Samsung has unveiled its new smartphone platform bada, in addition to a software development kit (SDK), which it claims will deliver benefits to operators, developers and users alike.
Bada, which means 'ocean' in Korean, will result in smartphones that boast richer capabilities and features, according to Samsung. It's built on the mobile giant's TouchWiz user interface and aims to enhance usability and enable the creation and use of sensor-based and context-aware applications.
The first handset based on bada will in arrive in the first half of next year.
"In creating Samsung bada, I believe that Samsung will become a true leader in the mobile industry; offering a wider range of smartphone choices for consumers," said Dr Hosoo Lee, executive vice president and head of the media solution centre at Samsung, in a statement.
"At the same time, Samsung bada presents a powerful opportunity for developers to get their applications onto an unprecedented number of Samsung devices across the world."
As part of the launch, Samung also kicked off a global developers challenge, inviting the community to create apps based on bada and offering a share of a $2,700,000 prize fund in exchange.
