Samsung has just announced its newest handset, the Samsung Z1, a smartphone that runs its homemade operating system "Tizen" for the Indian market.
Indiatimes has reported that feature phones make up at least two-thirds of the mobile device market in the country. The Z1 is aimed at consumers who are considering upgrading from feature phones to smartphones, therefore making the device a potential bridge towards owning one.
The Samsung Z1 has the following specifications:
- 4" WVGA IPS screen
- 1.2 GHz dual-core processor
- 786 MB RAM
- 4 GB internal memory (expandable to 64 GB via microSD card)
- 3 MP rear camera
- VGA front camera
- Dual SIM
It also packs a 1500 mAh battery that offers at least 7 hours of video viewing. It includes an ultra power saving mode, which aims to enhance the device"s battery life. Lastly, it has an SOS alert feature which can be activated by pressing the device"s power button four times.
The handset is priced at Rs 5,700 (roughly $92). Buyers of the new device also get free 500MB of mobile data every month for six months from Reliance Communications and Aircel.
Samsung"s venture in the low-end smartphone market in India puts the company in competition with local manufacturers that offer phones with modest to premium specifications at a low price, like Karbonn, Micromax, and Lava. Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer that only recently entered the Indian market, also poses as a rival.
This is not Samsung"s first attempt in selling devices running the Tizen operating system. Back in May of last year, the Korean manufacturer replaced Android for Tizen in its Gear smartwatch. Also, last June, the company unveiled the Samsung Z, its first smartphone running the aforementioned operating system, but the device was reportedly killed before its widespread launch.
Source: Indiatimes | Image via Samsung Tomorrow