Samsung to launch open mobile platform in December

By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it will introduce
its own mobile platform for mobile devices and smartphones in December, joining a
slew of handset makers and computer software developers pushing to advance into
the quickly growing smartphone market.

Smartphones, which feature wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) devices, allow free Internet
access near access points, unlike regular cell phones that charge for downloading
data. Smartphones require an operating system or mobile platform for Web
navigation, such as the currently available Android by Google Inc. and Symbian by
Nokia Corp.
Samsung said its mobile platform, Bada, allows computer software developers to
create applications and additional functions that can be downloaded to mobile
devices.
"The name Bada, which means ocean in Korean, was chosen to convey the limitless
variety of potential applications which can be created using the new platform,"
Samsung said in a press release.
Samsung is the world's second-largest mobile handset maker after Nokia of Finland.
Samsung's move follows similar moves by Nokia and Motorola Inc., which have also
launched mobile platform models.
Samsung said the official launch event will be held in London.
ylee@yna.co.kr
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