Tizen Smartphone Samsung Z Sees Release Date Pass With No Product

The Samsung Z, the first smartphone by Samsung Electronics Co. (KRX: 005930) to run the manufacturer’s own Tizen operating system, is apparently not ready for primetime yet - its release date came and went with no product.

After formally introducing the Samsung Z in June, the manufacturer planned its market release for July 11 in Russia. However, several Tizen developers at an event in Moscow were told that the device is now delayed for an unspecified amount of time. Samsung told the Wall Street Journal in a statement on Thursday that “the smartphone will appear on the Russian market later, when we can offer our users a fullest portfolio of applications.”

Despite the setback, Tizen developers continue to anticipate the Samsung Z; many see the device as an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new endeavor by a major company. But not all partners have as much faith in Samsung. The Samsung Z was supposed to launch in March on the Japanese mobile network NTT Docomo; however, the carrier cancelled the device in January, stating that it believed the market was not big enough to support Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL ) iOS, Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG )Android OS and a third operating system at the same time.

CNET notes that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) has had the same problem with its Windows Phone operating system. While the Redmond, Washington-based company has invested a lot in developers creating apps for its system, Windows smartphones have not been a favorite among consumers. Samsung has similarly put a major emphasis on gaining developer support with its Tizen operating system.

According to Samsung, Tizen focuses on “optimal performance” and “improved memory management.” The system does bear a visual similarity to the Android operating system because Samsung has implemented elements of its own TouchWiz user interface into Tizen. One large difference between Tizen and Android is that Tizen will not have access to the Google Play Store. Samsung has included its own Tizen app store on the Samsung Z.

In addition to the Samsung Z, the Tizen operating system also runs on a number of devices, including Samsung TVs and the Samsung Gear 2, Samsung Gear Fit and Samsung Gear 2 Neo smartwatches. Many of these devices can currently be found in the U.S., but Nick Spencer, senior practice director at ABI Research, told International Business Times in June that he does not expect Tizen-powered smartphones to be available in the U.S. until the software has a competitive applications ecosystem.

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