Google’s Android OS is currently the only dominant smartphone platform that isn’t exclusive to one hardware maker (BlackBerry and iOS are owned and controlled by RIM and Apple). About half of all smarpthones now run Android, and this is making manufacturers like Samsung nervous. In 2011, the company renewed its attention to its Bada OS and has made headway in turning it into a competitive platform in many regions around the world. The Samsung Wave 3, which launches in France today, is the manufacturer’s latest move to become a player in the OS space.
The Wave 3 has a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, 1.4GHz single-core processor, HSPA+ 14.4Mbps connection speeds, 5MP rear camera, VGA (0.3MP) front camera, and is a world phone. It’s currently available in France, but will launch in Germany, Italy, and Russia by the end of the year. We haven’t had a chance to use the Wave 3, but our experience with Bada has been decent. Samsung has been consistently improving the OS, which, in its 2.0 release now looks quite similar to its Android offerings. We’d guess that the goal is to slip Bada into some good looking phones without consumers even noticing. Sneaky Samsung.
The Wave 3 was unveiled back in August, along with the Wave M and Wave Y next-generation Bada phones. There is no word on a potential US release date.
