Samsung considering Android-based TVs
The electronics giant might soon decide to bring Android OS to its line of televisions, Bloomberg reports. It's certainly been busy recently with Android--witness the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Not a TV, but definitely Android-based--the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
(Credit: Samsung)HDTV shoppers might before too long find Google's Android operating system in Samsung television sets, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday at an event in Seoul, Yoon Boo Keun, Samsung's TV business head, said that his company is "reviewing" the possibility of integrating Android OS into its line of televisions. However, Keun was decidedly noncommittal, saying that the company "will have to see."
Speculation over Samsung offering Android in its line of televisions is nothing new. In April, the Korea Herald reported that an unnamed Samsung executive said the company could develop "Google TVs" running Android.
"We are considering [developing] Google TVs," the unnamed Samsung executive reported told the Korea Herald at the time. "We are examining the business feasibility of Google TVs."
If Google could cinch a deal with Samsung and bring Android OS to its line of televisions, that could be a major victory for the search giant. Currently, Samsung is the top TV manufacturer in the U.S. with 19.7 percent market share. It's followed by Vizio with 18.9 percent market share.
Samsung in general is getting serious about Android OS. The company announced last week that it has shipped 1 million Android-based Galaxy S smartphones. It plans to release another Galaxy S smartphone, the Samsung Fascinate, this week on Verizon's service.
Samsung also unveiled an Android-based tablet, the Galaxy Tab, last week at IFA 2010. The device boasts a 7-inch display, runs Android 2.2, and will be offered with 16GB or 32GB of memory.
