Samsung To Launch Tizen-Based Z1 Smartphone In India On Dec. 10: Report

The first smartphone based on Samsung’s new Tizen mobile operating system is expected to be released in India in December, Maeil Business Newspaper, a South Korean publication, reported Monday.

According to the newspaper, Samsung is planning to launch the new sub-$100 smartphone, dubbed the Z1, at a press conference, which is expected to be held on Dec. 10. The report also stated that the company initially planned to launch the Tizen smartphone in Russia in the third quarter of this year, but eventually dropped the plan. While a majority of Samsung’s mobile devices run on Android, the South Korean company’s move to introduce its own OS is considered a strategy to reduce its reliance on Google's platform, Reuters reported.

According to SamMobile, the new Z1 smartphone could have the model number SM-Z130H, and will feature a 4-inch WVGA display, a 3.2-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera. The handset is also rumored to be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Spreadtrum SC7727S processor, coupled with a Mali-400 GPU and 512MB RAM.

Other rumored specs of the Z1 smartphone include SIM card slots, 3G network compatibility, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM Radio, SamMobile reported, adding that the low-cost Z1 is expected to compete directly with smartphones launched in India under Google’s Android One initiative. Samsung's embattled mobile division is facing stiff competition from low-cost rivals in key markets like India and China, and the company is expected to soon announce plans to overhaul its performance.

Tizen, which has been developed for use in a wide range of devices such as smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, smart cameras and television sets, has already been installed on some of Samsung's smartwatches and fitness gadgets, including the Gear S and Gear Fit.