Global tech titans are expected to stage a fierce competition for the dominant operating system for smart devices this year, as Samsung and Microsoft seek to reenter the market with “Tizen” and “Windows 8,” respectively, and Apple and Google are expected to bring forward the launch dates for new products.

The world’s bestselling smartphone maker Samsung will launch smartphones with the new operating system “Tizen” in January in Japan, a local report said, citing Samsung officials. OS giant Intel is Tizen’s co-developer.

Samsung hopes to get back on its feet in the OS market following the disappointing performance of “Bada,” a Linux-based operating system that the company unveiled in Oct. 10, 2009.

“Bada” made a favorable start, holding a market share about three times greater than the iPhone did in the Russian smartphone market by the beginning of 2011. However, its Achilles’ heel that limited compatibility with smart apps dethroned Samsung in the global OS market.

Co-developing Linux-based “Tizen” so that it is compatible with “Bada,” Samsung plans to revive its reputation as an OS developer.

According to Japan’s Daily Yomiuri, Samsung, Japanese carrier NTT Docomo, and their partners hope to build an OS platform that will rival the major operating systems from Apple and Google.

Other carriers interested in Tizen include British carrier Vodaphone and French carrier France Telecom, reports said.

Microsoft seeks to expand its unsurpassed reputation in computer OS to smart device OS, with its newest flagship, “Windows 8.”

Expecting the number of tablet PC users will continue to rise, Microsoft emphasizes that Window 8 will enable users to freely access Microsoft Office programs through mobile phones, creating a “bring-your-own-device” office environment.

Apple and Google may move up the dates for launching new smartphone models and OS, industrial experts said.

Apple had advanced the launch date of its fourth generation iPad by as much as six months, to October 2012. Apple’s 7.9-inch iPad mini was unveiled on the same day.

Industrial experts also expect that Apple may launch a new product in the first half this year.

Google launched its latest OS “Jelly Bean 4.2” in November 2012, but industrial sources said Google plans to launch another new OS, “Keylime Pie,” in the first half of this year. Samsung’s Galaxy S4 may be operated by “Keylime Pie,” they added.

By Chung Joo-won  (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)