Samsung Z1 Tizen Smartphone India Sales 'Higher Than Expected'

By NDTV Correspondent | Updated: 17 February 2015 16:33 IST

Samsung's first Tizen-based smartphone, the Z1 has reportedly recorded "higher-than-expected sales volume" in India since it was launched last month.

While the Samsung Z1 is believed to have made a negative first impression, Business Korea reports that the Samsung has sold over 100,000 Z1 Tizen smartphones since January 14, with Bangladesh seeing sales volume of 20,000 units since February 3.

(Also see: Sorry Samsung, 'Plenty' Is Not an Acceptable Answer to 'How Many Tizen Apps Are Available Today?')

The report also offers an insight into the company's future plans for Tizen phones.

"[Samsung has] installed remote test lab servers for Tizen application developers in Korea and the United States as well as India, Britain, and Poland. It is predicted that Samsung Electronics will release Tizen phones mainly in these countries in the near future," the report added.

To recall, Samsung launched its first Tizen-based smartphone in India priced at Rs. 5,700. It was launched as an entry-level smartphone with free content from Club Samsung apart from other freebies from Hungama, nexGTv and BoxTV.

The Samsung Z1 Tizen smartphone made a poor first impression in India, according to preliminary response from reviewers and consumers. The handset has been mainly criticised for its low-resolution cameras and dearth of software applications available on the new Tizen platform. The company last month announced that it plans to manufacture the Samsung Z1 at its Noida facility soon.

Samsung has been lately banking on its Tizen OS for reducing its reliance on Google's Android operating system, which powers most of its smartphones and almost all of its tablets. The South Korean company used the operating system on its Gear smartwatches, and also announced at CES its entire 2015 smart TV lineup will run the new OS.