Tizen is a Linux-based operating system that emerged from the death of Nokia's MeeGo. Intel, which originally worked with Nokia on MeeGo, and Samsung took over the development of the operating system, which is also overseen by the Linux Foundation. It is seen as more open than Google's Android, which despite its claims of openness, has irked some partners with certain restrictions, including the inability to make massive changes to the underlying platform.

Samsung is the biggest backer of the open source Tizen OS and according to Daily Yomiuri, Tizen-powered devices will likely to be on the market next year sold by Samsung. While the newspaper didn't divulge any more details, NTT Docomo is said to be the carrier in Japan who'll carry Tizen running phone manufactured by Samsung.

The OS that Docomo and its partners are developing is named Tizen. Samsung will probably begin selling the smartphones next year and they are likely to be released in Japan and other countries at around the same time, according to sources.

We'll hear more about Tizen at the expo in February at Mobile World Congress event in Spain.

Samsung's Bada OS might already be totally put to shelf this year. With the astounding successes of both the Android and the IOS, Bada could simply not compete because it was really made for entry-level un-competitive smartphones and the only ones that keep it "alive" are those who bought devices that still run on Bada. Once those people changed devices, there won't other options but to choose either Android or IOS. It was also created to compete against Nokia's Symbian, which is also probably already dead by now.

Currently, Android dominates the low-end market for smartphones and in the coming years, it will be very difficult for new OS entrants to capture the market and upstage either of the two leaders in this industry.

According to Samsung officials, Bada will be merged with Tizen but a Bada handset will not be upgraded to Tizen as this won't be possible. The only option is really to buy a new smartphone and change to a more modern operating system.

Samsung had been pretty quite this year at CES, but we have a feeling that the company will have more to show during the Mobile World Congress. In fact, Samsung has now started sending out invites for an event that will take place in Barcelona on February 23, at Hotel ARTS. The event is going to be focused solely on the Tizen platform, and Samsung claims that only at this event, the press and enthusiasts will have the chance to get an exclusive sneak preview of the newest Tizen devices.

Please join the Tizen Association Board on Sunday, 23 February 2014 for a welcome reception and kick-off to MWC 2014. During this invite only event, you will get an exclusive sneak preview of the newest Tizen devices as well as an opportunity to learn about the major milestones that the Tizen project has hit since last year's event.

We ask you to reserve time from 3-6 PM CET on 23 February 2014 at Hotel ARTS Barcelona where you will also have the opportunity to hear from and interview Tizen Association Board Members.

While NTT Docomo will most likely not be present at the event, other backers are expected to attend, such as SK Telecom, KT Corporation and LG U+.

In a month from now we'll most likely see whether or not Tizen is worth it. It's rather difficult to lift a new platform from the ground, when Android and iOS are going strong. Ubuntu has also gained grip lately and it looks like it's one step ahead of Tizen, thanks to the collaboration between Canonical and Meizu. Whether or not Samsung's platform will manage to make an impact remains to be seen, but we should remind you that these first Tizen devices will most likely not fit in the high-end range.

Source: zdnet