Samsung Mobile is prepared to share revenue from its app store with operators and is planning further Android phones in 2010.
The revelations shared with Show Daily yesterday show how the Korean vendor, known for its go-it-alone approach, is changing the way it is operating.
This week it launched its new flagship phone, the Jet, based on Samsung chips, a Samsung operating system and an in-house interface, the Touchwiz 2.0. Unlike most smartphones, it does not allow users to download third-party apps.
But Younghee Lee, VP for overseas marketing in the mobile communication division, admitted to that the mobile business was inevitably becoming more open and Samsung would have to follow.
Samsung, the world\'s second biggest handset maker, opened its mobile applications storefront in February and has been running a developers\' forum since last year.
Lee said the company was prepared to jointly operate its app store in a partnership or revenue share model with mobile carriers.
"We are looking carefully at the market situation," she said. "But our basic goal is to help consumers to get more benefit from the mobile experience, so we are not competing directly against our operator clients."
"We are always partnering with operators rather than taking their business model,"
Apple, RIM and Android have already opened up app stores, selling directly to consumers. No carrier has launched an app storefront, although China Mobile is set to launch in September and Vodafone by year-end.
Lee said Samsung\'s first Android phone had just hit the market in France and Germany and will be sold in Taiwan and Hong Kong in August.
"We are experimenting," she said. "It\'s one of the most wanted smartphones in the mobile market. There will be more for next year."
She said Android was "the most free and open platform" and was in demand from consumers and operators.
By comparison, the Windows Mobile OS was often "quite complex for consumers to use."