We are sure Samsung will gain some traction in the eastern markets, but is it just too late in a space that's seen RIM die because they couldn't get it right in a space that has three other platforms gagging for your dollars, pounds, rupee, whatever ?
While Samsung's Android based handsets sell by the bucket load, expecting current customers to leap over to another OS could be a bridge too far for some, although the possibility of dual boot has been kicked about behind closed doors but if Google will like that remains to be seen. It sure would take the risk out of signing a two year deal on a handset which could end up a Dodo. Essentially Samsung are forking their customers, in some ways Samsung having control over their OS means they can get updates quicker to handsets - which is a good thing, but other vendors might not be as keep to get involved - HTC were burnt badly from Windows phone sales, and Nokia were (are) looking at Android based handsets, something they should have done 2yrs ago. Motorola clearly wont make the leap, and Sony would watch with interest but would they want their hardware competitors OS on their kit ?
We are not sure many will make the leap from Android, especially if they have been on that Eco system a long time, yet Google may still support their apps on Tizen, so making the leap might not be too bad. Although you may have a long wait to rebuy the apps you bought via Play Store, something Windows struggles with in its app portfolio, a long wait for popular apps to appear.
Google have updated their iOS apps before the Android counterparts many times and they have YouTube and Chrome on just about every platform there is, would Tizen be any different ? After all Google are mostly interested in the advertising revenue in search and apps, which is the core of the business.
There is no doubt Samsung are playing a good hand here, they threaten to take some market share away from Google's Android, of which Samsung are the biggest OEM. However if they do convince their customers to buy Tizen over Android, they will be essentially giving up their place as #1 OEM in a larger market. That's a very high risk strategy, assuming Tizen doesn't catch on and it burns, would you go back to the same OEM who just ditched your money in a venture designed to disrupt the market ? No we know we would either.
