). The price is higher than Z1 by around 52 dollars, but with greater spec. The new smartphone has a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 1 inch bigger than Z1, and has an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5 megapixel front-facing camera.

Z3 also has “My Galaxy” application specifically for India, which provides offers, deals, discounts, and device care services in segments like fashion, movies and travel. It also features the "Mix Radio" app, with free music streaming service for over 35 million songs including Indian.

Samsung’s launch of its Z smartphones in India is aimed at grasping a vast smartphone market of India, which is considered as next China market. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, 71 percent, or more than 900 million mobile phone users in India, still use feature phones. The size of the Indian smartphone market, with sales volume currently at 160 million units, is expected to expand to 164 million units, posing to become the world’s No. 2 smartphone market after China.