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Samsung denies rumoured plans to ditch Symbian for bada

Rumours that Samsung is to drop Symbian in favour of its own open-source operating system (OS) have been denied by the smartphone producer.

Last week, speculation surrounded the firm's plans to focus on Windows Mobile, Android and its own bada OS in the future. Now, Samsung representatives have rubbished the rumours, instead laying out plans to provide more consumer choice with a "multi-OS strategy".

"Samsung is an initial member of Symbian Foundation and continues to cooperate with Symbian Foundation," they state. "At the same time, Samsung supports various existing open operating systems including Symbian, Linux, Android and Windows Mobile."

Bada – "ocean" in Korean – has been described by Samsung as providing smartphone owners with a "fun and diverse mobile experience", with the name reflecting the "limitless variety" of potential mobile apps it can be used to create.

Dr Hosoo Lee, executive vice-president of Samsung Electronics, commented: “bada will be Samsung’s landmark, iconic new platform that brings an unprecedented opportunity for operators, developers and Samsung mobile phone users around the world."

Current smartphones from Samsung run the Symbian system and the Google-backed Android platform. The first bada mobile devices are expected in the first half of 2010.