Samsung Ditches Android on New Smartwatch

Unlike the original Gear smartwatch, released just six months ago, the new watches will use a new operating system called Tizen that Samsung has developed on its own. The original Gear watch ran on a stripped down version of the Android operating system from Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Android will continue to be the software platform for the company’s smartphones — at least for now. Samsung got help from Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) to develop Tizen, and it has worked with several telecom companies to ensure that the new operating system is compatible with their networks.

The Gear 2 smart watch will come in two versions, one with a camera and one, the Gear 2 Neo, without. The original watch had the camera in the strap, an awkward spot for sure. The new watch has moved the camera to the main body of the watch. The processor in the new model is slightly faster and the battery is more powerful. Samsung says it should allow for two to three days of typical usage before recharging.

But the big news is Tizen. Samsung accounts for 31% of global smartphone shipments, and every one of those phones uses Google’s Android. The company’s global market share is double that of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). Because Google does not charge for Android, it may not appear to be any threat to Google’s revenues. But Android’s tight integration with Google’s search engine and other products drives advertising which does matter very much to Google.