Samsung Shelves Further Symbian Handsets, 'Not Seeing Visible Demand'

Korean manufacturer Samsung has confirmed that they are not currently looking at Symbian to power future phones, rather choosing to focus on Android and proprietary platform bada to get smartphone-savvy consumers interested.

Head of Marketing YH Lee confirmed at IFA that the runaway success of recent Android-driven handsets - particularly the million-plus sales of the Samsung Galaxy S in the US - have been a major contributing factor to this decision:

"We are prioritising our Android platform. Android is very open and flexible, and there is a consumer demand for it."

Samsung are also entering the fledgling tablet market with another device powered by Google's mobile platform, the Galaxy Tab, whilst their bada platform has seen an affordable sequel in the Wave 723.

Lee states that whilst Samsung are "not seeing visible demand in Symbian", they would develop further handsets provided consumers expressed a demand for them.

The Windows Phone platform however has "some professional, specialised demand there", and as such the manufacturer aims to release devices running Microsoft's revamped OS later in the year.

Good news for Google, as this follows word that Sony Ericsson are placing Android centre stage for future devices, but it comes as another blow to Symbian's effort to regain turf in the lucrative entry-level smartphone market.

Source: DigiToday via ZOMGitsCJ and Unwired View