Samsung Gives Details On Bada OS

Samsung revealed a few more details about its upcoming Bada mobile operating system, and it also introduced a software development kit for mobile application developers.

The handset maker first announced its OS last month, and it aims to have Bada be an open platform that powers multiple feature phones and smartphones. Samsung said the OS would use the next generation of the TouchWiz user interface, and the UI will also have some Flash-based elements.

The company also said Bada will have support for touchscreen interfaces, social networking, location-based services, commercial offerings, and it will be highly customizable for mobile operators. Mobile content creators will be able to develop in C++ for Bada, and apps will eventually appear in Samsung's mobile app store.

Samsung said it expects Bada handsets to appear in the first half of 2010, and the devices will wind up in various markets around the world. The OS will be facing some stiff competition in attracting developers though, because there are already strong platforms from Apple, Research In Motion, Google, Palm, Microsoft, and Symbian. Additionally, the feature phone space is also loaded with potential competitors like Qualcomm's Brew and Java ME.

As an open platform, Bada is most directly competing with Android and the open source Symbian. Android is picking up steam with handset makers as Motorola, Sony Ericsson, LG Electronics, and HTC have all released smartphones using the Google-backed OS. Developers have also jumped on board and the Android Market now has more than 13,000 apps. The Symbian Foundation is also revamping Symbian, and the open source version will appear on multiple handsets in 2010.