Unlike HTC, which recently announced plans on building its own non-smartphone OS and phone, Samsung already has its own non-smartphone (also known as dumbphone or feature phone) operating system along with its own branded handsets running on Windows Mobile, Android, and Symbian S60. However, Samsung isn’t staying content. The latest rumors have it that the Korean manufacturer is readying its own smartphone operating system to compete against Microsoft, Google, Apple, Research in Motion, Palm, and the Symbian Foundation.

According to the company’s head of mobile devices, Dong-hoon Chan, “As have other leading mobile phone makers, Samsung has considered the necessity of developing its own operating system. And now is the right time to realize that advancement.” The company’s smartphone OS will probably be based off of Linux, with a variant of TouchWiz as a UI overlay, much like on its Windows Mobile Omnia II.

There are no further details about the launch date nor availability of Samsung’s smartphone OS. The company hasn’t stated whether or not it would license the operating system to other phone manufacturers either.

(via: UnwiredView)